I had the great privilege of being invited to the Overlap Animation Meetup in Birmingham by the brilliant Louis Hudson—a man who can turn even a simple introduction into a full‑blown spectacle. And honestly, it was one of the best screenings I’ve ever had.
The theme of the night was “Impossible”, and Louis took that as a personal challenge. Dressed as a stuntman in a straightjacket, he launched into a series of “impossible acts,” including a fire stunt performed while riding a tricycle. At one point he toppled off the stage head‑first, but—miraculously—the accident book remained unblemished. A triumph for health and safety everywhere.
A Parade of New Directors
We were treated to a fantastic lineup of new directors showing off their latest work. Including Beatriz Antunes and the Jordan Brothers. The energy in the room was infectious—equal parts excitement, chaos, and creative mischief.
Then Dave Anderson took the stage to talk about his and Andrew Kelleher’s brand‑new series Dog Judo. It’s extremely funny, wonderfully odd, and absolutely worth subscribing to via the Dog & Rabbit site.
Thrown Into a Stareout Showdown
Then came my turn.
Louis, in his infinite mischief, had created a replica of the trophy from the World Stareout Championship sketch in Big Train. Before I knew what was happening, I was suddenly thrust into a full‑blown Stareout scenario. The grandmaster himself—Paul Hatcher, creator of the original comic—was in the room, and he is very good at staring. It was carnage. Hilarious, surreal carnage.
Screenings, Shrigley, and Anfield Road
We screened my collaboration with David Shrigley, Who I Am and What I Want, followed by Dad’s Dead. I hadn’t shown Dad’s Dead in a long time, and the reaction was incredibly warm. My section wrapped up with a live reading from Anfield Road, which made the night feel especially meaningful for me.
Moth Collective and Monument Valley Magic
The final section of the evening belonged to the brilliant Moth Collective. Margaux Tsakiri‑Scanatovits and Daniel Chester walked us through their work on Monument Valley 3. I don’t play games, but even I can say it’s one of the most visually beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
A Night to Remember
It really was an extraordinary night—full of creativity, absurdity, and genuine community spirit. If you get the chance, I strongly recommend heading to Birmingham for the next edition of Overlap. And if you’d like a copy of Anfield Road in the meantime, the shop awaits.
