Magic Light animations take over BBC One this Christmas

A host of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler characters star in BBC One’s exclusive Christmas idents.

Magic Light Pictures has produced a host of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler characters to take over BBC One’s Christmas idents, alongside the BBC One premiere of Zog and the Flying Doctors.

The exclusive festive collaboration will feature idents of Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, the unlikely flying doctor team, enjoying festive adventures. Alongside these, there is a tender moment between The Gruffalo and his daughter, The Gruffalo’s Child, as they go back to the snow covered clearing at the edge of the deep dark wood and dress their magical Christmas tree.

The idents will feature day and night segments including a decorated tree, twinkling lights and seasonal charm, to capture the warmth and glow of Christmas time.

The idents were unveiled yesterday (Sunday November 29), following Strictly Come Dancing: The Results.

“Magic Light Pictures have exclusively created a set of unique animated idents, especially for BBC One this Christmas featuring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s wonderful characters, that I hope will make everyone smile and bring a big dose of festive cheer and togetherness at the end of a tough year,” commented Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC.

Martin Pope, co-founder of Magic Light Pictures, added: “We love partnering with BBC One and this project was conceived from a conversation between us last year. An earlier ident Magic Light produced with The Gruffalo’s Child in 2011 had proved a real hit and we were both excited to revisit the opportunity.

“It’s particularly wonderful to have created these extra animations this Christmas and we’re delighted to share them with BBC audiences.”

Zog and the Flying Doctors – starring Sir Lenny Henry and Rob Brydon – will sit prominently in the BBC and BBC iPlayer schedule alongside other festive favourites and exclusive new offerings.

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