KENSUKE’S KINGDOM by Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo’s gripping adventure about a boy washed up on an island in the Pacific has been adapted into a critically acclaimed animated film. The UK premiere took place on 2nd August and already boasts a 94% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a bevy of positive reviews. It is due to be released internationally in the coming month.

The animated adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale stars Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe and West End Calling winner, Aaron MacGregor. The reviews have been overwhelming positive:

“With Cillian Murphy among its starry voice cast, this adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel is thoughtful, tender and beguiling” – The Telegraph (****)

“impeccably elegant animation of Michael Morpurgo adventure” – The Guardian

The film has won several awards at film festivals around the world, including the British Animation Awards, the New York International Children’s Film Festival, and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

LOCKWOOD AND CO by Jonathan Stroud

This January saw the release of the highly anticipated 8 episode Netflix adaptation of Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood and Co series, to critical acclaim. In the first two weeks of the release, it was the most watched show on Netflix globally, with viewers clocking in an impressive 39,420,000 hours of watch time. Empire said it was ‘an addictive, sophisticated, supernatural thriller,’ giving it four stars, while another four star review said it was ‘playful, intelligent and full of charm’ (The Guardian). Series one covers the events of the first two books in the five book series and follows the spooky adventures of ghost-hunting teens in an alternative modern Britain where an epidemic of ghosts has raged for 50 years. Created by Joe Cornish (Ant-Man) and starring Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton), Cameron Chapman and Ali Hadji-Heshmati.

MATILDA by Roald Dahl

Matthew Warchus’s film version of the hit West End musical based on the beloved story by Roald Dahl, starring Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey. UK Release: October 2022. ROW: Netlix, December 2022.

THE BRILLIANT WORLD OF TOM GATES by Liz Pichon

Celebrating creativity and fun, this series brings to life the unique and comical world of Tom Gates. A combination of 2D and stop-motion animation with live action, it – like the books – blends Tom’s crazy humour with craft ideas and tips and tricks that kids and adults will love to recreate. Now in its second series on Sky Kids in the UK and Ireland.

BLUEBACK by Tim Winton