'Creating Space for Connection' – Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Owen Gildersleeve was approach by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, to be part of a series of animated films unpacking the brain science and explaining key concepts behind the way nurturing interactions support the social and emotional development of babies and young children. Building on the Centre’s Shaping Us Framework, the films explain the science behind the everyday moments of connection that can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life.

The series combines the creative talents of a group of inspiring illustrators and animators from around the world, with the scientific rigour of two of the country’s leading figures in child development, Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Sam Wass, as well as the vast experience of an advisory group of early childhood professionals working with families from across the UK.

Although 94% of the UK population believe that social and emotional skills are important for happiness in adult life, 42% have little or no idea about how these skills develop during early childhood. The purpose of these animated films is to help increase that understanding, and in doing so, improve outcomes for the development of babies and young children.

Owen's animated film focuses on the importance of creating space for connection and describes why it is valuable for babies and young children when we adjust the pace of our interactions. He was given a script for the animated film and then drew up a storyboard of illustrated scenes, which were all eventually handcrafted out of paper to help add a human touch to the film.

The final papercut scenes were crafted and shot in Owen's Brighton studio and then brought to life by Grand Matter's in-house motion studio Plastic Horse, who meticulously animated his papercut scenes to maintain the paper textures and hands-on feel of the final film.