Granpa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Granpa |
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Screen shot of the title card
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| Directed by | Dianne Jackson |
| Produced by | John Coates |
| Written by | John Burningham (book) |
| Starring | Peter Ustinov (as Granpa) Emily Osborne (as Emily) |
| Music by | Howard Blake Sarah Brightman Wroughton Middle School Choir |
| Distributed by | Channel 4 (broadcast) Universal Studios (VHS) |
| Release date(s) | 31 December 1989 |
| Running time | 26 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Granpa is a heartwarming British animated film made for families. It's based on a popular picture book by John Burningham. The film was first shown on Channel 4 in 1989 and later released on VHS by Universal Studios.
This special film was drawn by hand using colored pencils. This style copied the original drawings in Burningham's book. Dianne Jackson directed Granpa. She also directed The Snowman, another famous animated film. Howard Blake, who wrote the music for The Snowman, also created the music and script for Granpa. Many people call it an "animated children's opera" because of its musical style. The voices of Granpa and Emily are by famous actor Peter Ustinov and young Emily Osborne.
In 1990, Granpa won the Prix Jeunesse International award. This award celebrates excellent TV shows for children.
About the Book Granpa
The animated film Granpa is an adaptation of a children's picture book. The book was written and illustrated by John Burningham. It was published in 1984.
Burningham's book won the Kurt Maschler Award. This award, also called "the Emil," celebrates children's books. It honors books where the words and pictures work perfectly together. They should make the story even better.
What Happens in Granpa?
The film celebrates the special bond between a little girl named Emily and her kind grandfather. They also have a loyal dog. Emily is full of fun and innocence. Granpa, however, is getting older and a bit weak. He knows he won't be around forever. So, he shares his amazing memories and adventures from long ago.
Granpa's stories come to life in the film. They are like vivid dreams. He tells Emily about his own childhood and youth. This was in the early 1900s.
Other adventures they imagine include:
- A brave tale of Saint George and the Dragon on a bedcover.
- A fishing trip that turns into a journey down the River Thames pulled by a blue whale.
- A trip to the seaside that becomes a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain.
- A Noah's Ark-like story where Granpa's house floods. They have to make room for many exotic animals.
The last part of the story is about a jungle. Monkeys steal Granpa's storybook, and the adventure is left unfinished.
As the seasons change, Granpa becomes weaker. Eventually, Emily is left alone with his empty chair and the old man's dog. She leaves the house with the dog and climbs a hill. As they walk, children from her grandfather's stories join them.
Music in Granpa
The music for Granpa was written by Howard Blake. It's almost like a small opera. Many of the stories in the film are sung by the main characters. The Wroughton Middle School choir, who won BBC Choir of the Year, also sings. A forty-piece orchestra, the Sinfonia of London, plays the music.
The song at the end of the film is called "Make Believe." Sarah Brightman sings it. The song also includes parts of the famous tune "Auld Lang Syne." "Make Believe" was released as a single when the film came out.
