Poppies (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Poppies |
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| Directed by | Simon Partington |
| Music by | Steven Price |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Jackie Edwards |
| Running time | 2 minutes |
| Distributor | CBBC, CBeebies |
| Release | |
| Original release | 9 November 2014 |
Poppies is a short animated film. It is shown on the BBC's children's channels, CBBC and CBeebies. The film helps mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. It is broadcast at 11:00 AM. The animation lasts for two minutes, matching the traditional two-minute silence.
Contents
About Poppies
Poppies helps young viewers understand the meaning of remembrance. It introduces the idea of the poppy and what it stands for. The film aims to create feelings about war without showing graphic scenes. This makes it suitable for all ages, even very young children.
The Story of Poppies
The film shows World War I through the eyes of animals. These animals live in a peaceful wildflower meadow. When war breaks out, their home is disturbed. A rabbit, a bird, and a snail find shelter. They hide under a Brodie helmet, which is a type of soldier's helmet.
At the end of the conflict, a single poppy blooms. Soon, many more poppies appear. The battlefield slowly returns to a peaceful meadow. The rabbit and its family gather together, living in peace.
How Poppies Was Made
The animated animals in Poppies were created using traditional hand-drawn methods. The backgrounds were painted with soft watercolor tones. To show shell bursts in the sky, artists used a special technique. They overlaid Indian ink droplets spreading in water. This created an impressionistic, artistic effect.
The director of the film was Simon Partington. Rachel Tudor Best was the designer. They worked at a company called Flix Facilities.
The Music in Poppies
The animation features a full orchestral score. This means the music was played by a large orchestra. The music was composed by Steven Price. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performed the score.
Steven Price was involved from the very beginning of the project. The animation was actually created to fit his music. This shows how important the music was to the film's overall feeling.
Why Poppies Is Important
Poppies was first shown on November 9, 2014. It has been broadcast every year since then. Schools also use the film. It helps teachers introduce children to the topic of remembrance.
The film's two-minute length was planned carefully. The producer wanted even the youngest viewers to focus quietly for two minutes. Older viewers would understand the deeper meaning of the film. In 2015, Poppies was nominated for a BAFTA award. It was nominated for Best Children's Short Form.
- Poppies (film) at BBC Programmes
