Tiddler illustrator Axel Scheffler considering ‘slowing down’ as he praises ‘masterpiece’ new BBC animation [Video]

Axel Scheffler (left) has spoken about his and Julia Donaldson’s picture book Tiddler (right) being adapted into a new animation

Liam Jackson / BBC

Tiddler follows the titular little grey fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep, wide ocean until he’s saved by his own storytelling.

The original book was published in 2009 and has since sold over two million copies worldwide.

As the UK’s number one picture book creators, Scheffler, 67, and Donaldson, 76, have once again teamed with the BBC and Magic Light Pictures to bring their beloved tale to the screen.

The half-hour animated special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day and includes a stellar voice cast led by Hannah Waddingham, Lolly Adefope, Jayde Adams and Rob Brydon.

It will also feature the voices of child actors Reuben Kirby in the title role, and Theo Fraser as Tiddler’s best friend, Johnny Dory.

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