New ‘Tabby McTat’ trailer + seasonal idents from Magic Light Pictures
Skwigly
An exclusive, “first look” trailer for this year’s BBC One and BBC iPlayer Christmas animation, Tabby McTat is now live.
From BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated producers Magic Light Pictures, this Christmas animated adventure Tabby McTat, the 11th Magic Light Pictures adaptation for BBC One, is a story set on the streets of London about the warm and wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred.
Adapted from the hugely successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the film stars Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey) as Fred, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (Gangs of London) as Tabby, Cariad Lloyd (Peep Show) as Prunella, Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It) as Pat, Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) as the Narrator, and Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes) as Sock.
Tabby McTat is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour (Superworm) and Jac Hamman (Superworm); written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang; and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures. The film was acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor.
Magic Light Pictures has also created three charming Christmas Idents exclusively for BBC One 2023.
The three 40-second animations show Tabby McTat and family enjoying a quiet snooze under the Christmas Tree when they’re abruptly awakened; Stick Man and his family receiving their gifts from Santa; and the Gruffalo’s Child’s playful antics that almost cause havoc for the Gruffalo and his Christmas Tree!
Especially for BBC One this Christmas, Magic Light have created charming, animated idents of some of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best loved characters to bring some extra festive joy and warmth into everyone’s homes.
-Charlotte Moore (Chief Content Officer, BBC)
The idents will be revealed on BBC One after Strictly Come Dancing on December 2nd and will appear across the Channel throughout the festive season.
Animated by Red Star these three idents will be shown along with four specially created idents that previously premiered in 2020. These feature Zog and The Flying Doctors, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.