A CHILDREN’S TV series which is being made in Bournemouth for distribution by Wallace and Gromit creator Aardman Animation has received backing from a council grant.

BCP Council awarded money to Pop Paper City Ltd, to help with the growth of the studio and support infrastructure and training for its show Pop Paper City.

The series for pre-schoolers will consist of 52 episodes running 11 minutes each and will be made for Channel 5’s Milkshake! strand, with Aardman distributing the programme around the world.

The series’ producer is Bournemouth University graduate Georgina Hurcombe, previously named Dorset Businesswoman of the Year.

She said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this grant. This is going to be a landmark opportunity for creatives in the Dorset area as the first series of its size and scope to be produced here.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the council’s support and are excited to have this wonderful opportunity to grow and retain talent from the BCP region.”

Pop Paper City has already been supported by the government-funded Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which is managed by the British Film Institute.

The council grant came from BCPs Bounce Back Challenge Fund for helping innovative recovery projects.

Each episode of Pop Paper City includes a craft montage, achieved by mixing 3D animation and live action footage, to inspire children to make their own paper creations.

Pop Paper City Ltd, spun off from Winton-based LoveLove Films, is looking to grow further, attracting graduates of Bournemouth and Arts University as well as an influx of talent from across the UK.

The show will be the first children’s series to be animated entirely with the software Cinema 4D and the grant will fund training of new staff, as well as to implement Covid safety measures.

BCP Council deputy leader Cllr Phil Broadhead said: “We want to harness the potential of our creative sector to announce to the world that we aren’t just bouncing back, but aim to be bigger, bolder and better than before.”