In a heartwarming move, the iconic characters created by Cosgrove Hall, the legendary British animation studio, have found a permanent home at the refurbished Sale Library in Greater Manchester. The display, which showcases the studio’s rich archive of props and scripts, is a treasure trove of nostalgia for fans of classic children’s television.
Cosgrove Hall, founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall in 1976, was the driving force behind some of the most beloved animated series, including Count Duckula, Chorlton and the Wheelies, and Danger Mouse. The studio’s archive, which was saved from the scrapheap by the Waterside art venue in 2017, has now been meticulously curated and put on display for the public to enjoy.
Rosy Whittemore, the project curator at the Cosgrove Hall Film Archive, expressed her excitement about the new exhibition, stating, “Whatever age you are, you’ll recognise something from your era.” This sentiment is echoed by Jean Flynn, a former animator at the studio, who emphasised the team’s focus on having fun. “If we had fun, we knew that the audience would have fun, and if you get a lot of animators and cartoonists together, it can be quite anarchic, and that came out in Danger Mouse very much so.”
The display is not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane but also an inspiration for the next generation of animators, creatives, and scriptwriters. Councillor Eve Parker, the executive member for culture at Trafford Council, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “Cosgrove Hall created some of the most loved characters in British television, and the fact that we can now say they have a permanent home here in Sale is massive.”
The exhibition is a testament to the enduring legacy of Cosgrove Hall and the timeless appeal of its iconic characters. Visitors of all ages can immerse themselves in the world of their childhood favourites, from Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men to Roary the Racing Car, and be inspired by the creativity and passion that went into their creation.