The Sound Collector, is a masterful mix of live-action and stop-frame animation. Created by Eagle Vs Bat, who between them have over 40 years of experience in the animation and music industry and narrated by Keira Knightley in her first-ever pre-school children’s show, The Sound Collector is a beautiful, heart-warming series that is bound to become a favourite among households.
The Sound Collector is all about sound – as heard through the ears of a small but very active little being called the Sound Collector, who has a passion for sound despite being hard of hearing.
The Sound Collector spends his days discovering and using new sounds that he finds on his adventures: the blooping and popping of sea anemones, the hissing of the tide drawing back along a pebble beach or even the snores and snuffles of his best friend and pet, Mole. He is endlessly fascinated by the world around him and whether he loves sound because of, or despite his hearing, it is the focus of his life in an incredibly positive way.
This show is not about being deaf, it is however placing somebody who wears hearing aids at the front and centre of a show for young audiences, which is remarkably rare.
Throughout this series, children, as well as adults, will be inspired to go out and explore natural environments – seeking joy and wonderment in the little things and gaining a new appreciation for the world around them. Mindfulness also plays a key role in the show’s messaging. With techniques now being taught in schools as a stress-reducing aid for children, the show’s concentration on the small and real details of the immediate world in front of us will leave audiences feeling relaxed and even meditative, whatever their age!
The stop motion animation is brought to you by the creative minds at Mackinnon & Saunders. The incredible team at Mackinnon & Saunders have brought some of the world’s best-known animated characters to life – including the Academy Award-nominated Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and Netflix’s hit The House.
Sound is integral to the show on a fundamental level. Throughout the show, we hear what the Sound Collector hears, and so, to focus our attention on the changes in sound, the team considered exaggerating the differences between the Sound Collector’s 3 levels of hearing.
Advisors in the field of audiology were consulted on whether the plan to use sound in this way could potentially be deemed offensive. In fact, they championed the idea of familiarising viewers with the effects of deafness and the help that hearing aids and radio aids provide – especially for the children in the audience. They also provided the team with access to various typical hearing aid specifications allowing them to portray more accurately something of the reality of using hearing aids for someone who is hard of hearing.
The Sound Collector will air daily at 10:20am on ITVBe and ITVX from Monday 20th February.
