Published by Bigfoot Arts Education Wales | Reading time: 6–7 minutes
One of the most exciting outcomes of our animation workshops is that the learning rarely ends when we leave the school. Teachers frequently tell us that children go home and download the free stop-motion app used during the workshops. Inspired by what they have learnt, they begin creating their own animations independently at home.
Often, pupils bring their films back into school to share with teachers and classmates, proudly showing the characters they have created and the stories they have developed. This continuation of learning beyond the classroom is one of the reasons animation is such a powerful creative tool. It encourages curiosity, independence and creativity — all key elements of the Curriculum for Wales.
At Bigfoot Wales, we see first-hand how animation empowers children and young people to explore ideas, express themselves, and communicate messages that can influence their schools, communities and beyond.
When Ideas Come to Life
There is always a moment during animation workshops that stands out.
Children carefully move their characters a tiny bit at a time, taking a photograph after each movement. They concentrate closely, working collaboratively and developing patience and attention to detail. Then comes the moment when they press play for the first time. Without fail, their faces light up. Excitement spreads across the room as their clay models and characters suddenly come to life on screen. Laughter, pride and amazement follow as pupils watch their ideas transform into moving stories. These moments are powerful. Children begin to see themselves as creators and storytellers. Confidence grows, and engagement increases.
Creativity Through Clay Modelling
The clay modelling stage is another highlight of animation workshops. Children design characters, create props and design and create backgrounds for their films. We are continually blown away by the imagination pupils bring to this stage. The level of detail children add to their clay models is often remarkable — from facial expressions, clothing accessories, to carefully designed backgrounds. This hands-on creative process supports Expressive Arts while also encouraging collaboration, problem solving and perseverance. Children become invested in their characters and stories, strengthening engagement and ownership of learning.
Building Confidence Through Voice-Overs
Voice-over recording is often one of the most exciting parts of the animation process. Some pupils may initially feel hesitant, but confidence grows quickly. Within minutes, children begin experimenting with character voices, narration and storytelling, bringing their animations fully to life. We often see pupils who are initially unsure become enthusiastic voice actors, eager to contribute and share ideas. This builds confidence and supports communication and literacy skills.
Watching Quieter Children Come to Life
One of the most rewarding aspects of animation workshops is seeing quieter children become fully engaged. Because animation offers a variety of roles — modelling, filming, directing, storytelling and voice acting — every child can contribute. Pupils who may not normally speak out often become deeply involved in the creative process. Teachers frequently comment on how powerful it is to see these pupils gain confidence. This confidence often transfers back into the classroom, where pupils become more willing to participate in discussions and collaborative learning. This lasting impact supports the Curriculum for Wales’ focus on developing confident individuals and creative contributors.
Animation and the Curriculum for Wales
Animation workshops delivered by Bigfoot Wales align strongly with the Curriculum for Wales and support multiple Areas of Learning and Experience.
Workshops can also be themed to support classroom learning and school priorities. Projects can be linked to:
- A class book
- Welsh storytelling and legends
- History topics
- Wellbeing themes
- Environmental learning
- Pupil voice initiatives
This flexibility allows animation to become a meaningful part of curriculum learning.
Animation supports:
Expressive Arts — Character design and storytelling
Health and Wellbeing — Exploring emotions and identity
Humanities — Community and social understanding
Languages, Literacy and Communication — Storytelling and discussion
Science and Technology — Digital competence and problem solving
Animation also supports the Four Purposes, helping children become:
- Ambitious, capable learners
- Enterprising, creative contributors
- Ethical, informed citizens
- Healthy, confident individuals
A Long-Term Partnership: Whitchurch Primary School
Bigfoot Wales has worked with Whitchurch Primary School, Cardiff, over the past five years, delivering animation workshops annually to three Year 3 classes each year. Each year, a new cohort of pupils takes part, meaning hundreds of learners have now experienced animation as a creative tool for expression, collaboration and confidence building. Teachers have observed how pupils become fully engaged in the creative process, developing storytelling skills, digital competence and confidence. Staff have also noted how pupils often continue their learning beyond the workshop, creating animations at home and sharing them back in school. Over time, the workshops have become a valued part of the school’s creative learning experiences.
Real-World Impact: When Children’s Voices Reach Beyond the Classroom
At Whitchurch Primary School, pupils celebrated their work through an Oscar-style screening event where parents were invited to watch the completed animations.
The response from families was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on the emotional impact and creativity of the films.
“This is just brilliant — beautiful and completely heart-wrenching all at once. Those sweet little voices really got me. They say young voices reach where others can’t… and this proves it. It needs to go viral 💚” (Charlotte Keenan, Green Party)
This kind of response highlights the power of animation as a tool for change. When children share their voices creatively, their messages resonate beyond the classroom.
Case Study: Coed Eva Primary School
At Coed Eva Primary School, pupils worked collaboratively to create their own stop-motion animations.
“The children absolutely loved every minute of it,” shared Vicky, Class Teacher at Coed Eva Primary School.
“Ellie’s enthusiasm and encouragement really inspired them. Even after the sessions ended, they were talking non-stop about their ideas and asking when they could make more. We’ve had so many lovely messages from parents saying how excited their children were to tell them all about what they learnt. We all learnt so much about storytelling, teamwork, and animation. Ellie really made the experience special for everyone.”
This feedback highlights how animation workshops inspire creativity, confidence and collaboration both in school and at home.
Learning That Lasts
Animation inspires ongoing creativity. Children continue making films at home, experimenting with storytelling and developing new ideas. Teachers frequently report pupils bringing animations back into school to share with classmates and staff. This independent creative learning supports confidence, creativity and pupil voice.
Ready to Work with Bigfoot Wales?
Animation is more than a creative activity. It is a powerful tool for voice, participation and change.
To find out more about animation workshops:
wales@bigfootartseducation.co.uk
07723 301284
