Recently we discovered a clever cast of disabled cartoon characters who are part of the Creature Discomforts series by the creators of Wallace and Gromit. In England, Aardman Animations teamed up with an advocacy group called Leonard Cheshire Disability to spotlight individuals with physical challenges. The animated characters in Creature Discomforts include Peg the hedgehog who uses a wheelchair, Cath the hearing impaired cat, Callum the blind chameleon, Brian the bull terrier who has spina bifida, and Flash - a "sausage dog" who also relies on wheels to get around. There are 12 characters in all and each one is narrated by a disabled person. Flash is voiced by Alex Mihaly who sustained a spinal injury. The purpose of the Creature Discomforts ad campaign is to challenge and redefine people's perceptions of the disabled. My guess is that the radio and TV spots that aired in Britain have also succeeded in changing ideas about disabled animals. In one of the TV spots the dachshund Flash (pictured above) says "Because we're in a wheelchair it doesn't mean to say we're not capable of thinking. Now let's get things put right. Not just for disabled, for everybody. So we can all work in harmony together." Well put, Flash! For clips and photos visit http://www.creaturediscomforts.org/
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Wallace & Gromit Creators Spotlight Disabled Pets & Individuals With Disabilities
Recently we discovered a clever cast of disabled cartoon characters who are part of the Creature Discomforts series by the creators of Wallace and Gromit. In England, Aardman Animations teamed up with an advocacy group called Leonard Cheshire Disability to spotlight individuals with physical challenges. The animated characters in Creature Discomforts include Peg the hedgehog who uses a wheelchair, Cath the hearing impaired cat, Callum the blind chameleon, Brian the bull terrier who has spina bifida, and Flash - a "sausage dog" who also relies on wheels to get around. There are 12 characters in all and each one is narrated by a disabled person. Flash is voiced by Alex Mihaly who sustained a spinal injury. The purpose of the Creature Discomforts ad campaign is to challenge and redefine people's perceptions of the disabled. My guess is that the radio and TV spots that aired in Britain have also succeeded in changing ideas about disabled animals. In one of the TV spots the dachshund Flash (pictured above) says "Because we're in a wheelchair it doesn't mean to say we're not capable of thinking. Now let's get things put right. Not just for disabled, for everybody. So we can all work in harmony together." Well put, Flash! For clips and photos visit http://www.creaturediscomforts.org/
What an awesome idea! Kudos to the creators (and is Flash not the cutest kritter on two wheels?)
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Your friends, Schatzi, Xena & Oskar
I spent a half hour on their site, just enjoying the various ads they have in this campaign. Great stuff, and one that I hope many children get to watch.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a blog, and GREAT name! You might be interested in a new anthology, Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them, almostperfectbook.com My last dog, Ruby, wheel-bound due to degenerative myelopathy, is on the cover prancing proudly with the tree limb she used as a stick.
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