Sheridan Smith, Alison Steadman and SNL UK’s Hamed Animashaun are set to lend their voices to Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s adaptation of The Buddies.
Smith will narrate the half-hour animation from multi-Oscar-nominated production company Magic Light Pictures, while Stedman will voice the witch and Animashaun will play the troll.
Robin Cara will play Girl, Francesca Mills will play Mouse, and Magic Light regular Rob Brydon will return as Ghost.
This story is about three of the world’s worst villains (a troll, a ghost, and a witch) who love doing bad things.
“When a girl with a blue-spotted handkerchief moves into a nearby cottage, the villains bicker over the dastardly prank they want to play on her,” the logline reads. “The Mouse then challenges the villains to see who can steal the handkerchief. They soon learn that they may have found their match in this girl.”
Directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox. Produced by Bernie Goodland and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures. Triggerfish Animation provides animation services.
The film will be released on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day.
“I had a lot of fun writing ‘The Buddies,’ because I loved inventing these brilliantly evil characters and thinking about what would happen when they finally met someone brave enough to outwit them,” Donaldson said. “Magic Light did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life, and the cast perfectly captured the humor, silliness, and creepiness.”
Sheridan Smith said: “I’ve always loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s story, so I was thrilled to be a part of bringing The Buddies to life. The film is funny, creepy, heartfelt and the animation is absolutely beautiful. I think families will have a lot of fun watching these amazing characters wreak havoc this Christmas.”
The film is the latest book by author Donaldson and illustrator Scheffler, and will be adapted into a film by Magic Light. Past film adaptations include “The Gruffalo” and “Zog.”
