The herdy films have been a hit with herdy lovers around the world and we’re excited to announce that ‘Herdy Heads for the Hills’ - the second film in the two part adventure so far, has scooped the title of Best Commercial at an international animation festival. The films were commissioned by herdy and made by David Browne of DPB Images who is based in Ambleside. Herdy Heads for the Hills was shortlisted along with 16 other films at the Bradford Animation Festival, and went on to beat competition from major brands including Honda, Audi, Clover and Jack Daniels, and submissions from the USA, South Africa, Argentina and across Europe.

The animation was shot on location in the Lake District over several weeks during autumn 2011 and shows the flock of herdybank moneyboxes adventuring through the Langdale Valley, finding a magic box and hitching a daring ride. It is the sequel to the ‘Great Escape’, which shows the herdybanks coming to life and escaping from the herdy shop in Grasmere.

The film was awarded the prestigious title of Best Commercial at the festival awards ceremony, which took place at the National Media Museum in Bradford on Saturday 17thOctober 2012. OSCAR and BAFTA nominated Animator and Director Barry Purves presented David Browne with an ‘Osgood’ – the festival’s light-hearted take on an Oscar. Herdy Heads for the Hills was then screened to the audience, causing laughter and a round of applause. The jury commented that the chose the film “for its charm, its element of surprise seeing these simple objects in an epic setting.”

“This was my second animation for the Herdy Company and was great fun to make,” David said. “Filming the herdies using stop-motion out and about in the landscape was challenging at times, particularly with changing light conditions. And in some scenes I had to blu-tack them to rocks as the strong wind kept blowing them over! I’m delighted that a film from the Lake District has held its own against commercials from some big international brands.”

We’re delighted too! Click here to watch and share the films.