Small World, is an international short animation festival. The Festival provides an exciting opportunity to see some of the current world’s best animated short films.

The festival screens work from animators and artists across the globe, including UK, USA, France, Japan, Canada, Hungry, Switzerland and Norway, many of which are Oscar winners and nominees. The Festival began in 2009 at Gallery@ The Civic. Small World aims to inspire audiences with varied themes, engaging visuals and a wide range of animation techniques. The films featured cover a wide range of ideas and stories. In 2009 and 2010 the festival featured over 220 short films, including 10 UK Premieres. In 2010 the festival featured a retrospective exhibition that focused on the prolific and influential work by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin through their production company SMALL FILMS. The seminal output from Small Films is loved and recognised by millions of people and includes characters such as Ivor the Engine, Noggin the Nog, The Clangers and Bagpuss. An exhibition supported the screening programme that explored their working methods and processes and featured original models and sets for the iconic BBC children’s TV hit, The Clangers.

This year we are showcasing some of the worlds leading animation aimed at family audiences. With its varied film themes, beautiful visuals and wide ranging use of different animation techniques, Small World 2011 aims to engage audiences and encourage them to experience animation in all its’ formats. We hope you enjoy the films.