Legendary Londoners: Young Creators Bring History to Life
Creative Kids Use Stop Motion Animation To Tell Historical Stories
This August, a group of talented young Londoners aged 8–12 gathered at Nine Elms Studio for an unforgettable three-day stop motion animation workshop run by Chocolate Films Workshops. Their mission? To explore the lives of extraordinary figures from London’s history and bring their stories to life on screen through the magic of stop motion animation. The result was nothing short of inspiring.
Diving into London’s Hidden Histories
The workshop began with an introduction to the basics of stop motion animation - a fun, hands-on taster session where participants experimented with frame-by-frame movement. Once they had grasped the fundamentals, it was time to meet the “Legendary Londoners.”
The young participants were introduced to a range of historical figures and chose two remarkable stories to tell:
Mrs G Duncan, the first female London bus conductor, who paved the way for women in public transport during the early 20th century.
John Blanke, a talented trumpeter of African descent who played at the court of Henry VIII. The only known Black Tudor to be depicted in art.
Through lively discussions and story development sessions, the group crafted scripts, storyboards, and character designs before moving on to the animation stage.
Creativity in Action
A hands-on experience of the filmmaking process, the three days were packed with creativity and collaboration:
Scriptwriting & Storyboarding: Young filmmakers turned history into compelling narratives.
Character & Set Design: Paper puppets and hand-crafted backdrops were carefully built to represent Tudor courts and London buses.
Stop Motion Animating: Using professional animation software, the group brought their characters to life one frame at a time.
Voiceover & Sound: The children recorded their own voices to give personality and energy to their animated films.
Editing: Through the power of music and sound effects the group brought their short films to life.
Because the group achieved so much, they even had time for an extra creative activity - light painting portraits, capturing glowing trails of colour as an exciting team-bonding experience.
A Red-Carpet (ish) Premiere
On the final day, popcorn abounded and families arrived, invited to a special premiere screening at Nine Elms Studio. The young animators proudly presented their finished films and needless to say they were a roaring success, showcasing not only their technical skills but also their ability to interpret and celebrate London’s diverse history.
The films are now available to watch on the 1000 Londoners website and the 1000 Londoners YouTube channel, where these powerful stories of Mrs G Duncan and John Blanke can reach a wider audience.
Why This Matters
Workshops like this highlight the power of creative education-showing how children can learn about London history while developing storytelling, teamwork, and digital media skills. By blending history with animation, young people discovered that the past isn’t something to read about in textbooks - it’s something they can actively reimagine and share.
Join a Future Workshop
At Chocolate Films Workshops, creativity and history come together to inspire the next generation of filmmakers. Whether it’s learning animation techniques, exploring local heritage, or building confidence through storytelling, every project gives young people the chance to shine. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops - you never know which Legendary Londoners might appear on screen next!
✨ Congratulations to the incredible young animators of Nine Elms Studio - your films will inspire Londoners for years to come.
