CASE STUDY: Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

I hadn't realised until now how much my idea for Whistle-Stop Thistle had been influenced by Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. I only watch this when my little cousin is at my house on Tuesdays, but I had obviously soaked up some of the ideas from this show and regurgitated them in my pitch. For example, the idea of my little town being hidden behind a big bramble bush is exactly the same introduction as B&H's. I didn't consciously decide to make mine the same as B&H's, I thought I had conjured up this idea on my own but had evidently been informed by what I had been watching with baby James.
I will need to change this as although I do want my world to be SIMILAR in audience and tone, I don't want it to be a COPY and I want it to stand out, be unique!

I spent at least two hours researching Ben and Holly this morning and I've learned a lot about the creators' intentions and the response of the audience to the show. It's been a really successful product and it's useful to evaluate why that is/what makes a world so charming.

I do think what makes Ben and Holly pleasing to me is that it's not 3D CGI like most contemporary children's television, it's much more basic in its construction. B&H, alongside 'The Little Princess' and 'Charlie and Lola' are all flat, 2D animation shows that I find easier to watch and enjoy. In this way is is quite nostalgic of the older, classic children's television that I grew up with. I do find physical puppetry and stop-motion much more engaging as a viewer, but CGI puppetry is too in-your-face and modern, lacking the honest and handmade charm of physical puppetry.