Animation students produce official Prodigy video

Level 2 Animation students prove that you don't have to wait until graduation to get ahead in the business.

Gary Carse (Animation) and Daniel Waterman (3D Character Animation and Special Effects) have gained a head start on current graduates by forming their own production company whilst still in the second year of their degrees here at Staffordshire.

Carse and Waterman Productions Limited are based here in Stoke-on-Trent. The company will build on their recent success in producing the animation for the music video for Warrior's Dance by The Prodigy.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Daniel said: "We were both working on freelance projects when Gary got a call from director Corin Hardy, asking if he'd be interested in doing the animation for Warrior's Dance on quite a tight budget...Gary asked if I could help him out. It was weird shooting a music video, going to lectures and trying to keep it quiet that a well-known director was here too."

Gary and Daniel were then approached to provide animation for the recent Santander ad campaign starring Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton.

3D Character Animation Tutor, Adrian Tooth said: "It was great to see the Prodigy film played in the Student Union...the whole place knew it was our lads who had produced it , and they got a standing ovation. There is a great buzz around the studios as students get an opportunity to produce work for industry, build a professional portfolio and get feedback from both academic and professional staff. This is a win, win situation for everyone involved."

In addition to their studies, Gary and Daniel are completing production on a schools project for Channel 4 and have just pitched for an advertisement for Argos.

Reflecting on their future after graduation, Daniel told The Sentinel: "We are thinking about staying here. It depends on where the best funding is available and I know Stoke-on-Trent does offer good funding for business start-ups."

Read The Sentinel's interview with Gary and Daniel in full

Carse and Waterman Productions Limited