Please also see Ian Mackinnon and the Joint Interview.
Peter Saunders is a Creative Director / Executive Producer and co-founder of Mackinnon & Saunders Ltd; Creations seen worldwide. Peter Saunders studied animation before developing his puppet making skills on Jim Henson’s feature film The Dark Crystal in the early 1980s. He later learned to adapt and miniaturise animatronic mechanisms, which enabled him to create highly sophisticated stop-motion puppets at Cosgrove Hall Productions, one of Europe’s largest animation companies.
He was joined at the studio by Ian Mackinnon and together they pioneered new techniques in the art of puppet-making on productions such as 1987 BAFTA winner, The Reluctant Dragon, and 1991 Emmy recipient, The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship.
The Honorary Award is in recognition of Peter’s vision and contribution to establishing Mackinnon & Saunders, now recognised as one of the world’s leading puppet-making companies. More broadly it acknowledges his skill in bringing to life some of the world’s best known animated and stop-motion characters. It further recognises his part in setting ambitious standards within the British animation industry.