2012 Olympic mascots - 'Made-in-China' label animates MP Mark Field

Published: 28 May 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

THEIR names evoke the virtues of Arthurian knights, but Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville must wish designers had given them each a famously English stiff-upper-lip to stave of their latest controversy.

Despite pledges that the 2012 Olympics would be a showcase of British talent, the production credits of the  high-profile film to promote the much-derided, alien-like creatures read Made in China.

It has sparked a backlash from Soho’s animation industry that claims Olympic bosses should have looked to them to bring the mascots to life and pump money into the area.

The animation contract was awarded by the Olympic Organising Committee to Crystal CG – the company behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, part of which was revealed to have been computer-generated.

The animators’ cause is being championed by Cities of London and Westminster MP Mark Field who called the decision a “missed opportunity”.

Oli Hyatt, founder of Bafta award-winning animators Blue Zoo based off Great Portland Street, said: “Our problem is not with China, it’s with the fact that animators in this country are really struggling for work, and they ship this out to get done. Some companies would have chewed off their right arm to get  this work.” 

Mr Field has campaigned alongside the Soho-based lobby group Animation UK for greater investment in Soho’s animation industry in what is a competitive global marketplace.

He said: “Aside    from the fact that the awarding of the Olympics mascot animation contract to Crystal CG runs contrary to the official platitudes about the Games being a fantastic opportunity to showcase Britain, it also represents a sadly missed opportunity to support our home-grown animators.

“For some time now, they have been struggling to attract business as a result of the huge funding incentives in terms of tax breaks and creative funds from abroad. Now nearly every country in the world with an animation industry is offering government-backed incentives to attract animation work. 

“What a missed opportunity for a nation bursting with animation talent to believe that a Chinese company is the best choice when it comes to animating the British mascot design.”

The mascots were unveiled last week on The One Show on BBC1. They will soon be ubiquitous on T-shirts, key-rings and tea-towels, with merchandise due to hit the stores in July to mark the two-year countdown to the opening ceremony. Committee chairman Lord Coe said they would “inspire kids” and “tell the story of our proud Olympic and Paralympic history”.

A London 2012 spokesman said: “The launch of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots was a fantastic showcase for British creativity and design. Wenlock and Mandeville were designed by London firm Iris and the music for the film was composed by a young British composer. 

“The role played by Crystal CG was to render the film into animation. Crystal CG was announced as a London 2012 sponsor more than a year ago, following a competitive pitch process. Since becoming a sponsor, they have set up a London office, employing British workers… 97 per cent of the contracts let by the London Organising Committee have gone to UK companies so far.”