Poignant animation on stolen sketchbook scoops national RTS award

A moving animation about the theft of a sketchbook has been crowned Best Undergraduate Animation at the prestigious national RTS Student Television Awards 2024.

SKETCHBOOK, created by animation graduate James Watt at the School of Digital Arts (SODA), follows a homeless woman who breaks into a car to steal a bag, which she later discovers contains a sketchbook.

The plot was inspired by filmmaker, animator, concept artist, writer and director Watt’s own experience of sketchbook theft, with judges calling it ‘funny, emotional and beautiful’.

SKETCHBOOK was one of four films created by SODA animation students to win at the RTS North West Student Awards earlier this year, and is now a national RTS Award winner for the University’s BA (Hons) Animation.

Speaking about his winning film, animation graduate Watt said: “It’s a great pleasure to have my work acknowledged by such a respected film award. In the summer before my third year at Manchester Met my car got broken into and half of all my possessions got stolen, including my sketchbook.

“I was devastated and wondered if the thief had looked through my sketchbook, and if they felt guilty. The idea then spiralled into a story I would further develop into SKETCHBOOK. I’m thrilled the judges liked the result.”

Senior Lecturer in Animation Kristin Marshall, added: “The SODA animation staff team is delighted the RTS has chosen to recognise the extraordinary talent, craftsmanship and storytelling in James’s beautiful film SKETCHBOOK.

“Winning best undergraduate animation at the National RTS Awards is an extraordinary achievement, the first national win for the SODA animation programme, and very well deserved. Many congratulations, James! We’re certain you have a very bright future in animation.” 

Using traditional 2D animation, Watt planned out the key poses for the sequences in SKETCHBOOK, then filmed, observed, and sketched himself moving, which then informed the final animation.

His latest award follows several recent successes for SODA students, with final year filmmaking students’ work being praised by top industry talent at the Filmmaking Awards, and with Senior Lecturer Loran Dunn’s award-winning Hoard being screened at major independent cinemas across the UK.

Manchester Met is celebrating its 200^th year anniversary in 2024, and this month is looking at how creative excellence has been championed across two centuries – and continues to shape the industry today.