It all began at Manchester Regional College of Art and Design when Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall first met
In 1957 they started working at Granada TV in the design department and five years later the Company Purchased a Rostrum Camera to manually shoot the title sequences for programmes
The camera would become a revelation for the two allowing them to shoot frame by frame over a flat bed, a way that animation scenes could be created and in the early 1970’s Brian would produce the Magic Ball animation series bringing Mark onboard as an illustrator
The same year the pair left Granada setting up their own studio on Peter Street in the centre of Manchester
The rest as they say is history and Sale Library has collected that history with the opening of a new permanent exhibition of Cosgrove Hall Films Archive and Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Chorlton and the Wheelies, and friends will have a forever home
The remarkable collection, for which Sale’s Waterside is proud custodian, celebrates a unique chapter in British animation film and TV history and holds a special place in the childhood memories of so many. Featuring much-loved and iconic characters created by the award-winning Manchester studio, the exhibition will add an exciting new visitor experience to the library.
The exhibition features original puppets, props, sets, and scripts, displayed alongside the storybooks that inspired classics such as The Wind in the Willows and The BFG.
As visitors meet their favourite characters – Postman Pat, Noddy, and many more – they’ll discover the fascinating history of the studio, explore the artistry behind the animation process, and celebrate a creative legacy that continues to inspire generations of storytellers and animators.
Rosy Whittemore, Project Curator at Cosgrove Hall Films Archive, says,
“This is a really significant milestone for the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive. To have this incredible collection on permanent display realises an ambition the team at Waterside has held for many years. We know the reaction this work gets from visitors of all ages, and the power it has to ignite the imagination and bring joy. In a digital world, it’s extraordinary to be able to see the craft, dedication, and love that goes into hand-drawn and stop-motion animation.”
