Makers of vibrant kids’ 3D craft adventure series Pop Paper City unveiled a behind-the-scenes cast video showcasing the exceptional young talent who bring this enchanting preschool series to life. With a diverse cast of children and the esteemed actor Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso, Christopher Robin), this video offers a glimpse into the making of the vibrant, captivating preschool series.
The animated series serves as a gateway to creativity and imagination for children across the globe. Through emphasis on sustainable principles woven into storylines such as Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, the show inspires young minds to adopt eco-conscious behaviours from an early age, fostering a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
The heart of Pop Paper City lies with its vibrant characters, voiced by talented young actors. Eden Gough brings the playful Plom to life, joined by Sadie Sweet as thoughtful Phoebe, Rohan Boucher as quirky Hooper, Hannah Silverman as feisty Mae-Mae and Fly, and Taran Beyer as sweet Zip. The dedication and passion these children bring to their roles are truly inspiring.
Creator and series director Georgina Hurcombe shared, “It was wonderful working with the cast and seeing them grow in confidence. I always chuckle when thinking about Taran, who was just five years old when he auditioned for Zip! Can you imagine being on the planet for just five years and suddenly being a star of a 52-episode kids’ series?”
Renowned actor and comedian Nick Mohammed voices Helping Hand, the friend and guardian to the paper characters in Pop Paper City. Helping Hand is an expert in crafts, guiding his paper friends through their creative adventures.
Speaking about his experience, voice director Dom Boucher, from The Sound Company (Peppa Pig, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) said, “I was so excited when I first saw the artwork coming through with the characters and the beautiful designs… I couldn’t believe it. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, it was completely stunning… and right from that moment I just wanted to be involved with it. I love working with great actors, that’s a thrill for me.” Boucher further mentioned, “This was the product of a year and a half worth of work. To finally be able to sit down and watch it stand up alongside all the other amazing content on Milkshake! (Channel 5 UK) I’m so happy to see it, it’s brilliant!”
“A big thank you to the children and the guardians for their support throughout the series. The children were a delight to work with, and it’s wonderful to give them the limelight they deserve. Often, when children voice animated characters, their efforts go unseen, so it’s lovely to share this behind-the-scenes insight,” said series creator and director Georgina Hurcombe.
Assistant director Connie Kucani, who sat in on many of the voice recording sessions, played a crucial role in the production alongside Boucher within the voice recording sessions. “Producing such a large series, over 9.5 hours of screen time, is always a massive team effort. We hope this cast video acts as inspiration to other young people who might want to get into acting or voice-over work. For many of the cast, this was their first big role,” Hurcombe noted.
Pop Paper City is distributed by Aardman and is airing globally. The series has been sold to 177 territories worldwide to broadcasters such as Milkshake! in the UK, CBeebies, HBO, ABC Australia, and many more. The series was produced with the help of the British Film Institute. Produced in Dorset, it is the first children’s animated series to come out of the region.
Pop Paper City team members are currently developing a feature film, expanding the enchanting world of the series onto the big screen. Additionally, an array of merchandise and licensing opportunities are set to launch in 2024.