Ryan Cooper built Mukpuddy with two buddies fresh out of animation school and has grown the business supplying animated children’s shows to TVNZ, Channel Ten and ABC (Australia). From the beginning, Mukpuddy has been committed to telling funny, heartfelt, original stories, and creating rich, interesting worlds for their characters to explore and grow in. Ryan is thrilled to be continuing the legacy of Spike Mulligan’s Badjelly the Witch with the TV series and Badjelly, his first picture book for children. Ryan talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about the new Badjelly picture book, inspired by Badjelly the Witch by Spike Milligan. What was it like creating a new version of this iconic and classic book?
For lack of a better word... daunting. I love Spike's book, as do so many kiwis, and I in no way wanted to have our version be seen as a replacement for the original. I wanted to honor the silliness and darkness of the original story, while also infusing an almost self-referential tone that hopefully acts as a cheeky knowing nod to fans of the 1973 classic.
What are a few things that readers will find different from the original as it is updated for a new audience of children?
Well the major difference is this is a picture book, so the main focus is on the beautiful illustrations. We wanted the art to flow in a way that the reader feels as though they are experiencing what Tim and Rose are experiencing as they enter the dreaded Dark Forest. As a Dad myself, I know what it's like to read a book to my kids every night, and I really wanted this to be a version of the book that has all the key ingredients of the classic, but that also is a somewhat abridged version that I hope is an easy and fun read for a parent when they are settling their kids down at night.
The picture book accompanies the new TV series. Can you tell us a little about who is involved in the TV series?
So Mukpuddy Animation is my animation studio that I started with Tim Evans and Alex Leighton in 2002. We've been making cartoons in Aotearoa for the past 20+ years with Badjelly being the first time we have adapted someone else's work to screen. I co-directed the series with Mukpuddy co-founders Alex Lieghton and Tim Evans. We were incredibly lucky to be able to attract amazing talent like Miriam Margolyes to voice the horridible Badjelly herself and Rhys Darby as the somewhat disgruntled sausage hat wearing Binklebonk.
How did the TV series and accompanying book come about?
A few years ago we pitched our approach for a Badjelly animated series to the wonderful Milligan family and the were incredibly enthusiastic and very supportive of us bringing their dad's story to a new generation, while also giving avid fans of the original book and audio all the classic moments they would expect.
What was your routine or process when writing this book? Was it hard to write in rhyme, or is this something you do naturally?
I would try to write a few pages each day, but as I was also head writer/director on the animated Badjelly series it was a little stop start to be honest. I love writing in rhyme, and it does come naturally to me. I love the almost puzzle-like aspect to writing in rhyme. Sometimes it all flows perfectly in order, and other times you know the line you want to end on, so you work backwards. I set myself the challenge of not rhyming the same word twice... which some days had me questioning why I did that to myself, haha.
What did you enjoy the most about writing this picture book?
I think I enjoyed finding fun and inventive ways to incorporate nods to the original story the most. There are so many iconic moments in Spike's original book that finding the perfect moment to drop Binklebonk's “Tree tree one two three” or “Stinkypoo, stinkpoo” was an absolute joy. Writing a book based on a TV show that is based on a book was definitely a unique position to find myself in, but allowed me to feel a sense of distance that allowed me to write a version of the story that felt like my own.
How did you work with the illustrator, Roisin Kelly?
It was a very collaborative project. I would write a couple of pages worth of verses then we would sit around and plan out the flow of the images and how they would work with the text. It's always a fun part of the process as I would often picture it one way in my head, but Roisin would offer up an alternative idea that worked even better. That's the best thing about working with people you trust. Long time Mukpuddy Art Director Matt Haworth also played a big part in planning out the book and illustrating the cover image.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
I had a good sleep, haha. Completing the book coincided with completing the Badjelly TV series, so we had a nice big shared lunch and a nice crew hangout.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
I recently finished Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill. Loved the post-apocalyptic setting and the way crucial tidbits of information are dropped throughout the journey. Revelations about the lead character are mentioned in an almost throw-away fashion, so much so that you find yourself stopping in your tracks to double check you read what you just read.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I'd love to write more books set in the world of Badjelly (with the blessing of the Milligan family). I'd love to write spinoffs! Maybe a day in the life of Binklebonk dealing with pesky trouser robbers, or maybe we follow Fluffybum's cheeky adventures. Spike created a world busting with wonderful, colourful characters that it would be a shame not to visit them more often.