Based on the adventures of a seven-year-old and his dad, ‘Spike & Dadda’ is an animation with an element of reality.
Founder of Brisbane based studio BigFish.tv, Sheldon Lieberman has teamed up with his son Spike for a series of monthly short animations. With a growing cult audience, some episodes have screened at over 30 international film and animation festivals.
Having found a missing element in the animation market, Sheldon wanted to bring real life conversational audio to the forefront. Teaming up with animator Igor Coric, ‘Spike & Dadda’ is a spin-off series from ‘Gefiltefish’, an animation based on Sheldon’s family that he started in 1999.
We asked Sheldon a little about what he does and why he loves doing it.
How long have you been writing animation for?
Nearly 20 years.
What is it you love about animation?
My stuff is quite dry, often has no beginnings, middles, ends, sometimes no story line... Animation fixes everything.
Why do you love writing animation, what about a screenplay or a novel?
I have a very short attention span so I like it short. Maybe one day, on the right drug, I'll have enough focus to write something longer.
What gave you the idea for ‘Spike & Dadda’?
My son's name is Spike and he calls me Dadda.
What was it like teaming up with your son for this project?
[It] was very easy - what was coming out of his mouth was so precious. So I just pulled out my iPhone and hit record. Done.
Tell me a little about the animation?
I've always believed our own lives can be just as entertaining, if not more so, than the scripted we watch. Normally content is written, rewritten, changed, researched, changed again, etc. etc. ‘Spike & Dadda’ was a challenge to see if we could make real life hold people's attention and hopefully make them laugh. From the feedback we receive, we're touching people in a very special place. I like touching people in a special place.
Watch more episodes of 'Spike & Dadda'.
