Last updated at 13:58, Friday, 23 October 2009

Meet Boo, Frankie, Vampie, Ghoul and Mossy. They are five frightful friends who hope to let those in the real world know that there are a growing number of life-changing opportunities available, even for those who think their prospects are ‘dead and buried’.

Louise Kneath with Boo, one of her creepy creations

The creepy cartoon characters are being launched into cyberspace this Halloween as part of a new online campaign from Cumbria Higher Learning, a partnership of educational establishments promoting lifelong learning and progression into higher education to all.

The characters have been created by Louise Kneath, a 24-year-old multimedia designer at Cumbrian Newspapers in Carlisle.

Louise, a local graduate in multimedia design and digital animation, has created five 30-second animations that will be on YouTube from October 31.

They will also appear on Learning’s website as well as sites for local colleges, Connexions and the University of Cumbria.

Former Border Television broadcaster Jonathan Willoughby provides the voiceovers.

Each of CHL’s grim fairy tales features one of the characters – Boo the bogeyman, Mossy the zombie, Ghoul the poltergeist, Vampie the female vampire and Frank, the Michael Jackson-loving Frankenstein’s monster.

They cleverly highlight examples of how you can transform yourself through education. For example, Mossy the zombie initially appears to be ‘dead and buried’ in a graveyard before she finds herself resurrected by the hope of a more fulfilling life after going to university.

Frankie, meanwhile, is seen sewing on a new arm while a slogan states: “You don’t have to leave Cumbria to reinvent yourself.”

This is the first time CHL has adopted a new media approach to raising awareness about higher education, branching away from traditional pamphlets and flyers used to attract would-be students.

The creative campaign may also see The Creeps making new friends on Facebook or having followers on Twitter, another social networking website.

The campaign was worked up by public relations consultant Alan Air on behalf of CHL, who commissioned Louise to create the animations.

Louise, who graduated in 2006 from the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, a predecessor of the University of Cumbria, said: “This was a dream brief for me based on my style of artwork. I call them The Creeps.

“I’m really pleased with Frankie. I’m a huge Michael Jackson fan.

“I like the way Michael would reinvent himself so it’s nice that I’ve been able to put a little bit of my mark on that.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work into the creations and animation over a six-month period so I hope they have a positive impact.

“As a former student myself, it’s nice to be able to put something back into the county by supporting higher education in the area.

“Going online is the first thing many students do now, that is the way further and higher education is going more and more so this is a great medium to use.”

Alan said: “I think Louise is an incredibly gifted artist and her characters are inspirational. They are part of Cumbria Higher Learning’s ongoing awareness-raising programme about the educational opportunities now available.

“I gave Louise a brief about a family of ‘dark and alternative’ cartoon characters needing an education to create a better life for themselves and she came back with something visually stunning and innovative.”

He added: “What is education about if it’s not about stimulating people, smashing through barriers, challenging preconceptions and stereotypes, looking at life on different levels and looking to new horizons?

“That’s why this campaign has been such great fun to work on. It throws up bizarre characters with whom we can all identify on one level or another at some point in our lives.”

Louise has been supported on the project by her boyfriend Ian Gilbertson, a fellow graduate who specialised in film and illustration.

She said: “Ian provided very useful constructive feedback throughout the project. He also does some scriptwriting and is mad on films and movie-making so he takes a different look at things. He has a great eye for artistic detail, being a fellow graduate of the university.”

First published at 11:20, Saturday, 17 October 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk