Bristol-based toon shop, Aardman Animations, has announced the appointment of Richard Goleszowski to the new position of creative director, broadcast and development. Known to most as Golly, Goleszowksi has been with Aardman for more than 20 years and has directed many of the studio’s shorts, TV series and blurbs. Most recently, he helmed the acclaimed Creature Comforts series for Aardman and ITV1, which will launch its second season this fall.
This new move is part of Aardman’s overall strategy to strengthen its small-screen presence. Under the leadership of Miles Bullough as head of broadcast and development department, the company has several projects in development and ready to air in the near future. Goleszowski will oversee all the creative aspects of these projects, including the new children’s show Shaun The Sheep, which will go into production for the BBC and WDR this August. (Wallace & Gromit fans will remember Shaun as the wooly character featured in the company’s popular stop-motion shorts, long before the pair made the transition to the big screen.)
Goleszowki began his career at Aardman as the first person to be employed by company co-founders Dave Sproxton and Peter Lord, more than two decades ago. He quickly became a full-time animator and during the following years, he animated and directed Ident, part of the Lyp Sync series for Channel 4. Among the animator’s other top credits are Peter Gabriel’s revolutionary Sledgehammer music video, Rex The Runt and Robbie the Reindeer.
"We are absolutely delighted the Golly has agreed to join the Broadcast and Development team," says Bullough. "He is an exceptional talent who really understands what makes an Aardman show both special and different."
