ALLAN PLENDERLEITH – Scriptwriter/Interactive Writer/Director
Allan has been a creator/scriptwriter/script editor/development executive in children’s television for over 25 years.
Allan developed and is Head Writer on CG animated series Deer Squad Nickelodeon International's first China-originated series, the result of a partnership between Chinese streamer iQiyi, Nickelodeon International and VIS Kids, a unit of ViacomCBS International Studios. The show achieved exceptional results following its launch in Asia in summer 2020, and Australia, New Zealand and the UK in autumn 2020. It premiered in the US in January 2021 and continues its rollout to other territories worldwide. A second season is in production.
Other top-rated children's television shows Allan has worked on include Go Jetters, Thomas and Friends, Horrid Henry, Tree Fu Tom and Noddy. He has worked as a script editor and has written development bibles and pilot scripts for many production companies and broadcasters all over the world. He is also an experienced writer for interactive platforms, having written and developed over 25 apps and video games for multi-platform. He created, wrote and produced the world’s first interactive movie, The Hunting, released to rave reviews on iOS, as well as the BAFTA-nominated interactive feature film The Bunker, released on Playstation4, XBoxOne, Nintendo Switch, mobile devices and PC/MAC.
SCRIPTWRITING Allan’s writing career began at the age of 19 with his first play ‘The Spirit of Love’, selected by BBC Scotland for entry to the Radio Times Drama Awards. His short film script ‘Smile’ was selected as a finalist for the Tartan Shorts Awards.
Allan is the writer and creator of GORDON THE GARDEN GNOME - a 52 x 11’ animated series for pre-school children voiced by Alan Titchmarsh for BAFTA award-winning Collingwood O’Hare Films. The series launched on CBBC and CBeebies with viewing figures of over 1.2 million on CBeebies, and rolled out to other territories including Cartoon Network USA (Tickle U), TVO Canada, ABC Australia, ZDF Germany and TV5 France. Merchandising licences through Southern Star Media included garden gnomes and DVDs.
His first short film SPIF: A Stupid Public Information Film won the Bradford Animation Festival Best Web Animation award and was picked up as part of MTV’s comedy output.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS:
BBC BITESIZE – KS1 MUSIC Scriptwriter (BBC Bitesize web series)
GO JETTERS Scriptwriter (CBeebies)
LITTLE PEOPLE Scriptwriter (HIT Entertainment)
THE NUMTUMS Scriptwriter (CBeebies)
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TILLY AND FRIENDS Scriptwriter (CBeebies) WINNER Best Animation at Irish Film & Television Awards
BUGGLEBURY Bible development & Pilot Episodes
TREE FU TOM Scriptwriter and series development (CBeebies)
TILLY AND FRIENDS Scriptwriter (CBeebies) WINNER Best Animation at Irish Film & Television Awards
DRIVER DAN’S STORY TRAIN Scriptwriter (CBeebies) WINNER Best Pre - series 1 and 2 School Show at Kidscreen 2013
MIKO AND PIKO Scriptwriter & Bible development
DR JIM Scriptwriter & Bible development
CLOUDTOPIA Scriptwriter & App Development
NODDY IN TOYTOWN Scriptwriter (Milkshake)
NODDY’S MAGICAL MOONDUST Scriptwriter (30-minute Christmas Special (Chorion, released on DVD and theatrically)
Scriptwriter (Milkshake) THOMAS AND FRIENDS
HORRID HENRY (CITV) Nominated for Nickelodeon Kids Choice - series 1 and 2 Awards, and 3 times nominated for Best Animation at BAFTA Children’s Awards.
NINA AND THE NEURONS Script Editor (CBeebies)
ZEAMU MUSIC Scriptwriter & Bible development
ROY AHOY Scriptwriter & Bible development
ARTY Script Editor & Scriptwriter (Tinopolis/TFI)
DEAD GORGEOUS Scriptwriter (CBBC)
THE FUNKY VALLEY SHOW Scriptwriter (Milkshake)
FUNKY TOWN Scriptwriter (Milkshake)
A FUNKY CHRISTMAS Scriptwriter (Milkshake)
FUNKY VALLEY Scriptwriter (Milkshake)
GORDON THE GARDEN GNOME 52 episodes, Creator & Scriptwriter (CBeebies)
THE LAMPIES Scriptwriter (CBeebies)
WEBSTA Scriptwriter & Bible development (Granada)
FOXBUSTERS Scriptwriter (Cosgrove Hall, CITV) BAFTA WINNER - Best Animated Series
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LITTLE ROBOTS Scriptwriter and part of creative brainstorming team (CBeebies)
WRITING FOR INTERACTIVE
Allan has written and developed over 25 bestselling apps for children including the Tickle Finger series with over 7 million downloads worldwide.
THE NEXT STEP - THE GAME Writer - Story and Dialogue (CBBC Digital)
THE BUNKER Executive Producer, Creator, Writer & Director (PS4, XBoxOne, PC/MAC) - Nominated for BEST GAME, BAFTA Cymru 2017; BEST AUDIO DESIGN, MOST ORIGINAL GAME and GAME OF THE YEAR at TIGA awards 2016; and BEST DESIGN at AzPlay 2016
THE HUNTING Executive Producer, Creator, Writer & Director (iOS)
TICKLE FINGER IN THE JUNGLE Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
TICKLE FINGER AND THE Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS) DINOSAURS
TICKLE FINGER IN THE JUNGLE Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
THE TICKLE FINGER Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
THE CHICKEN & THE EGG Creator, Coder, Writer & Illustrator (iOS and Android)
POLLY POODLE’S NOISY BOOK Creator, Coder, Writer & Illustrator (iOS and Android)
TOMMY’S TALKING BOTTOM Creator, Coder, Writer & Illustrator (iOS and Android)
THE SMELLY SPROUT Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
THE BOY GIANT Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
PRINCESS CHOCOLATE Creator, Writer & Illustrator (iOS)
SHORT FILMS
THE GREYHOUND Writer/Director/Animator (2007). The touching story of a greyhound doomed to a slow-paced life with a frail old man. Officially selected for over 13 international film festivals.
S.P.I.F. (STUPID PUBLIC INFORMATION FILM) Writer/Director/Animator. Bradford Animation Festival, Best Web Animation (2004); Ottawa International Film Festival, Best Internet Short (2005); Montreal Short Film Festival (GLITCH) Best Short Film (2004); Anchorage International Film Festival, Official Selection (2005). S.P.I.F. is available through MTV and other websites specialising in short films.
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SMILE Short film script for children. Shortlisted for Tartan Smalls film prize.
CHAT THE CELEBRITY CAT 10-minute adult comedy show, co-creator and co-writer with Allan’s wife Rebeccah Plenderleith. Produced by Bermuda Shorts and transmitted in Channel 4’s Animation Week.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS - AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Allan’s book titles for younger children: TEDDY CHRISTMAS, THE SNOWMAN STRIKES BACK, THE TINY TREE, THE BONKERS BANANA, THE CHRISTMAS CARROT, THE SILLY SATSUMA, PRINCESS CHOCOLATE, THE BOY GIANT, THE SMELLY SPROUT, WHAT DOES SANTA DO ON BOXING DAY
Comedy titles: Over 40 books in The Odd Squad cartoon series.
Previous experience - advertising
Allan worked as an art director at BMP DDB Needham where he wrote and art directed television, radio and press advertisements. He has also illustrated for many advertising agencies/production companies, producing artwork, character designs and storyboards. Clients include the BBC, Nesquik, McCain, Homepride, Kawasaki, Walkers, Knorr, Thomas Cook, Boddingtons and Cadbury.
www.imdb.com/plenderleith Kidstvwriter.com
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