Last updated 14:58, Friday, 27 June 2008

TWO animation students from the University of Cumbria have won a prestigious award at the national Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards.

RTS AWARD WINNERS: University of Cumbria students Ian Wharton, left, and Ed Shires

Ian Wharton and Ed Shires, BA Multimedia undergraduates in Design and Digital Animation, won for their animated film entitled “Solar”, which was one of only three nominated in undergraduate animation category.

The judges were very impressed with the film at the ceremony, which took place at the Barbican Centre on May 16.

They said it was a “simple story, beautifully executed” which had an original look which was “art directed to perfection, with very high production values”. The judges added that “the animation, style, music and effects all contributed to a truly atmospheric fantasy world.”

Ian said: “I’m really pleased to have won the award with Ed. It’s a real testament to what can be achieved at the University of Cumbria.”

Ed added: “It’s great to have our hard work rewarded in this way, it makes all the late nights worthwhile.”

Maxwell Robertson teaches Multimedia Design and Digital Animation at the University’s Brampton Road Campus where the two students study. He said: “I’m very pleased for Ian and Ed and would like to congratulate them on their fantastic achievement.

“This recognition is richly deserved and I’m sure it give them a real boost in their future careers.”

Ian and Ed had already picked the top animation prize at the regional North East and Cumbria RTS Award for the same film.

Not only that, they recently won the Student in Computer Graphics category at the Escape Awards, a celebration of the wealth of computer graphics talent in the UK held in London.

It’s not the first time students from Cumbria have found success at the RTS awards. Students from the Media and Multimedia courses at the Faculty of the Arts at Brampton Road in Carlisle have regularly won recognition by the society at the regional awards since 1994.

The University of Cumbria offers a range of courses in Media, Multimedia and Journalism at its Brampton Road campus. To find out more go to www.cumbria.ac.uk.