What about QPootle5 and Nick Butterworth?

BRANDORA Redaktion - Lina Breuer (Translation by Judith Jakobs) March 2017
   
 

 

Nick Butterworth is a British graphic designer and illustrator and has early on been able to see some of his works on book covers. However, only when his own children develop an interest in children’s books, he comes up with the idea of not only illustrating the cover, but filling every page of a book with his own illustrations. Nick gives the idea a chance and soon has to discover, that an illustrator, who is able to decorate huge show-windows with his works, earns far less money than a nameless graphic designer.

So when one day Butterworth sits at his desk, contemplating and idly doodling on a blank piece of paper, suddenly a little alien jumps out of his pen. On the search for a main character for he draws the horns of his favourite animal – a giraffe – that unexpectedly evolve into a little friendly alien. Its name – QPootle5 – is a combination of letters and numbers that Nick had randomly written down while doodling. The alien and the illustrator immediately get along quite well: Nick simply keeps on drawing and thus learns more and more about the world of the little alien.

Soon he completes his first draft of a space ship driven by canister, hairdryer and imagination. The world of his new little hero opens up to Nick and reveals a whole new galaxy. QPootle5 and his friends Oopsy, Stella, Eddi, Groobie, and Bud-D have countless adventures in the vastness of outer space. The stories revolve around friendship, cooperation, and diversity. All the different, entertaining characters come with their own quirks and thus develop a uniqueness and special kind of recognisability. Nick discovers something of himself in all his little friends: Oopsy’s love of painting, the readiness to help of Bud-D the Robot, or Eddie’s undecidedness which manifests in two heads. Children are invited to do the same. The stories not only entertain, but also provide kids with role models and idols to help them find their way in life.

The first adventures of the little green chap with horns on his head are well received and soon become best-selling books. Butterworth gets first offers from producers to make a TV show to QPootle5. However, due to various reasons, at first he never signs an agreement.

Later, his soon Ben suggests to give it a go. He has been working for TV and film productions and thus founds their own production company Snapper Productions together with Nick’s wife Annette. QPootle5 begins his journey from book to screen.

 

 

Nick starts a game that occupies a team of eighty people for more than two years. A long and strenuous time for the author, but he never once thinks of giving up.

„Life is full of ups and downs. Everyone who expects to experience only ups will inevitably be disappointed! There are difficult times, but valuable things always take their toll. Hard work, patience, and perseverance are at least as important as flashes of creative inspiration that stimulate the process and fuel the project.”

Their team consists of animators, actors, writers, musicians, and many other exerts. Each of them contributes their share to QPootle5’s overwhelming success. Thus this high-class, heart-warming and entertaining series finally finds its way to Germany. With WDR mediagroup becoming official licensing partner for German-speaking territories, a co-operation is born to the great benefit of both parties.

QPootle5 does not feel alien; he perfectly fits into the WDR licensing portfolio. Working together feels only natural and is great fun”, says Julia Wurzer, WDRmg. And even Nick Butterworth is relieved to have found not only business partners, but also friends. He could not have wished for a better partner and with companies like NICI or Bullyland on board, there is plenty of opportunity to create high-quality merchandise. After thorough and intense preparations now first product ranges enter the German market and bring the little alien QPootle5 and his friends closer to his young and not-so-young fans in Germany. Lunch boxes, drinking bottles, and cuddly cushion: QPootle5, Oopsy, Eddi, Stella and many other characters now populate retails shelves in toy stores. Dedicated soft toys to QPootle5 and his best friend Oopsy proudly sit on Nick Butterworth´s desk to inspire new adventures.

Because one thing is for certain: We will definitely hear more about the interstellar adventures of the little heroes in the future! The next season is already in the pipeline. Although Nick gives nothing away, we are quite positive that QPootle5 will meet new friends on his future missions. We are really excited to learn more about the unparalleled heroes and their future adventures!