Cartoon lifeboat making waves on global television
A CARTOON lifeboat is making a worldwide splash with his nautical adventures, inspired by the work of a real Ulster RNLI vessel.
The 1.7 million Lifeboat Luke production is the creation of Ulster cartoonists at Straandlooper animation studios in Holywood.
Each episode follows the adventures of Luke and his friends in the magical seaside town of Donaghadoo.
Aimed at four to seven-year-olds, the cartoon introduces children to fun characters such as Rab the unlucky crab and Gannet the incontinent seabird.
After working on such animation classics as Roobarb and Custard, Lifeboat Luke creator Alastair McIlwain drew inspiration closer to home for his latest venture.
"I've lived in Donaghadee for many years and am very familiar with the lifeboat so you could say there's a degree of inspiration there. Donaghadoo sounds a little more magical though.
"My son is called Luke so I suppose it's been quite a personal creation."
The cartoon boat has already won the hearts of people in Donaghadee, with locals hoping the success of the character will help attract tourists to the seaside town.
Developed in conjunction with RNLI, the series also aims to teach children to respect the sea with safety messages running through the episodes.
The educational aspect of Luke has such global appeal that it is already screened throughout the world.
The cartoon is currently broadcast on RTE and has just been translated into Danish to be shown on television in Denmark later this month.
Lifeboat Luke has also been picked up in Slovenia and South Africa – and the Straandlooper team has just been approached by Al Jazeera, the Arabic language network which broadcasts to over 20 territories in the Middle East.
Studio manager Tim Bryans, whose father was a medic on the Donaghadee lifeboat, said: "It may seem a bit odd but a lot of the communities over there are sea-based.
"The Middle East is made up of lots of little island communities. It's quite an affluent community and they like the fact that Lifeboat Luke is family-based and educational."
Despite his worldwide success, Luke is still to find a television home in his native Ulster.
Tim said: "People here can watch it if they have access to RTE but obviously we'd love to get it on Northern Ireland screens because this is where his roots are.
"It's just a tough time at the minute because broadcasters don't want to spend the money bringing in new programming.
"Everyone who sees Lifeboat Luke loves it. We know we have a great product, it's just a matter of getting it out there."
But Luke can still boast local popularity, with fan mail and letters regularly arriving at Straandlooper headquarters.
Speaking of her organisation's involvement with Lifeboat Luke, RNLI fundraising manager Anna Classon said: "Our lifeboats and volunteer lifeboat crews can be involved in some very difficult and dangerous rescues so being involved with Lifeboat Luke, which appeals to younger viewers, is great fun.
"Today's Lifeboat Luke fans may be our future lifeboat crews."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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