Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears

Quirkiest animation ever! Surreal, fast-moving, dreamy and vibrant, this rollercoaster of artist Digby Webster’s hand-drawn oil pastels celebrates neurodiversity as it follows two friends with unique gifts.

Great friends Blockhead and Sparkles are mixing their magic to supply their Emporium of Cakes and Treats. But can you have too much magic?

What works here is conflict between these two best buddies. It’s not all sunshine and roses in creative Crip Town; alliances can be cut, friends can fall out. It takes courage to repair the damage. And maybe a bigger threat. While each friend veers off to growl and sulk, an Inconsolable Prince is flooding out the entire town with his tears.

The friends are forced to save the town. And each other.

You’ll float along with this one, being mesmerised by the colours and lulled by the dense soundtrack featuring just enough voice-over and sound effects, music and outdoor audio tracks. It’s a mix of kids’ cartoon time and intense mature emotions of jealousy, rivalry, loss and forgiveness.

This is another great outcome of Screen NSWs Screenability program, an initiative which takes scripts and ideas proposed by Deaf and disabled artist/film-makers and turns them into screen reality.

Read more from filmmakers Digby Webster and Lauren Orrell interview on the making of Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears.