Sundance Channel tonight premieres the award-wining, six-part BBC animated series I Am Not an Animal. The half-hour dark comedy centers on pampered lab animals who have to learn to get by on their own after an animal rights activist "rescues" them. The show debuted on BBC in 2004 and has picked up several European broadcast kudos.
The series is the first animated project for U.K.-based Baby Cow Prods., which is headed up by actor Steve Coogan (Disney’s Around the World in 80 Days, Coffee and Cigarettes) and producer Henry Normal (The Sketch Show, 24 Hour Party People). In addition to serving as exec producer, Coogan voices the characters Philip the Horse and Mark the Bird, two members of a group of scientifically altered critters who talk and behave like humans. Simon Pegg, star of the breakout British horror spoof, Shaun of the Dead, also lends his voice to the series.
In addition to the literary-minded Philip and headstrong sparrow Mark, the test group known as Batch 4 includes prima donna bulldog Winona, sex-crazed monkey Hugh, self-pitying rat Claire and spaced-out rabbit Liam. In the lab, they spent their days sipping fine wine and conversing about the latest celebrity gossip and London trends. Now these fish out of water have to see if they can pass themselves off as actual members of British society.
The show’s animation, directed by Tim Searle (2DTV) has a cut-out look and features characters that resemble elements of a magazine collage art project. The series is produced by Richard Bennett (2DTV), and writer/director Peter Baynham (Bob and Margaret, Monkey Dust) serves as exec producer with Coogan and Normal.
I Am Not an Animal premieres on Sundance Channel Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. Repeats will air Thursdays at 6 p.m., Fridays at 11 p.m. and Saturdays and Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.
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