Screen CanterburyNZ
2 June 2026
How Christchurch became the home of Kiri and Lou, showcasing world-class animation talent, global success, and the city’s growing screen industry.
Australia might have Bluey. But Ōtautahi Christchurch has Kiri and Lou – the acclaimed animated series charming audiences around the world.
Now, the multi-award-winning production is taking its next leap with upcoming feature film Kiri and Lou Go Raaa!, showcasing Canterbury’s growing reputation for world-class screen and animation talent.
Produced by Christchurch-based studio Stretchy, Kiri and Lou is one of New Zealand’s most successful children’s television exports. The claymation series, aimed at children aged two to seven, has found audiences around the globe through broadcasters including BBC (UK), Nickelodeon (USA), CBC (Canada), ABC (Australia) and networks across Europe, Scandinavia, the Americas and Africa.
Hand-crafted in stop motion, the film features charming, clay creatures set in a fantastical prehistoric world created from cut-out paper. Its gentle humour, emotional intelligence and distinctly New Zealand sensibility have resonated internationally, earning multiple international awards alongside a BAFTA nomination.
Producer Fiona Copland says the decision to base production in Christchurch originally came down to one thing: talent.
“We came to Christchurch originally for the animation talent,” she says. “We wanted to work with animation director Antony Elworthy, whose family was here.”
Elworthy is one of the world’s leading stop-motion animators, having worked on many internationally celebrated productions including Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.
What started as a practical decision soon evolved into something much bigger.
“We’ve built a team, and the team attracts others,” says Copland. “The word is out now that we make good work down here, and that it’s a good place to come.”
Today, the production employs both local and international animators, many of whom have relocated to Christchurch specifically to work on the project.
“We have had eight animators and five compositors employed,” says Elworthy. “Some of them are New Zealanders, and a few of them have come from overseas to join us.”
For those international creatives, Christchurch offers more than just career opportunities.
“A lot of the people who come to work on Kiri and Lou are young and full of energy,” says Elworthy. “They’re attracted to the outdoors, the beaches, the mountains, and also to quite a vibrant urban scene”.
“We also have people moving here who have families and who are looking for something a little bit different, and Christchurch caters for them as well.”Animation Director - Antony Elworthy
Part of the enduring success of Kiri and Lou lies in its unmistakably New Zealand identity.
Set in a whimsical version of prehistoric New Zealand, the series blends native bush landscapes, offbeat humour and a warm emotional honesty that feels distinctly Kiwi.
“I think there’s a unique flavour to Kiri and Lou,” says Elworthy. “It has a strong New Zealand feel about it – in the accents of the actors, the style of the humour, and the feeling of the native bush.
“New Zealand is a unique place in the world, and it has an appeal everywhere.”
The production features a powerhouse lineup of New Zealand creative talent, including Jemaine Clement, Olivia Tennet, Rima Te Wiata, Josh Thomson and Marlon Williams, with original music by Don McGlashan.
For the production team, support from Screen CanterburyNZ played a critical role in helping the feature film move forward.
“We would not have been able to make the movie without the support of Screen Canterbury,” says Copland.
“That grant kick-started other finance that we needed to find in a very difficult market.”
Beyond direct financial support, Copland says the backing of Screen CanterburyNZ and Christchurch City Council helped create a wider sense of local ownership around the project.
“The fact that Screen Canterbury is supporting us, and the Christchurch City Council is so supportive of creative ventures in the city, has meant Christchurch people have taken ownership of Kiri and Lou,” she says.
“It feels like it has a home here.”
The production is also helping strengthen pathways into the screen industry through a partnership with University of Canterbury’s Kōawa Studios.
As part of the collaboration, students in UC’s Bachelor of Digital Screen programme have opportunities to connect directly with industry professionals through workshops, guest lectures and exposure to the production process.
The partnership builds on Christchurch’s growing reputation as a hub for creative technology, animation and digital storytelling.
Manager at Screen CanterburyNZ Meg Huston says projects like Kiri and Lou demonstrate the value of the production grant.
“It’s a great example of how the grant can help grow local capability, attract global expertise and create long-term opportunities for Canterbury’s creative economy.”Manager at Screen CanterburyNZ - Meg Huston
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