Darwen dad drops film glamour for teaching (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Darwen dad drops film glamour for teaching

12:30pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Darwen By Dan Clough, Reporter

EYECATCHING Michael with Milton, on whom his final-year piece is based

A FATHER-of-four from Darwen is leaving his glamorous career in film animation behind in favour of teaching.

Michael Douglas, 37, who has produced work for Dreamworks and virtual band Gorillaz, has returned to education to study for a degree in illustration and animation at the University Centre at Blackburn College (UCBC).

He hopes to take his PGCE afterwards in preparation for a career in teaching.

Inspired by Tim Burton and his time working with Gorillaz, Michael’s final-year piece is an animated fictional story based on a character called Milton. It is on display at UCBC’s end-of-year show, ‘Reveal’.

Michael, who lives in Davenham Road with his wife Emma, 31, and children Matthew Pilkington, 11, Alexander, eight, Isabella, six and Angel, 21 months, is in his second year at UCBC.

He has worked with a host of animation companies including Hibbert Ralph, which works with Coca Cola and Kelloggs, as well as Dreamworks films Spirit and Sinbad and a Gorillaz video.

While working on Sinbad, he was a clean-up artist, which is when the rough sketches are transformed into what the audience sees on screen.

Michael said: “I did some work for a company called Stardust Pictures in London, which was given a chunk of the two Dreamworks films.

“On Sinbad I was a clean-up artist and went to work at Dreamworks studios in Los Angeles.

“Although I have years of work experience, I’ve never got a qualification in animation. I hope to take my PGCE at the college after I have completed my final year.”

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