Supermedium at Manchester Archive Explores Animation's Past and Future

The Manchester animation archive, home to Cosgrove Hall Films' iconic productions, hosts 'Supermedium', an exhibition probing the essence of animation. Curated to juxtapose archival treasures with new commissions, the show features works by Kelan Andrews and Petra Szemán, who engage with the archive's legacy of hand-drawn and stop-motion classics like 'Danger Mouse' (1981–92), 'The BFG' (1989), 'The Wind in the Willows' (1983–90), and 'Postman Pat' (2004–08). Both artists traverse physical and digital realms, employing video, sculpture, claymation, digital animation, augmented reality, and animatronics. The exhibition asks what it means to animate—whether bringing life to human-scale animatronics or a digital avatar traversing candy-colored landscapes. By displaying archival material alongside new works, 'Supermedium' fosters a dialogue between the past and future of animation, highlighting the enduring influence of Cosgrove Hall's craftsmanship on contemporary practice.