Coming to the end of the module now, so a quick session on merchandise. Merch and associated products, services and tie-ins enable the animation character to exist beyond its limited time onscreen, creating a revenue stream for the owners of the character or 'property'.

We look at the licensing of TVC's animation The Snowman, based on Raymond Briggs' graphic novel for children. About ten million pounds worth of ‘snowman’ merchandising is sold in the UK each year - even 20 years after the animation film was released. The Snowman is a big hit in Japan, and is used to promote a range of products from soap and towels to chicken nuggets.

People brought in stuff - a DVD, a few figurines - some finely articulated so you could manipulate their limbs and sit them on a shelf, a Tshirt, packs of cards and my Shrek 2 plastic face bubble-blower, which was a free gift in a box of sugary breakfast cereal.

Disco had a go and blew some bubbles by dipping Shrek's head in Lidl washing up liquid and then blowing through his mouth where there's a hole. I like this toy because you have to snog the ogre to make him blow bubbles - but it's never been that good at generating bubbles...



Some character art created by Disco.

And check out CRouCHiNG MuNKee's just-set Jelly Boy animation.