When the middle and legs had been completed, it was time for the live challenge – Smiling Friends but British, Innit? Each attendee was tasked with taking one of the characters from Adult Swim’s hit animated TV series Smiling Friends by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, and turning them quintessentially ‘British’, with the chance to win big (prizes included a Wacom tablet, a pair of Airpods, and an iPad). It was both a charming and damning indictment of what it means – or looks like – to be British. Some people looked to history and tradition, bringing in references to the plague, or cladding their character in swathes of tweed, while one piece saw the lengthy Smiling Friends character Alan Red turned into a plate of bangers and mash. Others looked to more contemporary references, with the iconic Bo’ohw’o’wo’er meme and one rendition of a football match emblazoned with ‘it’s coming home!’. Some of the best took recognisable characters and blended them with Smiling Friends, like a Glep-meets-Paddington-Bear, and my personal favourite, Mr Boss crossed with Wallace from Wallace & Gromit. Similar fellas when you think about it, right?
When the 15 minutes was up, the live drawing challenges went for judging by an expert panel, while the exquisite corpses were judged by attendees with clapping and cheers, panel by panel (expertly whizzed through at lightning speed by Mark, who’s clearly a seasoned exquisite corps-er) with winners awarded Adult Swim merch, from the niche character hoodies to Rick and Morty door knockers.
But (queue the cheese), the night wasn’t about prizes, or being the best artist. It was a reminder of something which can be easily forgotten or sidelined; that creativity isn’t just a job or a hobby, but a vehicle for connection. Although (very well designed) bespoke business cards were being handed around at the end, the evening was proof that sitting alongside other creative minds and getting the chance to create together really can’t be beaten. We do it as kids, why should we stop now? And without a doubt, it proved the unifying power of animation and fandom. “Everything you can do with animation, escapism, pushing the boundaries, storytelling is amazing,” says Mark. “I think the world needs animation more than ever.” And, may we add into the mix, a piece of paper folded in three and a few felt tip pens too.