Chris Shepherd - director & writer

To celebrate, David took the reins and curated a hand‑picked programme of his work. The line‑up was a treasure trove of rarities, featuring The Laughter House, London, Thirteen, Start/Finish, and The Artist—each piece a reminder of his bold, distinctive voice.

One of the evening’s highlights was the documentary Mantis Muse, which pulled back the curtain on the making of his Praying Mantis life‑drawing exhibition. The film not only revealed the creative process but also captured a moving reunion with his former school teacher, sparking a thoughtful debate on the role and value of art in secondary education.

It was a night of reflection, discovery, and celebration—an anniversary worthy of the work it honoured.

The evening drew to a close with something truly special: a brand‑new remastered screening of Who I Am and What I Want, dedicated to the memory of the film’s producer, Maria Manton.

The restoration was a labour of love, brought to life by Chris, John Taylor, and Gary Brown, with the 5.1 surround sound beautifully reinstated by Barnaby Templer at Fonic. Seeing the film restored to such sharpness and vibrancy was a genuine thrill—especially knowing that the original master was lost when Slinky closed.

To experience the film a new, in all its clarity and power, felt like rediscovering an old friend. A massive thanks to David Anderson, DognRabbit, Molly, Ryan and Patrick at The Garden Cinema for making it happen. Photos by Alice Cox and Tristan Flear.

And the celebration doesn’t end there— the remastered version of Who I Am and What I Want is now live on Vimeo, restored in all its full glory. After years of being thought lost with the closure of Slinky, it’s a joy to see the film reborn, sharper and more powerful than ever.

Meanwhile, it’s a year since Anfield Road hit the shelves—and nothing’s been the same since.

It’s been a wild ride for Chris, and one of the best years yet. To mark the first anniversary of this gritty, unforgettable graphic novel, we’re dropping something special: a limited edition version, signed, stamped, and featuring a hand-numbered book plate—only 60 in existence.

But here’s the catch: There are just 2 book plates left on the Etsy shop. If you want one, move fast.

Missed out? Don’t panic. Our brilliant friends at Gosh! Comics, Dave’s Comics, La Belle Adventure, and Forbidden Planet Liverpool still have copies waiting for you. Why not pop in a grab one. 

Happy birthday to Conor, Maureen, Mary, and the whole Anfield Road crew. You made this story unforgettable.

This is not all! We have more Anfield Road events coming up! 

Folkestone Illustration Festival 

Folkestone, Kent 6–9 November Chris leads a masterclass and joins a panel with Astrid Goldsmith at Folkestone’s first-ever Illustration Festival. A must for aspiring illustrators and animation fans. Details on the Festivals Insta.

 SE London Book Festival 

 Morocco Bound, London Bridge 9 November | 14:00 Chris joins a powerful lineup including Diane Abbott, Evie Wyld, and Vince Cable. Free tickets available — but they’re going fast! Book your ticket for Chris’s event and support the festival’s food bank initiative. 

Kracken Comics

Bebington Saturday 29th Nov | 7pm. Chris will talk through his book plus a reading. More information on the Kracken insta.

Celebrating 20 Years of Who I Am and What I Want

Twenty years ago, I was deep in the woods, creatively speaking, making a film with the brilliant David Shrigley. The film was Who I Am and What I Want, a black-and-white animated short about Pete, a misfit who rejects society and chooses to live alone in the forest. Commissioned by Channel 4 and Animate Projects, the film struck a chord. It quickly gained momentum, scooping up awards and screening at festivals around the world.

We made it in the wonderfully chaotic Slinky Pictures studio on Brick Lane. At the time, producer Maria Manton (Slinky’s co-founder and all-round legend) and I were juggling two short films simultaneously. It was bonkers, but the good kind of bonkers.

Fast forward to 2010, when Slinky closed its doors. That’s when we discovered the original 2K master files had vanished. Every 35mm print we had was scratched, and all we were left with was a tiny PAL FH master, basically a techy TV format that didn’t do the film justice.

So, for this special anniversary screening, we decided to give Pete a bit of a birthday makeover. Huge thanks to John Taylor and Gary Brown, who helped us remaster the picture. You can see the difference in this side-by-side comparison.

Even more exciting, we reopened the original Flash files. Yes, 20 years later! And thanks to Barnaby Templer at Fonic, who miraculously still had the original 5.1 sound master, we’ve reinstated the full surround sound experience.

The result? A freshly polished version of Who I Am and What I Want, ready for its big-screen return.

Join us for the screening on 4th November at Bar Shorts, Garden Cinema.

Phil Mulloy (1948–2025) British animator, filmmaker, and satirical provocateur

Phil Mulloy, the acclaimed visionary of British animation, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 10, 2025, at the age of 76. Known for his biting wit and stark visual style, Mulloy spent decades skewering the hypocrisies of modern life through grotesque, minimalist animation that was as unsettling as it was unforgettable.

I always felt that Phil was a kindred spirit as we were both from Liverpool way. It was always a privilege to have a natter when our paths crossed and I always loved his sharp sense of humour.

Born in Wallasey, Merseyside, Mulloy studied painting at Ravensbourne College and filmmaking at the Royal College of Art. He began his career in live-action film, earning accolades for works like Mark Gertler: Fragments of a Biography, before pivoting to animation in the late 1980s.

His signature style, skeletal figures drawn in thick black lines, often with exaggerated features like penis-shaped noses—became a vehicle for dark satire. Whether lampooning religion in The Ten Commandments, dissecting human cruelty in The Chain, or exploring dysfunctional family dynamics in The Christies, Mulloy’s work was unflinching, absurd, and deeply human.

He created iconic MTV idents, including Boxers to Lovers, and won numerous international awards, including top honors at Hiroshima, Annecy, Ottawa, and Zagreb festivals. His final short, Endgame, a surreal take on office workers playing war games, won the Grand Prix at Animafest Zagreb in 2016.

Mulloy is survived by his wife, filmmaker and educator Vera Neubauer, and their children: BAFTA-winning director Daniel Mulloy and Student Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Lucy Mulloy.

There's still a few tickets left for next week's

@BarShorts at

Friends in Liverpool. It's way off but I will be in conversation with my friend and legend Bernie Connor about my debut graphic novel on the 7th November 2024 at 6:30pm at Waterstones Liverpool. Check out the blog for ticket details. Exciting times!

@ComicsTitan

Bar Shorts presents another programme of ground-breaking short films and animations. This evening is curated by Robert Bradbrook, Head of Animation at the world-renowned National Film and Television School (NFTS). Robert is also a multi-award-winning director best known for his BAFTA-nominated Home Road Movies which has won some of the most prestigious awards in animation including the Cartoon d’Or. A story based on family stories and why we tell them. We are also screening a selection of Robert's favourite (and award winning!!!) NFTS films he has tutored over the last twelve years. The programme will be followed by a Q&A  hosted by Chris Shepherd. The evening is curated by Chris and Dog & Rabbit Animation Studio.