Various
David started in showbiz as a gag writer for the BBC. Then someone noticed he could draw and asked if he could write for animation. That first job with Alan Gilbey, was helping develop and write episodes of Rex the Runt for Aardman Animation. They went on to write eps of Casper the Friendly Ghost for Universal, then developed shows, including Maurice Sendak’s Seven Little Monsters and Dick King Smith’s BAFTA Award winning Foxbusters, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Joanna Lumley, plus the Annie, Leo, Gemini award winning, Mr Hell Show for Showtime and The BBC.
Nearly a hundred hours of kid’s TV later, David went solo directing shows, most notably King Arthur’s Disasters starring the late great Rik Mayall, and Groove High for Disney Channel.
Most recently David slipped into Features where he now lives comfortably, with a long list of films he’s adapted, voice directed, script doctored, written, and co-written (with various new collaborators). Clients include, Studio Ghibli, Paramount, Alcon, Gkids, SC Films, eOne and more. Somehow, in his spare time he writes extremely catchy theme songs, such as PJ MASK. Click here to listen!
TELEVISION SHOW RUNNING and DIRECTION
Groove High
DISNEY CHANNEL/PLANET NEMO - Series Director, Animation & Live Action
King Arthur's Disasters - season II
NICKELODEON / ZENITH / NEPTUNO - Series Director
Lucky Fred - seasons I & II
IMIRA ENTERTAINMENT- Voice Director / Script punch ups
Thunderbirds I.R. - CARLTON
Producer/Show Runner
Legend of the Dragon
CBBC/BKN - Producer/Show Runner
It's the Mr Hell Show!
SHOWTIME & BBC2 - Peafur CoPro with Sextant - Exec Producer/Co-Creator
Bounty Hamster, CiTV
Peafur CoPro with Silver Fox - Exec Producer/Co-Creator/Writer
FEATURES
Balderdash
KAPERS ANIMATION/FABRIQUE D’IMAGE - Story by, Co-Screenplay
Best Served Cold
BBC COMEDY - Story by, Co-Screenplay
Book of Kells
CARTOON SALOON - Story Consultant, special thanks
Check Mate
DEN SISTE SKILLING - Script Doctor, Additional Material credit
Dolphin Tale III
In Deep Water - ALCON ENTERTAINMENT - Co-Story by, Co-Screenplay
Dragonkeeper
SC FILMS, DRAGONE MEDIA - Script Doctor
Ellie & The Christmas Creep
FABRIQUE D’IMAGE – Co-Screenplay
Evolution
THINKLAB ANIMATION – Co-Screenplay
Faith
SC FILMS - Co-Screenplay
Gamers
ILION ANIMATION - Story Development, Co-Screenplay
Gigantosaurus
the Giganto Feature - CYBERGROUP STUDIOS - Co-Screenplay
Head Space
SC FILMS & LUMA S.A. - Script Doctor
Inspector Sun
THINKLAB ANIMATION - Co-Script Doctor, Additional Material credit
Magic Wonderland
ZOLAND STUDIOS, CHINA - Script Doctor
Princess Dragon
ANKAMA - Story Consultant
Santa’s Apprentice 2
GAUMONT - Script Doctor, Co-Screenplay credit
Spellbound
ILION ANIMATION, SKYDANCE MEDIA, PARAMOUNT PICTURES - Story Development
Sokator 442
GALLEON ENTERTAINMENT - Script Doctor
Spy Dog
I HEART CINEMA - Book Adaptation
Thunderbirds
WORKING TITLE - Script Consultant - uncredited
Unstable
CARPE DIEM - Co-Writer, Co-Screenplay, Songs
W.A.M. (working title)
ILION ANIMATION - Story Development, Co-Screenplay
Yakari
the Movie, DARGAUD - Story Development
FEATURE DUBBING/ENGLISH ADAPTATIONS
Another Day of Life
GKIDS - Re-Casting & Dub
Best Birthday Ever
SC FILMS, SLUGGER FILMS - English Adaptation, Casting & Dub
Big Bad Fox and Other Tales
GKIDS / STUDIOCANAL- English Adaptation
Bunuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles
GKIDS - Casting & Dub
Mary and the Witch’s Flower
STUDIO PONOC - English Adaptation
My Father’s Secrets
SC FILMS, JE SUIS BIEN CONTENT - English Adaptation, Casting & Dub
Only Yesterday
STUDIO GHIBLI - English Adaptation & Dub
Ronja The Robber’s Daughter
26 x half hours, STUDIO GHIBLI - English Adaptations & Dubs
Up On Poppy Hill
STUDIO GHIBLI - Consulting, Special Thanks credit
When Marnie Was There
STUDIO GHIBLI - English Adaptation & Dub - Oscar nominated, Best Animated Feature.
The Wind Rises
STUDIO GHIBLI - Consulting, Special Thanks credit
TV WRITING
Bob & Margaret
CHANNEL 4/NELVANA - Script Editing
Bounty Hamster
CiTV - Peafur CoPro with Silver Fox - Co-Writer - multiple
Casper the Friendly Ghost
UNIVERSAL - Co-Writer - multiple
Dennis & Gnasher
BBC/COLLINGWOOD / BEANO / FOX FAMILY - Co-Writer - multiple
First Snow of Winter
BBC/HIBBERT RALPH - Co-Screenplay
Foxbusters
COSGROVE HALL/ITEL/CiTV - Developed for TV, Co-Writer
It's the Mr Hell Show!
SHOWTIME & BBC2 - Heaps of sketches whilst somehow still producing it.
Pirates
BBC/CHILDSPLAY - Co-Writer - multiple
Rex The Runt
BBC/AARDMAN - Developed for TV & Scripts
Rubi Gets It Right
ZOLAND ANIMATION, CHINA - Head Writer, Board Supervisor, Songs
Seven Little Monsters
PLAYTONE / MAURICE SENDAK / NELVANA - Developed for TV, Scripts
What’s With Andy?!
FOX FAMILY / CINEGROUP - Developed for TV, Scripts
SHORT FILMS
Damned
NFT - Director: Richard Phelan - Story Consultant
The Old Lady & the Pigeons
Director: Sylvain Chomet, BBC & DJANGO - Dialogue
IN HOUSE CREATIVE EXEC
2008 – 2010
Senior Manager Creative Development EMEA, - DISNEY CHANNEL UK
2001 – 2002
Executive Producer, Development - CARLTON
RAN AN ANIMATION STUDIO
1998 - 2001
David set up and ran Peafur with his wife for the purposes of co-producing series, developed with Alan Gilbey. The studio ran pre and post production, and also produced the odd animated commercial for Kelloggs.
Awards
David Freedman personally has a Bafta, Gemini, Leo and a Cannes Silver Lion on his shelf. He and his wife together were nominated for an Annie and International Emmy. Meanwhile, David helped others garner 3 Oscar noms, 4 BAFTA noms and 2 wins - including Best Animated Series, another Leo - Best Animated Series, a few Royal Television Society wins, Chicago Film Fest wins, Annecy noms and many more.