Two children, a dad, a phone, some Lego, and lots and lots of time...

After a few practice runs, this was our first proper stop-motion. Everyone else was in bed. The kids were too young for this amount of gore so it was a dad-only project. This was a homage to Heroes, which was on TV at the time. Fortunately it coincided with Lego launching their mini-figures series, meaning I had a cheerleader to be the Claire Bennet character.

HEROES

Our eldest directed this. You might spot a couple of thumbs in the way. A hit-and-run caused by a forklift driver but fortunately the emergency services provide a super-quick response.

LEGO EMERGENCY

'Ninja' was the first stop-motion animation video we made which featured actual people as well as Lego people. Our eldest had just started school. The first few weeks of a Primary 1 pupil's life is full of half-days to break them in gently to their new routine. This was made in one of those afternoons during 2010. 'Ninja' received its world première at Edinburgh's Low Def Film and Video night on 29 November 2012.

NINJA

When I left a job out in North Edinburgh, the folk there got me a Lego police bike (having seen a couple of the earlier videos). This was my Thank You video to them.

TEAM NELO

This was an epic to make, pretty much took up a whole Sunday. It's the return of the banana, but this one features the criminal underworld's Mr Big. The second video to utilise child labour.

THE BANANA STEAL

Look at the budget! A set and everything. This one is a PG. A bit more violent but no blood this time. Who will save the day?

THE MONSTER APPEARS

Ok, now we're really moving up into Hollywood territory. Our first 'talkie'! There had been a fairly substantial break in making these videos because the app we were previously using developed a few bugs and became unreliable. The app we moved to works just as well, and gives the ability to overdub (even if it does mean making a recording in one take). The most noticeable thing with adding a narrative voice is that the action can't move as quick. Scenes are slower and you lose that intensity you get with some of the shorter clips. But, you do get sound...AND a story...ladies and gentlemen, presenting:

ONE DARK AFTERNOON

An alternative Christmas card. Somewhere between Mark E Smith, Phil Spector and Val Doonican.

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ALL OF US