Joseph works in animation. His short film, entitled ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’, follows a creature with the face and tail of a cat, the claws of a mouse and the neck of a giraffe, as it explores a mysterious shaft of light, shone upon its face. It is a stop-motion puppet animation which means that every single, tiny little movement must be photographed and placed together to create a moving image. The swish of the creature’s tail is particularly impressive as it sits in boredom atop its high pillar.

In just 1 minute and 30 seconds, Joseph’s animation had me thoughtful, smiling and gasping, as we are taken through the creature’s curiouser and curiouser adventures to its inevitable end. A take on the famous phrase ‘Curiosity killed the cat’, Joseph’s feline-like protagonist finds itself trapped in a cage, and there we are left to fill in the blanks.

The beautiful craftsmanship put into Joseph’s animation, from his creature’s knitted body to his cave-like setting and angelic sculptures, creates a captivating experience for the viewer. Not only are we intrigued by this mysterious creature’s endearing curiosity; we are also completely taken in by it, upset by its seeming captivity in the final scene. A charming narrative, a charming protagonist, and charming craftsmanship, makers of Wallace and Gromit watch out! There’s a new kid in town.

If you would like to see the film in full, visit joseph-wallace.co.uk