A Little Knowledge
- Studio
- Shoebox Productions Inc., Alberta Filmworks Inc., British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Scotland), Blueprint Entertainment
- Distributor
- BBC, CBC
Synopsis
Marnie's art class is on a field trip to Hopetoun House- a Georgian Country Manor, where the students are supposed to draw artifacts for a class competition.
As they leave the bus, Stewart trips Marnie up and the Shoebox Zoo fly out of her bag and tumble down an air vent, but Marnie doesn't realise that the Shoebox Zoo are gone. Marnie uses her powers for evil as she traps Stewart in a casket alongside a skeleton. Now trapped in the basement, the Shoebox Zoo debate Marnie's motives and whether she truly is The Chosen One.
Looking for something to draw, Marnie hears violin music, and upon opening a door, finds herself in the Inner Sanctum. Michael Scot tries to demonstrate to her that with power comes responsibility. Trying to convince Marnie once again that the Quest is her destiny, Michael shows Marnie paintings her mother had done of the Shoebox Zoo. Marnie realizes that the Shoebox Zoo saw her mother, though she never had the same power that Marnie has to wake them.
Upon leaving the Inner Sanctum, Marnie has a vision and begins drawing the landscape she sees in her mind's eye. The teacher tells Marnie that she can't enter it in the competition because it's not an artifact in the house and that was the rule. Marnie says she is sure that what she sees is somewhere nearby, and goes off to find it- only to run smack into Toledo.
Wherever she turns, he is there, trying to convince her that they should work together to find The Book of Forbidden Knowledge. When he tells her that Michael Scot had the power to save her mother and chose not to, Marnie doesn't know who to believe in- Michael Scot or Toledo.
Confused and troubled by Toledo's words, Marnie is sitting alone in her room when Dad enters and tells her she has won the art competition. Was that of her own doing or a gift from Toledo?
As they leave the bus, Stewart trips Marnie up and the Shoebox Zoo fly out of her bag and tumble down an air vent, but Marnie doesn't realise that the Shoebox Zoo are gone. Marnie uses her powers for evil as she traps Stewart in a casket alongside a skeleton. Now trapped in the basement, the Shoebox Zoo debate Marnie's motives and whether she truly is The Chosen One.
Looking for something to draw, Marnie hears violin music, and upon opening a door, finds herself in the Inner Sanctum. Michael Scot tries to demonstrate to her that with power comes responsibility. Trying to convince Marnie once again that the Quest is her destiny, Michael shows Marnie paintings her mother had done of the Shoebox Zoo. Marnie realizes that the Shoebox Zoo saw her mother, though she never had the same power that Marnie has to wake them.
Upon leaving the Inner Sanctum, Marnie has a vision and begins drawing the landscape she sees in her mind's eye. The teacher tells Marnie that she can't enter it in the competition because it's not an artifact in the house and that was the rule. Marnie says she is sure that what she sees is somewhere nearby, and goes off to find it- only to run smack into Toledo.
Wherever she turns, he is there, trying to convince her that they should work together to find The Book of Forbidden Knowledge. When he tells her that Michael Scot had the power to save her mother and chose not to, Marnie doesn't know who to believe in- Michael Scot or Toledo.
Confused and troubled by Toledo's words, Marnie is sitting alone in her room when Dad enters and tells her she has won the art competition. Was that of her own doing or a gift from Toledo?
Characters
Wolfgang the Wolf, Bruno the Bear, Edwin the Eagle, Ailsa the Adder.
Characters (Live-Action): Grandpa, Marnie's Dad, Marnie McBride, John Roberts, Michael Scot, Professor Toledo, McTaggart, Storyteller, Becky, Aurora Dexter, Nathaniel
Characters (Live-Action): Grandpa, Marnie's Dad, Marnie McBride, John Roberts, Michael Scot, Professor Toledo, McTaggart, Storyteller, Becky, Aurora Dexter, Nathaniel
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Grant Harvey, James Henry, Justin Molotnikov
Writing
- Writer
- Sarah Dodd
Voices
- Voice
- Simon Callow (Wolfgang the Wolf), Alan Cumming (Bruno the Bear), Rik Mayall (Edwin the Eagle), Siobhan Redmond (Ailsa the Adder)
- Vocal Talent (Live-Action)
- Paul Coeur (Grandpa), Jason Connery (Marnie's Dad), Vivien Endicott-Douglas (Marnie McBride), Maxi Moffat (John Roberts), Peter Mullan (Michael Scot), Tony Donaldson (Professor Toledo), David McKay (McTaggart), Bill Paterson (Storyteller), Kelsey Collins (Becky), Natascha Girgis (Aurora Dexter), Gordon Tootoosis (Nathaniel)
Crew
- Co-Creators
- Brian Ward, Claire Mundell, Justin Molotnikov
Companies and other credits
- Special Effects: Calibre Digital Pictures
- Special Effects: Elements Special Effects Ltd
Production notes
Combined live action and animation, with CGI used for animal figurines.
Filmed in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Because the BBC was so impressed with this series, a second season was in production before the first had aired.
The character of Michael Scot is based on a real person of that name who lived from about 1175 to 1230. His descendants include author Sir Walter Scott.
Filmed in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Because the BBC was so impressed with this series, a second season was in production before the first had aired.
The character of Michael Scot is based on a real person of that name who lived from about 1175 to 1230. His descendants include author Sir Walter Scott.