Student bags Hollywood star Brian Cox for Degree Show animation

Not many student film-makers can attract top Hollywood talent, but a Dundee animator pulled off that very coup when she persuaded Brian Cox to star in her Degree Show piece.

Freya Hotson, a final-year animation student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, tells the story of a daring train heist with a twist in two-minute animated short The Flying Duchess.

Dundee University rector Brian Cox provided the voice of The Duke, the villain of the piece.

The film is being exhibited, alongside other examples of Freya’s work, at this year’s Dundee Degree Show, which takes place at DJCAD from today until next Sunday.

Freya (22), originally from Forres, made The Flying Duchess as part of a group project with fellow animation students John Harkins and Kieran Baxter.

Almost 300 students from 11 disciplines are exhibiting at this year’s Dundee Degree Show.To find out more about The Flying Duchess visit www.theflyingduchess.co.uk. For more on the Degree Show visit www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow