FFE Ltd announce key appointment of motorsport Cartoonist Jim Bamber
For 20 years, Jim Bamber has been cartooning for motorsport’s popular magazines and newspapers but never before for young children who also love racing. Jim is the Head of Concept and Development responsible for character design and concept development. Jim has successfully managed the efforts of research and development, design, engineering and product management for motorport’s favourite collectable gift brand, The Jim Bamber Collection.Jim is also a well known cartoonist and illustrator who is a legend in the motor sport sector thanks to his wickedly humourous contributions to Haymarket Publishing Autosport magazine over 20 years.
Q: Why did you feel you wanted to get involved with Franco and Formula Fun?
A: “Some years ago I was at a motorsport show in Birmingham. I had been away from home for five days and I wanted something to give to my two young daughters when I got back. It was impossible due to my commitments to go into the town and so I walked around the stands looking for a present. I was surprised that there was virtually nothing for children on sale. In fact the only thing available at that time was a small Teddy Bear dressed in a Michael Schumacher t-shirt. I bought two. So when this opportunity came up to get involved with Franco and Formula Fun I remembered that sad dad looking for a present and just had to do it.”
Q: What inspired you about the concept?
A: “For a long time now I feel that all the fun has been squeezed out of motorsport. As a motorsport cartoonist, and there aren’t that many of us, I have always tried to put some fun back into it. This is a great chance to do that and also the opportunity to show young children what an exciting sport it can be.”
Q: I understand that Marina described the characters to you and you drew from those ideas….but did the images come to you instantly? Or was it more or a gradual process?
A: “The brief from Marina was very clear and thanks to that it wasn’t long before Franco was sitting on the drawing pad in front of me. The difficult part was trying to think like a child. I have a mental age of about twelve but even that wasn’t young enough. Thankfully though we have young Bruno who has been very important in pointing us in the right direction.”
Q: Is it different drawing for children versus adults?
A: “Yes it is because adults have no imagination and you have to explain everything. Just look at Rbee as an example with his stinger of a nose. A child will accept that and weave it into his imagination but an adult will just keep asking why?”
Q: Do you have a favourite character, or one that you most enjoyed creating?
A: “Susie the safety car is my favourite. I can’t remember who thought of making her a VW Beetle but it was a stroke of genius…I hope it was me.”
Q: Do you think motor sport is great for kids?
A: “Well I am biased but I do think it’s great for kids. It is an exciting sport that has within it all the elements that feed a childs imagination. The action, the sense of danger, the far away places, the drivers, the cars, the engineers, the glamour.”
Filed under Press release on 26/03/09