Creative journeys
How Greenwich students brought a Professor's story to life.
Bridging personal narrative and educational inspiration
When Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng shared her vision of creating an animated autobiography, she didn't expect the enthusiastic response it would receive from Greenwich's animation students. The result was 'Our Kid from the North of the South of the M1 River', an innovative film project that beautifully exemplifies our commitment to Education Without Boundaries.
The project began in January 2024 when Professor Owusu-Kwarteng, our Associate Dean of Student Success, gave a guest lecture to BA Animation students about incorporating autobiography into animation. During the Q&A session, she mentioned her dream of creating an animated film about her journey from an inquisitive child to becoming a professor, hoping to inspire other Black female academics.
"I didn't ask the students to make the animation for me," Professor Owusu-Kwarteng recalls with a smile. "They and the staff literally bit my hands off in their offers to help!" What followed were weekly creative sessions where students transformed her 'different' ideas into reality, bringing their own creativity and technical expertise to the project.
“I loved working with the students; the fact that they never laughed at or judged the way I saw the world. They just translated the vision, which really made me feel seen and heard, and reconfirmed the importance of being ourselves.”
-Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng
In May, the team travelled to Nottingham to film on location. Students captured Professor Owusu-Kwarteng's reflections at significant landmarks of her journey, including her childhood home where she first experienced racism, and the primary school where her 'unconventional approaches' began to emerge.
The students then led professional recording sessions at our Stockwell Street facilities, demonstrating the high-quality resources available to our animation programme.
Dr Olive Mag Gingrich, Programme Leader for BA Animation, emphasises how the project exemplifies the programme's student-led learning approach: "Students across all year groups choose their own aesthetic, artistic and technical focus while applying taught transferable skills to their practice."
The film premiered at Greenwich Picturehouse in June 2024 as part of the Movement Festival, hosted in partnership with University of the Arts London. It represented a remarkable fusion of sociology and animation, showcasing how our students excel when empowered to cross traditional subject boundaries.
The film's impact continues to resonate throughout our university community. At a poignant September event marking what would have been Stephen Lawrence's 50th birthday, the animation was shared as part of a wider celebration of legacy and change. The screening coincided with the launch of our Global Majority Alumni Community, creating a powerful moment of reflection and forward momentum.
Professor Owusu-Kwarteng's animated journey speaks to a persistent challenge in UK higher education: despite recent progress, Black professors still represent just 1% of all professorial staff. While the number of Black professors increased by 27% between 2021-22 and 2022-23, the project highlights both how far we've come and the distance yet to travel.
"This is why projects like this matter," reflects Professor Owusu-Kwarteng. "They make visible what's possible, while acknowledging the barriers that still exist. Our students didn't just create an animation – they helped tell a story that needs to be heard in higher education."
The project team included animation students Eleni Charalampaki, Andy Anisimenko, Shayma Fouad, Karol Dyderski, Margarethe Fredriksen, Maria Reyes, Caterina Lum, Loren Hykaj, Elizabeth Wright and Dan Dyer, supported by staff members Dr Olive Mag Gingrich, Dr Julie Watkins and Min Young Oh.
One student reflected: "This was my first experience doing an animation project outside of class. The atmosphere was so comforting and welcoming." Their words perfectly capture how our university continues to create environments where creativity flourishes and barriers between staff and students dissolve in pursuit of excellence.
This collaborative project embodies the very essence of Greenwich's approach to education: empowering students to use their lived experience and creativity while working alongside academics to create meaningful work that impacts our wider community.
Pictured: Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng
