'My stop-motion film plays a part in a big cultural story'

A stop-motion animator has brought a 19th Century folktale to life for a modern audience - as a "small way of contributing" to the "big story" of Isle of Man's rich cultural heritage.

Lily-Joy Lancashire's creation Yn Shenn Dooinney as ny Ferrishyn – Manx Gaelic for The Old Man and the Fairies – tells the tale of an old farmer's late night visitations by the island's 'little people'.

Commissioned as part of Culture Vannin's Treisht26 projects to celebrate Blein ny Gaelgey - the Year of the Manx Language 2026 - the film was given its debut screening in the bilingual Mind Your Language exhibition at the Manx Museum.

And this week, it was made available online for the first time.

As a Chinese adoptee, Lancashire said her interest in her own native culture had spilled over into a curiosity about others – including the Isle of Man.

"Coming over, I really wanted to get involved in things like the different traditions that they have here," she said, "and this opportunity just seemed like too good to miss."

Initially growing up in Chester before moving to Ormskirk, it was while studying animation at Edge Hill University that she developed a passion for stop-motion.

"I've always been a very tactile and hands-on person so, as soon as I sort of started understanding more of what the capabilities of stop-motion was, I just fell in love with it, honestly," the 23-year-old explained.

"I started changing all my assignments to trying to be as stop-motion based as possible. It's just that I love the way that you can communicate with the physical aspect of a puppet, and all the sets and props that you're making as well."

After taking some time to travel after graduation, in 2024 Lancashire found herself moving to the island to live with her Manx-born boyfriend, Joseph Druggan, securing a job working with the team behind the TT races.

Made up of over 4,000 frames, the two-and-a-half minute film was shot over several months in their bedroom at home.

"It's a time-consuming process and it teaches you a level of patience that you don't usually get on the day-to-day," she continued.

"I've got ADHD and you really hyper focus on something when you're that passionate about it. I appreciate the time that it gives you to really zone in.

"And it just feels good when you're actually producing it and then, when the final product is produced, it makes you feel absolutely ecstatic."

Based on a folklore tale recorded by Karl Roeder in the late 1800s, the film itself tells the story of a "grumpy old farmer" who has his sleep disturbed by the Manx fairies playing their music in his bedroom.

Eventually he decides to get up and dance rather than stay grumpy and is never bothered by them again.

Narrated in Manx by Jamys Kinry – with optional subtitles in English – the piece is set to a special composition by Lancashire's friend Matteo Ressa, who based the piece on the island's traditional music.

Lancashire said: "Myths and fairy tales are part of the culture, they help to give people a sense of place and time."

She said that was why she "was more drawn to a story that existed over creating my own".

"The fairy story I told has a moral at the end of the story, which is a way of passing on values to children and adults as stop-motion should be enjoyed by all ages.

"As someone new to the island I wanted to find a small way of contributing to the Isle of Man culture, and helping tell its big story."

She said while most of the items created for her projects would be recycled, she would be holding on to some mementos.

"I'm not a hoarder, I'm a creative capturer," she explained. "You spent so much time with some of these pieces, like the puppet - I'm definitely keeping him."

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