Benjamin Batt

Patrick
Raats

Born 17th of September 1967 in Amsterdam. He graduated as a graphic designer at the Vrije Teken Academie in Amsterdam. In 1990 he took his first steps in the animation world as a stop-motion animator at the famous Toonder Studios. After a few years, he also started directing.As a director, he has developed his own signature style over the years. His focus is on visually telling stories by creating new worlds. The characters who play the leading role in these visual narratives act through strong poses and silhouettes.He has clear ideas about how to make the audience feel part of the action of the film. Sets, props,characters, costumes and the lighting are important storytelling tools for him. The use of special camera angles is also part of his visual storytelling style. All these elements help to express a vision by generating a sense of time and space, as well as setting a mood.His goal is to create inspiring and moving stories for a wide audience. With every new project he looks for a special angle to take the film to a higher level. Both on a visual and storytelling level.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Jan. 2016 – Present : Patrick Raats Director & Animator
Freelance Director/ Animator for series, films, and commercials.
- Sept. 2015 – Aug. 2022 : Stop-motion instructor at ArtEZ, University of the Arts, Zwolle.
- April 2001 – Dec. 2015 : Patrick Raats Animation BV
Freelance Director/Animator for series, films, and commercials.
- May 2004 – Jan. 2015 : Co-founder/Co-owner of BlackBox Productions VoF
Position: Creative Director.
- Early 2006 – Dec. 2008 : Co-founder/Co-owner of MOBI Concepts BV, (Production company for mobile phone content).
Position: Creative Director.
- 1996 – March 2001 : Co-founder/Co-owner of PEDRI Animation BV,
(Animation studio for commercials, leaders, AV productions, and series).
Position: Creative Director/ Producer.
- 1990 – 1996 : Freelance animator (e.g., Toonder Studio’s, Loeki de Leeuw).
- 1988 – 1990 : Freelance assistant lighting technician

Benjamin is a little bat who, at first glance, doesn't seem very brave. He has a big problem, especially for a bat: He is afraid of the dark. His big brothers find him strange. They don't understand his sensitivity and his love of singing. Singing is for birds, and bats are their sworn enemies. One day, everything changes when Benjamin meets the tropical songbird Sherida. .