IT WAS created in a small classroom tucked away in the heart of west Hull.

And now an animation made by youngsters is taking the international film industry by storm.

A little piece of Hull is now enjoying major success in Hollywood – thanks to the children of Bricknell Primary School.

I Wish I Went To Ecuador has been nominated for the Hollywood International Film Festival in the Youth Fest Awards for best animated film 8 to 13s category, which is being judged in March.

This news comes hot on the heels of the film's USA premiere in LA this month at the Wild Scenic Film Festival and a further nomination for Best Animated Film in the world's biggest children's film festival Kids First in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The film has already grabbed the grand prize for best overall film by professional jury and best overall film for youth jury at the Kids First UK Film Festival.

It also won best film by young animators at the Bradford Animation Festival and third prize in the We The People Film Festival, both held last November.

The youngsters will be told about their award nominations in a school assembly on Thursday.

Bricknell's headteacher Tim Attwater said: "The whole thing just seems to be snowballing – it seems it gets good reviews at one festival then another festival hears about it.

"I keep getting e-mails from the animator, David Bunting, saying 'You won't believe where it is going now'.

"Hollywood and Bricknell don't meet very often – but with this film they are becoming firm friends."

The entire student body of Bricknell Primary School – 630 youngsters – worked on the film.

It was inspired by a teacher's visit to Ecuador as part of the One Hull of a Rainforest campaign.

Victoria Tuthill-Jones, who teaches at Bricknell, visited Ecuador and saw first hand how deforestation is devastating the area.

When she told pupils about the visit and the One Hull of a Rainforest project, they wanted to help.

After three months of animation, to make six minutes of footage, I Wish I Went To Ecuador was born.

Animator David Bunting was invited into the school to help the children create the artwork, alongside teachers, including Mrs Tuthill-Jones, and teaching assistant Sarah Newton.

Although it is up against some strong competition in the Hollywood International Film Festival, school teachers and David have their fingers crossed it will do well.

David said: "I would never pre-judge any award, but to be honest, to just be nominated and join some of the biggest film festivals in the world is an amazing achievement.

"The prize for us is that it is being shown and the message about deforestation is being put across."

The One Hull Of A Rainforest project was started by a group of primary school teachers.

Their focus is the Maquipucuna Reserve – a privately owned piece of land covering more than 6,000 hectares in north eastern Ecuador.

The reserve harbours more than 2,000 species of plants, along with 350 species of bird of 45 species of mammals.

Video: The making of I Wish I Went To Ecuador