McCartney plans animated film based on children's book

Paul is reportedly planning an animated film based on his children's book "High in the Clouds," featuring his character Wirral the Squirrel.

The original picture-book was co-written by McCartney and Philip Ardagh, author of the Eddie Dickens series. Illustrations – of Wirral, his friend Froggo, and their quest to find the island of Animalia – were provided by Geoff Dunbar. McCartney has been promising a movie version of the book for years, but this is the first evidence of Wirral the Squirrel becoming a big-screen star.

The trick, it seems, was McCartney's soundtrack. "Paul said he would commit to a score of original songs as part of it," Lynne told Variety this week. "Bob and I had never focused on animation in our career, but that got our attention."