Meerkat in the market for animation prize

ARISTOCRATIC meerkat Aleksandr Orlov, famous for his "simples" catchphrase, is in the running for a top animation award.

The ad for comparethemarket.com has been shortlisted for a title at the British Animation Awards.

The awards ceremony will also see children's shows Roary the Racing Car and Shaun the Sheep going head-to-head for the accolade of children's favourite.

Smoking jacketed Aleksandr landed a place on the shortlist for best commercial director at the awards on 8 April.

The ad, in which the CGI creature compares jingles for comparethemeerkat.com and comparethemarket.com is up against one for Audi G5, in which the car is unfolded from a cardboard box, and another for the International Olympic Committee.

The "children's choice" category sees Roary the Racing Car hoping to beat Shaun the Sheep and the Wallace and Gromit adventure A Matter of Loaf and Death.

A panel of 130 schoolchildren will make the decision while other categories will be judged by animation experts.