Just found this thread. My animation tutor was himself a student and friend of Richard Williams, and I have studied under some of the animators on The Thief and the Cobbler. I would love to see this project come to fruition as I know many of the people who worked on the film itself were not happy with the final version. PM me with your e-mail address (I can read PMs but not send them) and I will send you my Tutor's contact details.