The Plain Man's Guide to Advertising
Nov 01, 1962A surreal mix of advertising tropes from the 1960s is very funny but has a neat anti-capitalist undertow.
Comedy
Vera Linnecar
Recently added
The Animated World of Halas and Batchelor
Jul 11, 2019The story of married animators, John Halas and Joy Batchelor. A Jewish emigre from Hungary and a working class woman from Watford, England, John and Joy fell in love, created cartoons that helped the allies to win the war, and produced the first feature-length animation in British cinema history, Animal Farm (1954).
Documentary
Calling All Salesmen
Jan 01, 1956Do Be Careful Boys
Jan 01, 1964A BAFTA award nominated animated Industrial safety film featuring a clumsy fruit porter who learns the error of his ways, told as a mini-operetta.
Animation
River of Steel
Jan 02, 1951An animated short that summarizes the manufacture of steel and a humorous look at a world without it.
Animation
River of Steel
Jan 02, 1951An animated short that summarizes the manufacture of steel and a humorous look at a world without it.
Animation
A Cat Is A Cat
Jan 01, 1971Are you a dog or a cat person? If you favour the felines then this animated meditation on cats of all shapes and sizes is for you. The film grew out of industry veteran Vera Linnecar's play with applying mottled coloured paints directly onto animation cels. Paired with the piano music these scenes are a playful experiment, mixing abstraction with careful observation of cat behaviour. Vera started her animation career at the Halas & Batchelor studio in 1940, as did Elizabeth Horn, who also worked on this film. Moving from tracing, to inbetweening, to animating, Vera became one the company's principle artists. In the late 1940s she moved to the Larkins studio which better suited her experimental spirit. In 1957, along with Nancy Hanna, she joined Bob Godfrey and Keith Learner at Biographic, and continued innovating there until she retired in 1983, after four decades in the business.
Animation
Charley's Black Magic
Oct 01, 1949This cartoon propaganda short by Halas & Batchelor sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow.
Animation
Charley Junior's Schooldays
Jan 02, 1949A soon-to-be born baby learns about the kinds of schools he will attending in the years following his birth.
Animation
Quodlibet
Sep 19, 1968Pan-tele-tron
Jan 01, 1957A BAFTA award nominated animation about the development and achievements in telecommunications by the Philips Company.
Animation
Quodlibet
Sep 19, 1968A Cat Is A Cat
Jan 01, 1971Are you a dog or a cat person? If you favour the felines then this animated meditation on cats of all shapes and sizes is for you. The film grew out of industry veteran Vera Linnecar's play with applying mottled coloured paints directly onto animation cels. Paired with the piano music these scenes are a playful experiment, mixing abstraction with careful observation of cat behaviour. Vera started her animation career at the Halas & Batchelor studio in 1940, as did Elizabeth Horn, who also worked on this film. Moving from tracing, to inbetweening, to animating, Vera became one the company's principle artists. In the late 1940s she moved to the Larkins studio which better suited her experimental spirit. In 1957, along with Nancy Hanna, she joined Bob Godfrey and Keith Learner at Biographic, and continued innovating there until she retired in 1983, after four decades in the business.
Animation
Filling the Gap
Jan 01, 1942This World War II propaganda short encourages British people to "dig for victory," by planting vegetable gardens.
Animation
Abu and the Poisoned Well
Jan 01, 1943Ever seen a snake with a moustache? The Middle East was as much an ideological as a physical battleground in the Second World War. In the midst of the conflict Halas & Batchelor were commissioned by the British Government to make four cartoons featuring a young boy Abu and his mule. They were intended to demonstrate in simple visual terms that Britain was a stout friend and the Axis powers a pernicious evil.
Animation
Abu's Dungeon
Jan 01, 1943Animation
6 Little Jungle Boys
Nov 15, 1945A short animated War Office commissioned health education film, showing the fate of each of the 6 jungle soldiers.
War
Your Very Good Health
Jan 01, 1948In this film Charley demystifies the new state-funded National Health Service, detailing the benefits a free-at-point-of-delivery health service will offer to everyone in England.
Animation
Robinson Charley
Jul 16, 1948No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain’s economics.
Animation
Charley in New Town
Jan 01, 1948Meet Charley, your jovial cartoon guide to Britain’s changing towns and cities.
Animation
Charley's March of Time
Jan 02, 1948Popular animated character Charley explains the National Insurance Act, which was legislation that made health insurance available to all British citizens.
Animation
R.A.F.: First Line of Defence
Jul 18, 1949First Line of Defence is a short cartoon recruitment film for the RAF created in 1949 by animation duo Halas and Batchelor. The story follows a trainee pilot dreaming about the history of flight.
Animation
Do Be Careful Boys
Jan 01, 1964A BAFTA award nominated animated Industrial safety film featuring a clumsy fruit porter who learns the error of his ways, told as a mini-operetta.
Animation
The Ghost Goes Gear
Sep 01, 1966Unbeknownst to the Spencer Davis Group, their manager is upper class, grew up in a haunted manor, and is called Algernon. When they visit his home, they find out that the family is broke, they don't have the money to pay the servants, and their home is going to ruin. Spencer suggests that they advertise the home (and the ghost) and charge admission.
Comedy
The Hand of Night
Aug 11, 1968A tourist travelling through Morocco discovers an ancient curse and must choose between light and dark.
Horror
Quodlibet
Sep 19, 1968A Cat Is A Cat
Jan 01, 1971Are you a dog or a cat person? If you favour the felines then this animated meditation on cats of all shapes and sizes is for you. The film grew out of industry veteran Vera Linnecar's play with applying mottled coloured paints directly onto animation cels. Paired with the piano music these scenes are a playful experiment, mixing abstraction with careful observation of cat behaviour. Vera started her animation career at the Halas & Batchelor studio in 1940, as did Elizabeth Horn, who also worked on this film. Moving from tracing, to inbetweening, to animating, Vera became one the company's principle artists. In the late 1940s she moved to the Larkins studio which better suited her experimental spirit. In 1957, along with Nancy Hanna, she joined Bob Godfrey and Keith Learner at Biographic, and continued innovating there until she retired in 1983, after four decades in the business.
Animation
Dustbin Parade
Jan 01, 1942The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Animation
Quodlibet
Sep 19, 1968
Springtime for Samantha
May 21, 1965Springtime for Samantha
May 21, 1965Springtime for Samantha
May 21, 1965
Dolly, Put the Kettle On
Apr 01, 1947Joy Batchelor directed, produced, wrote and designed this short film for Brook Bond Tea: two girls compete for the affections of a Teddy Bear.
Animation
The Do-It-Yourself Cartoon Kit
Apr 01, 1961Animation
Full Circle
Aug 06, 1953Shows the improved services and other benefits that oil brings to the backward territories. The financial and technical resources of foreign lands have tapped the liquid wealth hidden below the surface of the earth. In return a new prosperity and improved standard of living is being brought to the peoples of those formerly barren lands.
Documentary
