When they were deciding on the type of film stock for the production Fuji was on the short list because it is a lot cheaper than Kodak film, but they […]
The making of When the Wind Blows – Page 8
On a good day they would shoot 100 feet of film, or about one minute of screen time. Sometimes it was much less, depending on the complexity of the shot. […]
The making of When the Wind Blows – Page 9
“There were occasions where we needed to take a wall out to allow for the back bulk of the camera. If we were moving into a room and panning to […]
Brian Cosgrove co-founder of Cosgrove Hall
The Studio In ten years Cosgrove Hall Productions has grown from a small studio to a major animation centre whose films are enjoyed by audiences around the World. The Cosgrove […]
Ken Clark chats with John Coates
George Dunning was a charismatic figure and his strong personality, humour and gentle manner were contributory factors in making him a figurehead. George Dunning was TVC! Then, quite suddenly, he […]
Ken Clark chats with John Coates – Page 2
K.C.: Do you have a favourite Dunning film? J.C.: Oh, yes! Damon the Mower – a most amazing film. We have copies of all his films here on U-matic. When […]
Ken Clark chats with John Coates – Page 3
On my desk I had a copy of the book The Snowman – I have it still -and I thought it would make a really marvellous little film. We phoned […]
Tony White’s Animator’s Workbook
David Jefferson went along to the Animus animation studio in London to meet Tony White, author of a new book on animation techniques called The Animator’s Workbook. David Jefferson: What […]
Tony White’s Animator’s Workbook – Page 2
D. J.: How long have you been operating as Animus? T.W.: About eight years. It has gone through various forms. It has always been my company but I started off […]
Tony White’s Animator’s Workbook – Page 3
At the same time, I had made two short films at Halas & Batchelor, one called Quartet which won first place in the Chicago Film Festival. The other one was […]
Tony White’s Animator’s Workbook – Page 4
D. J.: On your show reel all the commercials have a different style. Which one is your particular style? T. W.: We don’t have a style. That is part of […]
Tony White’s Animator’s Workbook – Page 5
D. J.: It’s nice when you see the end result. T. W.: It is if you feel you are progressing. Running a studio is a heavy responsibility. I was much […]
George Pal Puppetoons – the early years
Ken Clark pieces together a portrait of George Pal – in his ealy days – as seen through the eyes of a number of star witnesses. The 1947/48 edition of […]
George Pal Puppetoons – the early years – Page 2
Our biggest problem with puppet film making was the lighting. This required a great deal more attention than live action filming because the little wooden figures were round, with painted […]
George Pal Puppetoons – the early years – Page 3
KC.: You were with J. Walter Thompson at that time, weren’t you? G.H.: That’s right. I never worked for George Pal. When we made the Horlicks films in Eindhoven I […]
Computer animation at Lucasfilm
The Adventures of Andre and WaIIy B. recieved a Special Award from the 1985 Canadian International Animation Festival in Toronto. The whole film was generated by computer. David Jefferson reports […]
Computer animation at Lucasfilm – Page 2
Using this method the computer only animates the background. All the characters are done by conventional animation. There for there is no time saving involved. The chances of wanting to […]
From Mr Man to Bananaman – Flicks Films
Flicks Films Ltd and 101 Productions Ltd are London based animation companies that are owned and run under the same umbrella. Flicks Films produce commercials and 101 Productions make TV […]
From Mr Man to Bananaman – Flicks Films – Page 2
Pre-production planning is considered very important. When a rough script has been prepared Bernie Kay and Terry Ward do a rough storyboard together. Changes are sometimes made to the script […]
From Mr Man to Bananaman – Flicks Films – Page 3
This was not always the case as Ward recalls when they were working on the Mr Men series ten years ago, “We financed the Mr Men ourselves, we went to […]
From Mr Man to Bananaman – Flicks Films – Page 4
Flicks Films have produced five TV commercials for Harrods using graphics that were animated, traced and painted, shot on a rostrum camera with slit scan special effects enhancing the animation […]
From Mr Man to Bananaman – Flicks Films – Page 5
Doing series work is different because you have a lot more freedom as an animator or a director or a producer to do your own thing. The BBC have their […]
Bye! Bye! Biographic Studios
On 22nd March 1985 Biographic Studios closed their doors for the last time. Ken Clark went along to pay his last respects and talk over old times. In the beginning, […]
Bye! Bye! Biographic Studios – Page 2
Although editing became more sophisticated it did not benefit Biographic, they lost money on the final series of “Square World”. But the charisma of being on the top TV comedy […]
Bye! Bye! Biographic Studios – Page 3
In the Eighties, the agency man invariably arrives at the studio with completed model sheets and storyboard in his hand to ask: “Will you make this?” “We have very little […]
Bye! Bye! Biographic Studios – Page 4
Another time they made a series of adverts for a certain fountain-pen ink manufacturer, which were so successful mothers-to-be were drinking it believing their off-spring would be born able to […]
TVC Animation Studio from the Beatles to the Snowman
By Frank Baker. TV Cartoons Limited are better known by their initials TVC. Formed in the summer of 1957 by George Dunning and John Coates, like all small animation studios […]
TVC Animation Studio from the Beatles to the Snowman
With the success of the Beatles cartoon series TVC went on to produce what is now considered a major landmark in the history of animated films. THE YELLOW SUBMARINE 1968 […]
TVC Animation Studio from the Beatles to the Snowman
In 1981 TVC were again chosen as one of the animation studios to produce sequences for HEAVY METAL THE MOVIE these being soft landing and the twenty minute DEN sequence. […]
TVC Animation Studio from the Beatles to the Snowman
THE SNOWMAN met with much critical acclaim and was nominated for an American Oscar and has won the British Academy Award for the best children’s film and more recently the […]