Published between 1982 and 1995
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 freedom to alter their characters, particularly if they have already appeared in the Press,” Keith commented, “and nine times out of ten they will have … Read more
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 write!!! Mind you, no one was prepared to vouch for the authenticity of that story. After Bob Godfrey left the team to set up on … Read more
Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck for over 50 years, died on 20th February 1985 at the age of eighty. We print this interview between Father Robert Murphy and Clarence Nash as a tribute to one of cartoon-lands best known voices. Interspersed throughout the following article is a three-way interview conducted by Father Robert … Read more
Hearing that the Disney Studios were looking for voices, Clarence made an appointment and the interviewer was so impressed that he rang Walt Disney’s intercom and let Walt listen in. According to Clarence, Walt’s first words to him were, “We’ve found our duck!” Clarence was on his way! “The Wise Little Hen” was a big … Read more
The profits from animated commercials often support a studio while it works on other productions. Frank Baker looks at the history of the animated commercial. As you sit watching television any night of the week, you will not fail to notice the number of animated commercials that try to sell you anything from motor insurance … Read more
The Year of Animation was officially launched on 24th January 1985 at the National Film Theatre in London with a special showing of Highlights of British Animation 1899 – 1974. David Jefferson reports on the proceedings. The “Year of Animation” was officially launched on 24th January at the National Film Theatre in London with a … Read more
So what of the films on the programme? It opened with the opening titles of Bob Godfrey’s film “Great”. What a rumbustious and colourful film this is with many of the big names in British animation working on it. It tells the story of inventor Isambard Kingdom Brunel and won an Academy-award. As a complete … Read more
“Dustbin Parade” – 1942 from Halas and Batchelor was made to encourage the right attitude in war time. As someone who hated the way Britain’s were roused to war fervour during the Falklands crisis I found this film rather disturbing. The main character, a friendly little bone, is in effect being asked to commit suicide … Read more
Ollie Johnston is one of the legendary Nine Old Men of the Disney studios. He has worked on all the Disney feature films from Snow White to Fox and the Hound. Father Robert Murphy conducted the following interview with him in January 1981 at the Disney studios. If, as Cinderella once sung, “A dream is … Read more
MURPHY: Is part of that too that there were lots of people working on it? JOHNSTON: Yes, definitely. Back on Pinocchio there were four of us working on the character of Pinocchio. You were cast only on that character Walt thought you could do the best. After the war, the animation was divided by blocks … Read more