Issue 2 – Index of selected articles

Issue 2 – Autumn 1982 Editor’s Comment Reader’s Letters The Grasshopper Animators – part 2 Ken Clark continues the story of the Grasshopper Group. We hear about Bob Godfey’s early cartoon films. Building an Animation Rostrum – part 2 Brian Clare continues the building of a rostrum in his garage. Making the Legend of Bolster … Read more

Editor’s Comment

I had a letter from J. Davis of New Milton saying: “I only hope you keep the content of the newsletter firmly in the hands of ordinary film-makers and not in the hands of professional or semi-professional writers.” It is my aim to provide a forum where animators can share their experiences with each other. … Read more

Reader’s Letters

GRASSHOPPERS REMEMBERED May I congratulate you on the quality of the first issue of your Animator’s Newsletter. I have a feeling that we amateurs may soon be relying heavily on enterprising people like yourself to produce newsletters and the like, as even ‘Movie Maker’ magazine must be finding it increasingly difficult to keep going with … Read more

The Grasshopper Animators – part 2

The Grasshopper Animators

Part 2

KEN CLARK CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE WELL KNOWN AMATEUR ANIMATOR’S GROUP THE GRASSHOPPER GROUP. IN THE LAST ISSUE WE LEARNED HOW BOB GODFREY FEATURED IN SOME LIVE ACTION PIXILATION FILMS. NOW WE HEAR ABOUT HIS CARTOON FILMS.

When Bob Godfrey joined us early in the Grasshopper Group’s existence, he was clutching a battered box containing a crazy cartoon on 9.5mm titled THE HOT EIGHT, made in 1953. It represented his first attempt at animating to music and was synchronised with a Louis Armstrong record.

The Grasshopper Animators – part 2

Regrettably, John Daborn’s first cartoon film was lost in obscurity, however THE MILL STREAM, made in 1950 on 9.5mm, originally on black and white stock and later re-shot in colour, won the 1951 A.C.W. Ten Best and collected prizes at the ‘1952 Scottish Amateur Film Festival and the I.A.C. contest. The methods he adopted in the making of that film were primitive in the extreme. Airplane dope paints were used, partially melting the cels and causing them to ‘cockle’ – NOT a technique to be recommended, despite the film’s success.

Building an Animation Rostrum – part 2

Making a Rostrum

Part Two

By Brian Clare

PART ONE DESCRIBED THE WOODWORK FOR THE ROSTRUM BASE. IN PART TWO WE LOOK AT THE METALWORK DETAILS.

If you have got this far with building your rostrum you are almost half way to being home and dry.

Making the Legend of Bolster

Making the Legend of Bolster

LEW COOPER’S FILM ‘THE LEGEND OF BOLSTER’ WAS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S MOVIE MAKER TEN BEST FILMS. HE TELLS US ABOUT ITS PRODUCTION.

Since taking up movie-making I’ve always had an interest in animation. I have dabbled in most types, usually in short experimental attempts. All the completed animated films I’ve made have been made with puppets of some form. The problem here is that you need an area which can be set aside for your film making. In this way, you can leave everything set up, and do the odd bit of filming when you can spare the time.