history

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.

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.

The Grasshopper Animators

KEN CLARK WAS A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE WELL KNOWN AMATEUR ANIMATOR’S GROUP THE GRASSHOPPER GROUP. HE WAS A KEY ANIMATOR ON THEIR AWARD WINNING FILM ‘THE BATTLE OF WANGAPORE’. THE GROUP WAS WOUND UP EARLY THIS YEAR. KEN TELLS US OF IT’S BEGINNINGS IN THE 1950’S.

We decided we needed a President. Norman McLaren was approached and he readily agreed. A choice which influenced, the first two live-action films we made entitled TWO’S COMPANY and BRIDE AND GROOM. The stars of BRIDE AND GROOM were Bob Godfrey (KAMA SUTRA RIDES AGAIN and the TV series ROOBARB) and Gerry Potterton (who recently produced the professional feature length cartoon HEAVY METAL).