This richly illustrated work is a history, critical analysis, and celebration of the Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Studio, Britain's leading and most influential animation company from 1940 to 1995. This lavish study draws on the archives of the Halas & Batchelor Collection and looks at the studio's key works, including Animal Farm, Britain's first full-length animated film; The Tales of Hoffnung, with the legendary Peter Sellers; and the cult classics Butterfly Ball, featuring the work of Beatles illustrator Alan Aldridge, and Autobahn, with the music of Kraftwerk. The book includes an autobiographical account by Vivian Halas, daughter of the company's founders, as well as critical insights by animation professor Paul Wells. Animation worldwide is indebted to John Halas and Joy Batchelor for their outstanding work. This book explores their legacy.
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"Beautifully designed and richly illustrated." —Animation World Magazine
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book of an important animation studio,
This review is from: Halas & Batchelor Cartoons: An Animated History (Turtleback)
This is a long over due book on the work of a key British animation studio. Considering the diverse history of British animation there is a real lack of books about the history or particular studios. The book is a great introduction to the broad history of the studio and the lives of John Halas and Joy Batchelor. While the studio is best remembered for producing Animal Farm the book brings to light other films and projects they worked on. Vivien Halas chapter on her parents gives a deeper insight to the social history and background in which her parents grew up and worked in. Paul Wells chapter is excellent as is to be expected of such a key author on animation. Any animation student who has read Wells Understanding Animation and Fundamentals of Animation will find this book worth while. Jim Walker's chapter on the commercials produced by Halas & Batchelor is well researched and illustrated with well known commercials such as Murrymints. This is one area which is often neglected when discussing the work of animation studios and the chapter gives some insight into the relationship of producing commercials has with the general production history of the studio. Pat Webb's chapter is a welcomed insight to the studio from someone who worked for the studio as John Halas assistant. Richard Holliss's chapter is a joy to read through a number of times while looking back through the images in the book. It is a great read and visually stunning. I found reading the text a joy while looking through the images. The book also includes a collection of short extract papers by Karl Cohen on Animated propaganda during the Cold War, Dan Leab on Orwell Subverted: The CIA and the filming of Animal Farm and John Canemaker's paper Halas & Batchelor, A Visit with England's Leading Producers of Animated Films.The book is well designed and full of beautiful illustrations, drawings, character designs and photographs. The book also includes a DVD of a selection of the studios film: Magic Canvas (1948), The Figurehead (1953), The History of the Cinema (1957), Automania 2000 (1963), The Symphony Orchestra (1964), Dilemma (1981), Know your Europeans UK (1995. Know your Europeans was part of series of films produced by different Euopean animators on their own country. The UK film was naturally done by Bob Godfrey. I hope that there will be more books like this one in the future perhaps one on Bob Godfrey next would be great
5.0 out of 5 stars
Halas & Batchelor Cartoons: An Animated History,
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This review is from: Halas & Batchelor Cartoons: An Animated History (Turtleback)
Perhaps I'm biased. I worked at Halas and Batchelor films in the mid sixties. This is a well put together and highly coherent documentary of the contribution made to world animation by the Hungarian born John Halas and his wife Joy. It is easy to follow- well illustrated, and factually acurate; something a little rare in covering past creative works and productions. Anyone who is interested in the evolution of animation and techniques will enjoy this book.Chris Miles- Orlando
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