Early artwork developed for 'Animal Farm' film

Woodpeckers and I went to one of the Stroud film Festival's special events last night. It was a talk by Vivien Halas, the daughter of John Halas and Joy Batchelor, who were the owners of the animation film production company in Stroud which made the film of George Orwell's famous novel 'Animal Farm'.

It is a complicated story but for many years both during and after the Second World War animated films were being produced here for a range of outlets. 'Animal Farm' was probably the first animated feature film in the UK, and we were able to watch it after Vivien had given a short illustrated talk about the company and her parents' involvement. Before the main film we also watched three short animated films made by the same team which demonstrated their amazing craft and skills.

I loved it all, particularly the amazing draughtsmanship and the colours used throughout. Considering this was in the drab 1940s and 1950s, in which I was born, their vision now seems so modern. My blip was taken during Vivien's talk and shows a preparatory sketch used in planning the storyboard.

When we watched 'Animal Farm' the prescience of George Orwell seems extraordinary, and more about totalitarianism and power corrupting, rather than just specific and contemporary political allegory. Helena pointed out how much George Orwell had been influenced by his experiences of infighting in the Spanish Civil War.

I think I might try to buy a copy of the collected work of 'Halas and Batchelor', which seems to be available here. 

If anyone is reasonably local there is also a current exhibition called 'Moving Art: Animation in Stroud' at our local 'Museum in the Park' for the next month.