Early British Animation

Ian is joined by Malcolm Cook, Associate Professor at Southampton University to discuss British animated films between 1904 and 1925. From its roots in music hall and newspapers to traditional cartoon characters via wartime propaganda. We discuss craft, technique and message and discover that these hundred year old films are still as relevant and groundbreaking now as they were then.

Watch the films in these places


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zQSDWo9LoM&ab_channel=BritishPath%C3%A9 Political Favourites (1904), a lightning cartoon by Walter Booth https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-animated-cotton-1909-online Animated Cotton (1909) by Walter Booth, an early trick film that is connected to his lightning cartoon background https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-bully-boy-1914-online Bully Boy (1914) by Lancelot Speed, a typical example of WW1 British animation https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-john-bulls-sketch-book-1915-online John Bull's Sketch Book (1915) by Dudley Buxton, another of the running WW1 series https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/0635 Adventures of Wee Rob Roy (1916) I believe you're in Scotland, so I include this for some regional inclusivity! https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-agitated-adverts-1917-online Agitated Adverts (1917) by Anson Dyer, another key figure in British animation https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-the-six-armed-image-1921-online Pip, Squeak and Wilfred episode by Lancelot Speed, showing the shift to animal character series in the 1920s https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-bonzolino-or-bonzo-broadcasted-1925-online Bonzolino or Bonzo Broadcasted (1925) an entry from the popular Bonzo series by George Studdy (Adrian Brunel wrote multiple episodes for this series) https://www.youtube.com/@britishpathe/search?query=jerry%20the%20tyke The Jerry the Troublesome Tyke series (1925-6) made by Sid Griffith