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Creatures Great and Small
Fur, feathers, bugs or beaks: from the start animators have cast the whole natural world in their human comedies and dramas
Would you know Mickey was a mouse if you didn’t know his surname? Many of the most famous animated characters are drawn from the animal kingdom, but they rarely behave quite as nature intended. Anthropomorphism has a long history in storytelling - going back to Aesop and beyond - and animation has imported it into film. But whether it's Bonzo the Dog or Charley the Cat, these characters are really studies in human nature.
Bonzo No. 5 Bonzo No. 5
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 9 mins Silent
Dreams of a Rarebit Hound, as the loveable cartoon pup Bonzo discovers that a late night sausage feast can lead to some disturbing dreams
The Feline Fun The Feline Fun
Amateur film 1986 13 mins Silent
The shenanigans of Cuthbert-Tiggy, the mischievous kitty who enjoys a tipple. An intriguing combo of stop-motion animation and live action.
The Clown and His Donkey The Clown and His Donkey
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1910 3 mins Silent
A pioneering effort in bringing shadow puppetry to the cinema
Falling in the Water Falling in the Water
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Kids don't always listen to their parents. But in the 70s they certainly listened to a giant ginger tabby cat...
Goodwill To All Dogs Goodwill To All Dogs
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1960 6 mins
An animated xmas with paper dog Snap
Superted Superted
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1975 9 mins
Don’t tell the Spotty man but Superted has a new friend. A stop motion predecessor of the superhero teddy idea
The Fabulumperous Car The Fabulumperous Car
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1972 12 mins
Top Gear meets Trumpton, as Wilf Weasel pimps Bungle Bunny’s ride
The Six-armed Image The Six-armed Image
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1921 14 mins Silent
Comic strip animal favourites of the 1920s continue their epic animated adventure around the world
The Elstree Erbs The Elstree Erbs
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1930 8 mins
Teddie, Piggie and Poll might not have gone down in history like Mickey Mouse, but here is a British answer to Disney’s Steamboat Willie
Tale of a Tendril Tale of a Tendril
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 9 mins Silent
A bug’s life laid bare in this charming cut-out animated tale by pioneering film naturalist F. Percy Smith
Bonzo Bonzo
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1924 10 mins Silent
Long before Gromit met Wallace, a silent British dog became a cartoon star
Watch the Birdie Watch the Birdie
Amateur film 1954 6 mins Silent
What do you mean you’ve never heard of the Ungle-Wungle bird? Take a look at this lesser spotted animated gem
Anthropoid Anecdote Anthropoid Anecdote
Amateur film 1966 9 mins Location: Leeds
An animated battle of the sexes as seen from the husband’s viewpoint, before the impact of modern feminism put a dent into male chauvinism.
The Cat that Walked by Himself The Cat that Walked by Himself
Children's 1983 15 mins Location: South Shields
Appealing 1980s animation of Rudyard Kipling’s children’s fable in which a cave woman’s magic fails to tame a cat with attitude.
Bonzolino or - Bonzo Broadcasted Bonzolino or - Bonzo Broadcasted
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 7 mins Silent
Bonzo the dog hitches a ride on radio waves all the way to Hollywood to win back his girl in this silent cartoon comedy
Willie Comes to Life Willie Comes to Life
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 3 mins
See how Willie the white elephant is brought to life in an animation studio for a National Savings ad
Train Trouble Train Trouble
Advert 1946 3 mins
Who knew so much was riding on a squirrel's breakfast?
Running a Cinema Running a Cinema
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1921 7 mins Silent
This animated insight into silent cinema-going is more fanciful than factual, and relishes in poking fun at the films of its time
A Cat Is a Cat A Cat Is a Cat
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1971 9 mins
…and that is that. A playful animated meditation on our feline friends with some beautiful artwork.
Teapot Teapot
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Charley's cat-astrophic teatime hijinks leave him with a burning message to share
Topical Bonzette Topical Bonzette
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 7 mins Silent
It’s the canine o’clock news as George Studdy’s loveable cartoon pup Bonzo takes on the newsreels
The Crab That Played with the Sea The Crab That Played with the Sea
Children's 1983 11 mins Location: South Shields
Poetic justice for a disobedient Crab in Sheila Graber’s delightful animation of Kipling’s fanciful origin story for children.
Steve's Cannon Crackers Steve's Cannon Crackers
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1937 9 mins
Come on Steve! The 1930s comic strip carthorse both starts and stops a naval battle in this cartoon animated by Carl Giles
Bee Boy Bee Boy
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2005 6 mins
Bee Boy is destined to spend eternity trapped inside a hive on top of a hill.
Apodemy Apodemy
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2012 5 mins
A flock of birds circles around and moves a cage vehicle, seeking escape from a city half finished and abandoned.
The Obvious Child The Obvious Child
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2014 13 mins
Somebody broke the girl's parents. The rabbit was there when it happened. It was an awful mess.