This film is part of Free
Charley's Black Magic
Cartoon propaganda short sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1949 9 mins
Overview
With coal prices rising and harsh winters in recent memory, post-war Britain was understandably grumpy. The irascible Charley featured in a series of cartoon propaganda shorts communicating many new policies of Clement Atlee’s Labour government, which promised a brighter future ahead. Charley was always quickly turned around with the promise of jam tomorrow, but post-war austerity was still a bitter pill for many to swallow.
The seven Charley films released between 1948 and 1949 were all produced by Halas & Batchelor Cartoon Films, who would go on to make Britain’s first animated feature film, Animal Farm, in 1954.
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