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Animated Ads
British animation won great success as an entertainer, but it has long had a lucrative second career in sales
In cinemas and on TV, animated adverts have frequently outshone the main attraction. In the early days of the cinema, animated ads were often relative epics, with five-minute comic encounters leading to a pack-shot punchline. The arrival of commercial television in 1955 brought the animated ad down to bite-size, but if anything they packed an even harder punch. Advertisers found that animation could soften the edges of a hard sell approach, and bring cartoon brand characters to life.
Love on the Range Love on the Range
Advert 1939 6 mins
An animated Western mock-opera about Horlicks? Bring it on!
Your Shopping Guide Your Shopping Guide
Advert 1930 5 mins Silent
Lingerie, wallpaper, garages - there's something on offer for everyone in these lo-fi local cinema ads from Darlington
Air to Wear Air to Wear
Advert 1957 2 mins Silent
As full of holes as his Aertex shirt, Uncle Jeff’s tall tales are captured in crayon in this animated cinema ad
Molar Mischief Molar Mischief
Advert 1946 2 mins
Look out, germs at work! These loveable molar mischief making puppets really dig tooth decay.
Ovaltine - Train Ovaltine - Train
Advert 1985 1 mins
Ovaltina will pick you up! With an electronic 80s synth and a catchy theme tune, Ovaltina parachutes in to save the day
Dolly Put the Kettle On Dolly Put the Kettle On
Advert 1947 2 mins
A spurned doll turns knife-wielding femme fatale when she doesn't get her teddy bear, in this cartoon cinema ad for tea
Cadbury's Star Bar Cadbury's Star Bar
Advert 1979 0 mins
An animated spaceman finds a Star Bar which gives him an energy boost.
Mousewife's Choice Mousewife's Choice
Advert 1948 2 mins
An animated ‘mousewife’ finding a way to ease her washing day woes may not be very progressive, but it's delightfully sweet.
Fable of the Fabrics Fable of the Fabrics
Advert 1942 6 mins
"Gee, old age!" Malicious Father Time doesn't stand a chance against a cartoon cupid armed with a big box of washing powder.
South Sea Sweethearts South Sea Sweethearts
Advert 1938 6 mins
Say aloha to a Technicolor cinema ad for Horlicks from the master of the Puppetoon, George Pal
Silver Lining Silver Lining
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1947 1 mins
Bread today and jam tomorrow? Cheerful puppet cartoon with a catchy song sweetens the pill of post-war austerity.
Lyons Maid Lolly Gobble Choc Bomb Lyons Maid Lolly Gobble Choc Bomb
Advert 1974 0 mins
Animated advert for the much loved strawberry ice lolly, with chocolate and sugar balls and a chocolate bar inside!
Put Una Money for There Put Una Money for There
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1956 3 mins
Barclays advise West African farmers where to keep their money via a catchy song and crisp modern cartoon design.
The Right Spirit The Right Spirit
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1931 9 mins
Don’t judge a book by its cover but do judge a political party by its garage in this Conservative cartoon from the height of the depression.
Flu-ing Squad Flu-ing Squad
Advert 1951 2 mins
Anthropomorphic houses pop pills to defeat colds in this cartoon cinema commercial
Looking Ahead Looking Ahead
Advert 1930 2 mins Silent
Behold the future! Where meals are consumed in pill form, and hankies are washed on television
Mr.........Goes Motoring Mr.........Goes Motoring
Advert 1925 3 mins Silent
Deceptively simple early animated ad for Shell petrol
What-ho-she-bumps What-ho-she-bumps
Advert 1937 7 mins
Puppet pirates pray on the sleeping Navy: the crew of HMS Hopeless pay the price of night starvation in this 1930s Horlicks ad.
Brooke Bond D: Tea Party Brooke Bond D: Tea Party
Advert 1977 1 mins Silent
If your afternoon tea sessions with the vicar's wife need enlivening, take the animated advice of this cultured cup and saucer.
Train Trouble Train Trouble
Advert 1946 3 mins
Who knew so much was riding on a squirrel's breakfast?
Branston Pickle: Advertising Agency Branston Pickle: Advertising Agency
Advert 1957 0 mins
15 seconds isn't long, you've got to say Crosse and you've got to say Blackwell, and you've got to say Branston Pickle!
Lyons Maid Vanilla - 2p Off Lyons Maid Vanilla - 2p Off
Advert 1975 0 mins
Three children stamp the ice cream packs with a "2p off" stamp. Look out for the special packs!
The Boy Who Wanted to Make Pictures The Boy Who Wanted to Make Pictures
Advert 1924 4 mins Silent
Kodak pocket cameras provide the perfect substitute for a budding portrait artist in this early advert based on the drawings of Harold Bateman.
Shippam's Guide to Opera Shippam's Guide to Opera
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1955 2 mins
Charming fish paste cinema ad
Babycham: Tennis!! Babycham: Tennis!!
Advert 1957 1 mins
After your strenuous workout at the tennis club, you need a Babycham
Change for the Better Change for the Better
Advert 1949 2 mins
An ageing bobby learns about the Co-op divvy in this gorgeous puppet animation narrated by Stanley Holloway.
Aladdin and the Junior Genie Aladdin and the Junior Genie
Advert 1942 5 mins
Washing day keeping you from a spin on your flying carpet? This quality cinema features a young apprentice genie learning a helpful solution.
Fun on the Farm Fun on the Farm
Advert 1935 5 mins Silent
What seems a charming stop-motion rhapsody for Bourn-vita chocolate reveals some unpleasant racial insensitivity.
Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard
Advert 1941 6 mins
A cartoon fantasy brings fabric patterns to life in a literal soap opera - yet even here the reality of Home Front life creeps in
Guinness - Raf Flying Toucans Guinness - Raf Flying Toucans
Advert 1955 1 mins
An RAF squadron are alerted to an attack. Flying toucans raid the officers mess and fly off with glasses of Guinness.
Guinness at the Albert Hall Guinness at the Albert Hall
Advert 1962 1 mins
A conductor rearranges the members of a choir then momentarily stops to drink some Guinness before resuming his task.
Not Cricket Not Cricket
Advert 1958 4 mins
A cartoon Caribbean mini-musical scripted by a Nobel Prize winner and accompanied by a Trinidadian guitar legend
The Red Box Fantasy The Red Box Fantasy
Advert 1935 3 mins
A colourful cavalcade of cancer sticks, in this 1930s cinema ad
Cinema Adverts for Humber, Raleigh and Rudge Bicycles Cinema Adverts for Humber, Raleigh and Rudge Bicycles
Advert 1938 2 mins Silent
A fun selection of vintage animated adverts promoting some of Britain's leading bicycle brands.