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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. 5Bonzo No. 5
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 9 minsSilent
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 FunThe Feline Fun
Amateur film 1986 13 minsSilent
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 DonkeyThe Clown and His Donkey
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1910 3 minsSilent
A pioneering effort in bringing shadow puppetry to the cinema
Falling in the WaterFalling 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 DogsGoodwill To All Dogs
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1960 6 mins
An animated xmas with paper dog Snap
SupertedSuperted
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 CarThe Fabulumperous Car
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1972 12 mins
Top Gear meets Trumpton, as Wilf Weasel pimps Bungle Bunny’s ride
The Six-armed ImageThe Six-armed Image
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1921 14 minsSilent
Comic strip animal favourites of the 1920s continue their epic animated adventure around the world
The Elstree ErbsThe 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 TendrilTale of a Tendril
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 9 minsSilent
A bug’s life laid bare in this charming cut-out animated tale by pioneering film naturalist F. Percy Smith
BonzoBonzo
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1924 10 minsSilent
Long before Gromit met Wallace, a silent British dog became a cartoon star
Watch the BirdieWatch the Birdie
Amateur film 1954 6 minsSilent
What do you mean you’ve never heard of the Ungle-Wungle bird? Take a look at this lesser spotted animated gem
Anthropoid AnecdoteAnthropoid 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 HimselfThe 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 BroadcastedBonzolino or - Bonzo Broadcasted
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 7 minsSilent
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 LifeWillie 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
Running a CinemaRunning a Cinema
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1921 7 minsSilent
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 CatA 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.
TeapotTeapot
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Charley's cat-astrophic teatime hijinks leave him with a burning message to share
Topical BonzetteTopical Bonzette
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1925 7 minsSilent
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 SeaThe 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 CrackersSteve'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 BoyBee Boy
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2005 6 mins
Bee Boy is destined to spend eternity trapped inside a hive on top of a hill.
ApodemyApodemy
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 ChildThe 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.