Directing
Richard Starzak
Born 1959-01-01 · Suffolk, England, UK
Richard Starzak, previously known as Richard "Golly" Goleszowski, is an English animator. Starzak was born in Suffolk in 1959 and grew up in Ipswich, attending Northgate Grammar School. After completing a degree in Fine Art at Exeter College of Art and Design specialising in animation, he experimented further with animation and DJ-ing before joining Aardman Animations in 1983 as its first employee. During his first nine-year stretch at Aardman he worked on several short films and promos including "Morph", "Sledgehammer" for Peter Gabriel, Pee-Wee's Playhouse in New York, his own film Ident (1989), which introduced the character Rex, and two Rex the Runt pilot films. His commercial work includes Domestos Big Dom, Grolsch, Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, Weetos and Maltesers and several European commercials. In 1992, Starzak left Aardman to pursue a freelance career during which time he worked in New Zealand as Production Adviser for Oscar and Friends, and wrote and directed 13 episodes of Rex the Runt for BBC2, winning the Carlton Award for International Animation at The Indies in 2000. He then directed Robbie the Reindeer in 1999 for BBC Animation Unit. Robbie went on to win 19 international awards including a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA). Following the success of Robbie, Starzak worked for two years on a project for Aardman’s feature film department as well as directing and writing the second series of Rex the Runt. In 2002, Starzak was honoured with the Award for Best TV Special for Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire at the 3rd International Festival of Animated Feature Films and TV Specials. From 2003, he directed two series of Creature Comforts – 2x13 episodes for ITV based on the Academy Award winning Nick Park short film. The first series went on to win 17 awards, and both series were nominated for a BAFTA. The second series includes a half-hour Christmas special. In between these two series, he devised Shaun the Sheep, writing and directing the pilot. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acting credits
7.1Julie Walters tells the story of how Morph, Shaun the Sheep and that cheese-loving man Wallace and his dog Gromit first came to life.
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
2015
NRDanish animation documentary about British animation featuring BolexBrothers, BigFatStudio and Aardman Animations.
Why Bristol?
1998
6.5A boy born the size of a small doll is kidnapped by a genetic lab and must find a way back to his father in this inventive adventure filmed using stop motion animation techniques.
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993
Behind the camera
7.0When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015
7.0When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015
6.6Shaun bluffs his dimwitted farmer master into bidding for three llamas at a county fair. Once they arrive, however, they cause such chaotic destructive mayhem that Shaun has to carefully remove them – high-speed chases, careful rooftop scrambles and dangerous falls ensue.
Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas
2015
7.6Anthology of Aardman Animation short films released in theaters in 1996, centered on the new release of the third Wallace & Gromit short, "A Close Shave." Includes: "A Close Shave," "Creature Comforts" and "Heat Electric Commercials" by Nick Park; "Rex the Runt: How Dinosaurs Became Extinct", "Rex the Runt: Dreams" and "Ident" by Richard Goleszowski; "Wat's Pig" and "My Baby Just Cares For Me" by Peter Lord; "Early Bird" by Peter Lord and David Sproxton; "Pib and Pog" directed by Peter Peake
Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation
1996
6.1Robbie the Reindeer arrives at the North Pole, ready to take his place as navigator on Santa's Christmas sleigh team. However, Robbie is soon plagued by doubt regarding his ability, and sets out to regain his self-respect and the admiration of his team-mates.
Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire
1999
7.5A collection of 8 short films from the Aardman animation studios : - "Heat Electric" from Nick Park (1991) - "Pib & Pog" from Peter Peake (1994) - "Wat's Pig" from Peter Lord (1996) - "Creature Comforts" from Nick Park (1989) - "Adam" from Peter Lord (1991) - "Not Without My Handbag" from Boris Kossmehl (1992) - "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" from Jeff Newitt (1992) - "Rex the Hunt" from Richard Goleszowski (1991)
Les chefs-d’œuvre du Studio Aardman
1999
9.0Unidentified Farm Objects and paranormal sightings are the norm with Shaun the Sheep™ and his barnyard buddies Bitzer, Shirley, and Timmy, as they encounter more madcap mischief along with those Naughty Pigs next door. Big laughs are evident, as the creators of the Academy Award®-winning Wallace & Gromit™ are out to prove that sheepherding fun is universal.
Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind
2010
NRThe gang journey to the North Pole, and drill a hole to find out "What's at the center of the Earth?"
Rex the Runt: North by North Pole
1996
6.0Explores the nature of man, not only with feet of clay, but with a face of clay as well. Within a colourless city of walls, corridors, and small rooms, a man makes his way from home to work, then to a bar, and then, by a stroke of luck, into an outdoors of space, fresh air, and colour. Along the way, he changes his face to fit his surroundings, interacts with his dog, argues with co-workers, and gossips at a bar. His altering of his visage suggests a two-faced nature, and his stepping into the outdoors provides the ultimate test of his real identity.
Ident
1990
6.0Explores the nature of man, not only with feet of clay, but with a face of clay as well. Within a colourless city of walls, corridors, and small rooms, a man makes his way from home to work, then to a bar, and then, by a stroke of luck, into an outdoors of space, fresh air, and colour. Along the way, he changes his face to fit his surroundings, interacts with his dog, argues with co-workers, and gossips at a bar. His altering of his visage suggests a two-faced nature, and his stepping into the outdoors provides the ultimate test of his real identity.
Ident
1990
7.7Our plasticine pooch pal Rex welcomes us to his world, introduces us to his friends, and illustrates how Bad Bob caused dinosaurs' extinction (whoops!)
Rex the Runt: How Dinosaurs Became Extinct
1991
7.7Our plasticine pooch pal Rex welcomes us to his world, introduces us to his friends, and illustrates how Bad Bob caused dinosaurs' extinction (whoops!)
Rex the Runt: How Dinosaurs Became Extinct
1991
8.3Our plasticine pooch pal Rex welcomes us to his dreamworld.
Rex the Runt: Dreams
1991
8.3Our plasticine pooch pal Rex welcomes us to his dreamworld.
Rex the Runt: Dreams
1991
NRWhy does a guide dog pursue a caretaker, and what do reindeer think of Santa? Why do hamsters dread chemistry sets, and what do mice think of mince pies? Christmas is for all animals not just for dogs!
Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas Everybody!
2005
Aardman's claymation to the song Barefootin'.
Barefootin'
1987