Osbert Parker

BBC Four’s new documentary takes us on a journey through more than a century of animation. It examines the creative and technical inventiveness of some of the great animation pioneers who have worked in Britain – trailblazing talents such as Len Lye, John Halas and Joy Batchelor, Joanna Quinn, and Bristol’s world-conquering Aardman Animations.

A showcase of top animation from the UK's finest new talents. British animator Osbert Parker presents the TV premiere of exciting short films. All were recipients of grants under BBC Four and the British Film Institute's Animation 2018 initiative, which called out for new and emerging talent from around the country. The films take a variety of approaches, using styles and techniques ranging from hand-drawn images to live-action puppetry, stop motion, CG, 2D and 3D, covering a diversity of genres from science-fiction to documentary. Though richly varied in tone and content, they have been curated into four groups on the themes of animals, other worlds, obsession and love. Morris dancing badgers, a noir fairy tale, a heartening tale of love beyond the grave and an alien coming-of-age story are just some of the treats in store from some of the nation's most-imaginative and talented new animators.

FOUND FACES explores untold stories from the point of view of everyday objects unnoticed by the public. Unvarnished and personal stories told from the street that are compelling, comic, surreal, emotionally engaging, but always entertaining.

Middle-aged, childless couple Olivia and Gavin donate to ‘adopt’ a penguin from a television advert. Their lives are changed when the penguin actually arrives on their doorstep. While Olivia takes to the penguin immediately, Gavin is less pleased, near-disgusted by this foreign invader. However, when the Penguin comes back from his first day of school beaten and abused, Gavin realizes the impact of his prejudice and performs a fatherly act.

The story of migration and enterprise told through the changing face of Britain's high street. Experimental collage film playful with a combination of stop motion with digital techniques and manipulation of photographic cut-outs, creating a continuous transition between the past and present

Sir John Lubbock’s true story and his scientific writings on Ants, Bees & Wasps stood out as contemporary for the co-directors, Osbert Parker & Laurue Hill who worked in collaboration. Themes of cultural displacement, civilisations and environmental concerns were found in their interpretation of Lubbock’s story still relevant today. A diverse range of techniques from, stop-motion, 2D cut-out’s and digital animation is combined to tell a bizarre and beautiful love story with a sting in its tale.

Animation and live action collide in the story of Frank and Charlie, a dark romance of psychological tension that unfolds as the two men sacrifice their morals in search of what they love.

Animation and live action collide in the story of Frank and Charlie, a dark romance of psychological tension that unfolds as the two men sacrifice their morals in search of what they love.

Timeline explores 400 years of emigration from Britain. Evolving as unexpected pathways through time, patterns of lines change form through the use of experimental animation investigating narratives behind life-changing events. Designed to engage and educate Museum visitors of all ages, the film represents important historic events and a diverse range of emigration experiences between 1620-2020.

Ever wondered what your wardrobe is up to when your back is turned?

Ever wondered what your wardrobe is up to when your back is turned?

Ever wondered what your wardrobe is up to when your back is turned?

A joyful depiction of music in motion using disposable everyday objects and the sound of big-band jazz.

Created in-camera this mixed media animated adventure combines live action, found objects with photo cut-outs that are weaved into a non linear narrative and manipulated into a dark story of romance and psychological tension that unfolds into a cinematic world never seen before.

Created in-camera this mixed media animated adventure combines live action, found objects with photo cut-outs that are weaved into a non linear narrative and manipulated into a dark story of romance and psychological tension that unfolds into a cinematic world never seen before.

Created in-camera this mixed media animated adventure combines live action, found objects with photo cut-outs that are weaved into a non linear narrative and manipulated into a dark story of romance and psychological tension that unfolds into a cinematic world never seen before.

SCALA!!! Programmes - is an animated love letter that uses the Scala’s infamous poster-sized programmes to celebrate the feature length documentary, SCALA!!! Directed by Jane Giles & Ali Catterall and the music of by Barry Adamson (It’s Business as Usual).

Tentacles is a 90 second animated short that brings a magic mushroom trip by a staff member at the Scala vividly to life. Inspired by classic Sci-Fi, Horror and B-movies, Tentacles is crafted in-camera using real Octopus tentacles, objects and cut-out photographs in stop-motion. The film is an experimental and playful attempt to explore how animation, particularly mixed media animation can be used to communicate narratives in unexpected and exciting ways that enhance the original story.

Through stop-motion animation, the complex causes of migration are investigated using the example of a study of migrants from the Horn of Africa region. For the film, the dolls were made using 3D scanning and photogrammetry of real characters, and then 3D printing. The painting is inspired by the stories of migrants, revealing a variety of personal, social and economic reasons that force people to cross borders. Visualizing internal and external migration routes, the film destroys the idea of migration as a problem.