Compost Heap

1942
Sound
2m

A talking cabbage plant will win you over in this Second World War cartoon trailer, which has a surprising charm.

This Ministry of Information cartoon (animated by Halas and Batchelor) features a talking cabbage plant, who introduces 'Mr Middleton' (a depiction of gardening expert and broadcaster Cecil Henry Middleton), who provides commentary in his gently-spoken style, encouraging the use of compost heaps to produce humus to feed vegetable plants. Accompanied by a lively soundtrack, cartoon figures are seen working inside a compost heap, the 'Plant Canteen', preparing, cooking and delivering food.

A short cartoon promoting the use of domestic compost heaps. Explains how humus in soil improves its quality and helps householders support the war effort by growing their own vegetables.

Animation Goes to Work

For those with an official message to get across, animation is the perfect messenger

Animation has an almost magical ability to charm and captivate. And those same qualities also make it a strikingly effective communication tool. It grabs attention, speaks to all ages, and can distil complex messages into simple and appealing visual metaphors. For government or other august bodies, cartoon antics have often been the perfect jam to sweeten the pill of official communications, whether to explain sweeping change or impart health and safety messages. And for the inventive animator, even the most utilitarian brief is no barrier to the most outlandish of treatments.