John Bull's Animated Sketchbook No. 4

1915
Silent
7m

An animated recreation of the sinking of the Lusitania is the centrepiece of this pioneering mix of comedy, satire and outrage in cartoon propaganda.

An early edition from a series which marked the true beginning of British animation. The pioneering mix in this issue includes political cartoons, an animated reconstruction of the sinking of the Lusitania and comic scenes of a cartoon Chaplin. Postcard illustrator Dudley Buxton pushed rapidly beyond the filmed 'lightning sketch' to explore the potential of a new art form with wit and innovation.

PROPAGANDA/ANIMATION. Anti-German propaganda cartoon, featuring the sinking of
the 'Lusitania', a parody of a Harry Tate motoring sketch featuring the
Kaiser, and Charlie Chaplin swatting a fly.

"Bill has trouble with his halo" - Kasier Wilhelm is pictured as an angel
playing a lyre and singing, "You made me HATE you. I didn't want to do it".
His halo slips round his neck and he is strangled.

"The growing act of PIRACY" - sketch of a large steam ship "The sinking of the
Lusitania", the background is filled in and the ship begins to move. A
periscope appears and a torpedo is fired; the submarine appears and the ship
is sinks. New sketch of Alfred Von Tirpitz [Commander of the German Navy],
framed by an Iron Cross the cross is turned into a flag and the face turned
into a skull and crossbones.

"MOTORING" With profound apologies to Mr Harry Tate - Sketch of Kaiser Wilhelm
and his son the crown prince in a car. "Haw! I shall get to Calais in about
three weeks" "Yes, Papa!" "I DON'T think". They drive off, "Looks a bit rocky
ahead!" "Yes Papa" - they drive over a sleeping lion, and crash, "Oh Potsdam!"
"Yes Papa". The lion sits up and shakes the union jack on its tail.

Swat that fly! - drawing of a lamppost and an overweight policeman leaning on
it, pestered by a fly. Charlie Chaplin walks in reading a paper with the
headline, "Fly Peril". He returns with a sledgehammer and floors the
policeman, but misses the fly. Charlie enters a bar and orders a beer,
followed by the fly; he swallows the beer but also the fly, causing him to
jump about and fall out of the bar [abrubt end]

Early Animation

The dawn of a new celluloid art: Britain's animation pioneers at peace and war

When you're creating a new art form, everything is experimental. The pioneers of animation in Britain cast a range of subjects as the stars of their films - the toys of an Edwardian child; insects and animals; Kaiser Bill and John Bull. But even the richest of fantasies on display here offer a window into the turbulent era in which they were made. When the nation went to war, animation was conscripted to meet its propaganda needs. In peacetime, the industry sought success as an entertainer, but found a career in sales.