Sea Dreams

1914
Silent
5m

Skilled artist Lancelot Speed brings his cartoons to life to mock the German navy at the start of WWI.

Maintaining public confidence in Britain's naval prowess was a key propaganda priority in WWI. Here, celebrated illustrator Lancelot Speed conjures up images of Drake and Nelson to contrast with the more recent ambitions of the German navy. By a fortunate coincidence, the film was released just two days after Britain's victory at sea in the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

Lancelot Speed draws a number of sketches which are subsequently animated, depicting the shattering, by the Royal Navy, of the Kaiser's dreams of Naval Power.

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.