Mr Putty Takes the Stage

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia

The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

Mr Putty Takes the Stage

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
1958-01-01
Sound
17m

Playful and mischievous; as the filmmaker sleeps, his clay characters come to life! Douglas Butcher made this film in the nineteen fifties at the time of a claymation revival; the nineteen fifties saw a growth in clay animation in children’s television, and in the movies of the legendary Ray Harryhausen. An accomplished amateur filmmaker from Essex (check out the feature wall of certificates in the film!) Butcher made both live action and animated short films.

DIY Animation

Amateur animation auteurs bring their homegrown creations to life

The requirements for making an animated film are pretty low. With a camera that shoots in single frames and an idea in your back pocket, you're well on your way. This collection showcases an assortment of dining table Disneys, who combine homebrewed talent with the all-important dedication and patience required to bring a story to life one frame at a time. Not that this was necessarily a solitary pursuit. From the 1950s onwards networks of amateur animators like The Grasshopper Group collaborated on filmmaking and distribution, and animated shorts were often a highlight of the amateur filmmaking scene.