Welcome to the Losers Club

1 Jan 1974
Sound
7m

Looking for escape from the relentless drudgery of life? Don't worry, there is a way out of the Loser's Club

Are you a member of the Losers Club? You don't have to have a thankless job at the head office of Drudgery Co., or obnoxious children, or the commute from hell to join - but it helps! Prolific amateur animator Derek Phillips had largely removed himself from the rat-race, but that didn't stop him bringing his unique mixture of humour and pessimism to the subject. Of the over 40 films that Derek Phillips produced in his home in a decade, this was one of the most epic.

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From the collection

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.