Generation Gap

1973
Sound
10m

Are the times a-changin', or are we getting old? This amateur cartoon delves into the dreams of the Cashworthy family.

When the 70s began to feel the hangover from all that 60s swinging, it was a good time to take stock. This cartoon by prolific amateur filmmaker Peter Hickling features the aging Cashworthy, voiced by the inimitable Bob Godfrey of Roobarb and Henry's Cat fame, who escapes into fantasy to avoid the everyday reality of getting old. Yet his memories betray that the generation gap isn't always as wide as it seems.

For this film Peter benefited from the financial support of the BFI Production Board and the facilities of Bob Godfrey's studio. The use of a professional camera set-up and the score of gifted jazz musician and composer Johnny Hawksworth (who also wrote the opening theme to Roobarb) adds a polish to the production, yet doesn't inhibit the rough and ready style of an artist on the outside of the industry.

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.