From the collection of
Established in 2001, the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive holds an unrivalled collection of films, TV and radio broadcasts, video tapes and sound recordings relating to Wales and the Welsh, from 1898 to the present day. The collection spans multiples formats and genres, both professional and amateur.
Behind closed drawers what other worlds lie? A bureau with tenants from the pleistocene (or plasticine) era offers 'documentary' potential.
Life behind closed drawers: a witty animation created by a cat-loving zoology student. The 'bureaucats', we are told, originated in the pleistocene (or possibly plasticine) era and are continuing their struggle for survival under the nose of a 20thC man who scorns the very idea of their existence. Brian Anderson, from Somerset, was attending university in Cardiff and had joined Cardiff Amateur Cine Society when he made this award-winning film.
This animation garnered a number of awards, and was overall winner at the Welsh International Amateur Film Festival in 1978, which received entries from across Europe and the USA. Bud Buzynski, a friend and chair of Yeovil Cine Society, provided the fitting music/soundtrack and assisted with lighting. Shot on Super 8mm film, which cost about £9, buying the plasticine brought the total cost of making the film to £10. Brian made a sequel - Bureaucats in Exile (held by The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales) - and went on to become Animation Director of 'Fireman Sam' at Bumper Films, Weston-Super-Mare.
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.
