Animation Has Changed

1 Jan 1971
Sound
6m

Out with the old and in with the new – one of Britain’s leading animation companies pitches its new image with great humour

New and Improved Formula! Halas & Batchelor were stalwarts of the British animation industry, producing three of the commercials shown on the opening night of ITV in 1955. But as this promotional pitch for their services shows, by 1970 they were clearly concerned that advertising agencies saw them as a little old-fashioned. Yellow Submarine (1968) had highlighted the change in animation design and H&B were keen not to look behind the times.

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Halas & Batchelor

Celebrating the vital and varied work of the pioneering British animation studio

Halas & Batchelor Cartoon Films were a defining force in British animation for more than five decades. Founded in 1940 by the Hungarian-born John Halas and Watford-born Joy Batchelor, the company progressed from producing cinema advertisements to creating vital public information films during and after the Second World War, before producing Britain's first animated feature film, Animal Farm, in 1954.

Whether working in advertising, children's television or independent short films, Halas and Batchelor championed animation as both a commercial enterprise and an art form. Though more than the story of John and Joy, their vision, advocacy and innovation helped shape the careers of generations of artists and practitioners, while bringing a broad range animated storytelling to audiences on screens both large and small.