the allegorical novel ANIMAL FARM written by GEORGE ORWELL was published in great britain in 1945. the english producer team JOHN HALAS and JOY BATCHELOR acquired the rights in 1951, it took nearly three years to complete the first english animated feature film, theatrical release was on january 7, 1954. the film was first rated R, for an audience not under 18, because of its very political and violent content. some critics wrote – ‘disney turns serious’. the character design is indeed disney-esque, very much in contrast to the cruel story events, the animation was supervised by english top-animator HAROLD WHITAKER. all in all a very interesting film worth seeing. following is some production artwork from the 1954 published book THE ANIMATED FILM, written by ROGER MANVELL.
© halas+batchelor
my name is hans bacher, – I work as production designer in the animation film industry. for the last 45 years I lived and worked in exciting places around the world. after 7 years of teaching in singapore I am back at my homebase in manila, working on a few more books.
The film seems to have touched me at a very vulnerable age, and I have strong attachment to it. Whitaker did a splendid job. Halas gave me a drawing and cel of Boxer the horse, which I treasure.
In ways I wish there were more actually written about the making of this film.
I loved that movie when I was little.
Especially the scene in which Boxer was taken away to the butcher .
Such a strong image!
A few months ago, searching on a dvd store, I found a copy of this films, but I did not buy because the cover art looked like an eighties low budget film.
I will try to find this copy again.
Thanks from Argentina.
Very dramatic light inThe BG layouts, almost expressionist.The story is very dark and left me with a feeling of sadness.
I think the artist who drew the barn interior images above was influenced by Sir George Clausen, who made a series of images of English barns and their interiors with strong lighting effects at the end of the 19th century – an excellent example can be seen here:
from hans –
thank you for the link, martin. clausen’s work is stunning