Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Canadian born animation master Richard Williams directs the animation for the hugely successful ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ Williams credits Bob Godfrey for helping him get started in England. It takes Williams almost 40 years to finish his magnum opus ‘The Thief and the Cobbler’.
1988
Passion Pictures Produces High End Animations
Andrew Ruhemann establishes Passion Pictures in London – a high end production studio producing numerous projects including the long running tv commercial campaign ‘Compare the Market.com’, ‘Gorillaz’ and the Academy award winning short ‘The Lost Thing’.
1987
Girl's Night Out wins big at Annecy
Joanna Quinn’s hilarious ‘Girls Night Out’ funded by Middlesex Polytechnic/Channel Four and S4C goes on to win top prizes at the Annecy International Animation Festival. Quinn’s outstanding drawing skills, humour and strong female characters make her one of Britain’s premier animators.
1986
Quay Brothers release Street of Crocodiles
the American born Quay brothers (Timothy and Stephen) produce their unconventional film ‘Street of Crocodiles’ widely considered to be a classic ‘ethereal gothic’ short film that won many film awards. The Quay’s also contributed to Peter Gabriel’s music video ‘Sledgehammer’ around the same time.
1986
The Launch of S4C launches Welsh Animation
S4C was borne from a grassroots movement led by Welsh-language activists. The movement to enhance the scope of the Welsh language began in 1962, but the specific aim to have broadcasting channels in Welsh took hold in the 1970s. The funding that came with it that opened the floodgates for Welsh animation.
1982 Onwards
The Arrival of Channel 4
Channel Four and S4C in Wales are launched. Channel Four soon employs Clare Kitson as Commissioning Editor for animation. In the 10 years from 1989 – 1999 Clare helps produce one of the most successful periods in British animation history. Many successful short films and commercials were made for Channel Four during this time. S4C go on to make the hit ‘Super Ted’ along with other successful animation projects.
1982