John Halas Movies

Hamilton the elephant is being trained for the circus when he discovers his amazing musical ability; the ringmaster decides to exploit his new-found...

An animated visual interpretation of the song "Autobahn," by German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. A fast-paced experimental film which proved to be...

A poem of unrequited love: the studio's first puppet production. Based on a poem by Cosbie Garstin, the film tells the story of a carved wooden saint...

The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.

Set to Gilbert and Sullivan tunes, a musical cartoon attempts to describe the character of the British nation, with occasional interruptions by...

Cartoon of chicken's adventures while being chased by woodland animal.

This World War II propaganda short encourages British people to "dig for victory," by planting vegetable gardens.

Charley, a mechanic, inherits a half-share in a farm run by his cousin and he soon has his dream of an idyllic country life rudely shattered by hard...

A political satire, the first film made by Halas and Batchelor.

A powerfully graphic piece of animation that best expresses John Halas' own feelings about mans universal quest for freedom.

An animated cartoon on smoking and health. The villain, Old Nick O'Teen, disguises himself as an 18-year-old motorcyclist, the better to lure...

One of a humorous series of films devised to explain in graphic terms the concepts of basic mathematical functions.

Meet Charley, your jovial cartoon guide to Britain’s changing towns and cities.

Cartoon proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In this 1940s cinema advert, the tardiness of Signalman Squirrel's breakfast...

Documents the life and influence of the Bahaus artist, László Moholy-Nagy.

BBC Four’s new documentary takes us on a journey through more than a century of animation. It examines the creative and technical inventiveness...

In this film Charley demystifies the new state-funded National Health Service, detailing the benefits a free-at-point-of-delivery health service will...

A humorous introduction to problem analysis and programming.

First Line of Defence is a short cartoon recruitment film for the RAF created in 1949 by animation duo Halas and Batchelor. The story follows a...

A particularly vicious Father Time with a hit-list in his Book of Doom seeks to wipe out characters brought to life from fabric patterns. This neat...