Beyond Bagpuss: A History of Smallfilms Animation Studio

Description

Ivor the Engine, Noggin the Nog, Pingwings, Pogles Wood, Clangers, and Bagpuss – the iconic animations produced by the Canterbury-based Smallfilms studio between 1958 and 1984 – constitute a significant thread of British cultural history. The lasting appeal of the imagined worlds created by Smallfilms is evident in the highly-successful BBC reboot of Clangers (2015-present), which has introduced a whole new audience to the pink moon mice. As well as the shows likely to be famiilar to readers, this history expands the Smallfilms story to include those less well-known animated shows that nonetheless played an important part in the studio’s history. Through extensive studio access, interviews with many key Smallfilms collaborators, press and audience analysis, Chris Pallant provides a comprehensive and definitive historical record of the studio’s work. Beyond Bagpuss is illustrated with 100 images from the Smallfilms archive, including those that have not previously been published. Cover Contents List of
Illustrations Acknowledgments Chapter 1
Introduction Chapter 2
The Whimsical Authenticity of Smallfilms: Ivor the Engine (1959–64, 1975–7) Chapter 3
Building Worlds: The Saga of Noggin the Nog (1959–65, 1982) Chapter 4 Aesthetic Transition and the Persistence of the Handmade in The Seal of Neptune (1960), The Mermaid’s Pearls (1962), and Pingwings (1961–5) Chapter 5
Low-Angle Persons: The Pogles (1965) and Pogles’ Wood (1966–8) Chapter 6
Technology and Inventiveness within Smallfilms Animation: Clangers (1969–74) Chapter 7
The Forgotten History of Smallfilms: Sam on Boffs’ Island (1972–3) Chapter 8
Creative Collaboration and the Bricolage of Bagpuss (1974) Chapter 9
Smallfilms at the End of the Road? Tottie (1984, 1986), Life on Earth Perhaps (1985), and Pinny’s House (1986) Chapter 10
The Afterlife of ‘Smallfilms’: Adaptation and Renewal Appendix A: Smallfilms – Statistical Perspectives Appendix B: Examples of Oliver Postgate’s Screenwriting Style Works Cited Filmography Index