Halas & Batchelor

Hope you are all enjoying some sunshine wherever you are! Here’s a clip from the archives (from a ‘Nicotex’ ad of all places!), which has us full of the joys of #Spring!

Halfway through January - how many of your #newyearsresolutions are still hanging on in there? Were you up with the lark this morning?
Here’s a great clip from the #halasandbatchelor short, ‘Think of the Future’ - with some very 'of its time' narration!
#shortfilm #animation #britishanimation

Happy 2025, Bluesky!

This is a very special year, as we celebrate 70 years since the iconic 'Animal Farm' feature premiered. We're looking forward to starting the celebrations off next week at BFI - and look out for further details about our celebrations throughout the year on our social media!

Next year is going to be an important one for us at #HalasandBatchelor - as it marks 70 years since the release of 'Animal Farm'. We're starting off the #NewYear with a fantastic SOLD OUT event hosted by @@britishfilminstitute on 7 January!

The music for Animal Farm was composed by Matyas Seiber, and it played a crucial role in setting the tone of the film. Seiber had a long relationship with the Halas & Batchelor studio 🎶
#FilmMusic #AnimationScore #AnimalFarm

Did you know that, while probably best known for the feature film 'Animal Farm', Halas & Batchelor created some festive themed films! Here's a still from the short 'The Christmas Feast' - directed by Joy Batchelor.
#Christmasfilm #ShortAnimation #halasandbatchelor

Despite being nearly 70 years old, Animal Farm remains a powerful piece of animation, still relevant to conversations about power, equality, and revolution. How do you think the film holds up today?
#AnimationLegacy #TimelessFilm #AnimalFarm

‘Animal Farm’ wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of an army of animators, layout artists, and background painters. The studio employed around 80 animators to complete the 80-minute film! 🎨
Here's a photo from 1950 of the Halas & Batchelor studio team from Stroud.

We are delighted that @britishfilminstitute will celebrate 70 years of #AnimalFarm with a special screening of the film and introduction from BFI Archive Curator, @stewjeez on 7 January - find out more and book here: whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...

#FilmScreening #britishanimation #filmarchive

Each of the Animal Farm characters was meticulously designed to reflect their personalities, e.g Napoleon’s sleek and imposing look contrasts with Snowball’s more agile appearance. 📷: Joy Batchelor's illustrations of Napoleon, from the 1954 illustrated edition of Animal Farm

Boxer is the hardworking and loyal horse in Animal Farm. His famous line, “I will work harder,” exemplifies his determination and tragic fate. What's your favorite Boxer moment? 🐴💔
#AnimalFarm #Boxer #HardworkAndLoyalty #CharacterSpotlight

Did you know that the voices of ‘Animal Farm’ were provided by a talented cast, including famous British actor Maurice Denham, who voiced all of the animals in the film. 🎤

#VoiceActing #MauriceDenham #AnimalFarmVoices

Did you know that Animal Farm was the first feature-length animated film produced in the UK? It paved the way for future British animated films and helped put the UK on the animation map! 🌍🎞️
#AnimationMilestone #FirstFeatureFilm #BritishAnimation

Animal Farm is often hailed as an allegory for the rise of totalitarian regimes. The story was inspired by events leading up to the Russian Revolution. What message do you think Animal Farm conveys about power?

#AnimalFarm #PoliticalAllegory #AnimationWithPurpose

Creating Animal Farm was no easy feat! The production team used traditional hand-drawn animation, with over 250,000 individual drawings. Imagine the work that went into bringing each frame to life! ✏️✨
#AnimationProcess #BehindTheScenes #HandDrawnAnimation

Meet the masterminds behind the animation classic! John Halas and Joy Batchelor, the founders of Halas & Batchelor, were visionaries in the world of animation. Their dedication to the craft off animation brought 'Animal Farm' to life.
#HalasAndBatchelor #AnimationPioneers #CreativeVisionaries

🎤 “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
This famous quote from Animal Farm speaks to Orwell’s critique of political power. What do you think Orwell would make of today’s political landscape?
#AnimalFarm #GeorgeOrwell #AnimationWithMeaning

Animal Farm was an ambitious project, bringing Orwell’s dystopian vision to life with innovative animation techniques: a turning point in British animation. It was produced by Halas & Batchelor in 1954-55 🌍🎥
#AnimationClassic #BritishAnimation #AnimalFarm1955

🎄 Welcome to our Advent Calendar!
This year, we’re focusing on our animated classic—Animal Farm (1955), the first feature-length animated adaptation of George Orwell’s iconic novel. Stay tuned for daily posts filled with history, animation, and behind-the-scenes insights! 🎬🐷