John Halas

John Halas

Birth : 1912-04-16, Budapest, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]

Death : 1995-01-21

Profile

John Halas

Movies

Secrets of British Animation
Self (Archival Photos)
BBC Four’s new documentary takes us on a journey through more than a century of animation. It examines the creative and technical inventiveness of some of the great animation pioneers who have worked in Britain – trailblazing talents such as Len Lye, John Halas and Joy Batchelor, Joanna Quinn, and Bristol’s world-conquering Aardman Animations.
Know Your Europeans: The United Kingdom
Producer
Set to Gilbert and Sullivan tunes, a musical cartoon attempts to describe the character of the British nation, with occasional interruptions by Prince Charles.
A Memory of L Moholy-Nagy
Director
Documents the life and influence of the Bahaus artist, László Moholy-Nagy.
Players
Director
Cartoon tennis match, with players based on Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
Dilemma
Director
Will mankind use its inventive abilities to benefit our world or bring about its destruction?
Flying Free
Director
An updated version of Halas and Batchelor's short film, 'The Magic Canvas', with a new electronic score.
Dream Doll
Producer
A lonely man living in a large city buys a life-size sex doll. His relationship with his dream doll causes a certain reaction in the community. A bizarre adaption of Le Ballon Rouge.
Autobahn
Writer
An animated visual interpretation of the song "Autobahn," by German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. A fast-paced experimental film which proved to be a groundbreaking combination of electronic and manual animation. One of the first films produced specifically for video disk.
Autobahn
Director
An animated visual interpretation of the song "Autobahn," by German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. A fast-paced experimental film which proved to be a groundbreaking combination of electronic and manual animation. One of the first films produced specifically for video disk.
Max und Moritz
Art Direction
Max und Moritz
Production Design
Les Trois Mousquetaires
Director
The Three Musketeers
Director
D'Artagnan and his musketeer comrades must thwart the plans of Cardinal Richelieu to usurp King Louis XIII's power. Animated film directed by John Halas.
Animation Has Changed
Producer
Out with the old and in with the new – one of Britain’s leading animation companies pitches its new image with great humour.
Children and Cars
Producer
An animated cartoon of drawings by young children, who imagine the motor car of today and of the future.
Children and Cars
Director
An animated cartoon of drawings by young children, who imagine the motor car of today and of the future.
Ways and Means
Producer
To Our Children's Children's Children
Story
Cartoon set to songs from The Moody Blues' titular album.
To Our Children's Children's Children
Producer
Cartoon set to songs from The Moody Blues' titular album.
To Our Children's Children's Children
Director
Cartoon set to songs from The Moody Blues' titular album.
Topology
Producer
One of a humorous series of films devised to explain in graphic terms the concepts of basic mathematical functions.
Ruddigore
Producer
For centuries, the Murgatroyd family, the Baronets of Ruddigore, have been under a witch's curse — commit a crime every day, or die in agony. Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the rightful heir, has run away to live as innocent peasant Robin Oakapple in the Cornish village of Rederring, sticking his brother Despard with the curse. But on the very day that "Robin" is to marry sweet, beautiful Rose Maybud, it all falls apart. Can Sir Ruthven outwit a picture gallery full of his ancestors' ghosts to save the day?
Flurina
Director
Dying for a Smoke
Director
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 children into the cigarette habit. Fourteen-year-old Sam falls into the trap, but after awesome visions of his future, expert advice from a doctor, and straight talk from a friendly lorry-driver renounces the habit.
Flow Diagram
Producer
A humorous introduction to problem analysis and programming.
The Question
Director
This satirical animated short by the renowned Halas & Batchelor Studio asks the big Question. Can the meaning of life be found in religion or science? Patriotism or war? Money or self-discovery? Or none of the above?
Birds, Bees and Storks
Writer
A naïve father makes an embarrassing attempt to explain the facts of life to his son, but he becomes increasingly embarrassed to the point where his explanations are so vague as to be incomprehensible.
Birds, Bees and Storks
Director
A naïve father makes an embarrassing attempt to explain the facts of life to his son, but he becomes increasingly embarrassed to the point where his explanations are so vague as to be incomprehensible.
The Hoffnung Maestro
Director
The Maestro brings a world of emotions to life interpreted by the orchestra and the animation.
The Hoffnung Palm Court Orchestra
Writer
This a story of a violinist, pianist and cellist as they perform from place-to-place, under very unusual conditions. Every time they play, they remind someone of a lost love, so they are hired immediately hired by nightclub owners, ship captains and even a pirate... wherever circumstances take them.
The Hoffnung Palm Court Orchestra
Director
This a story of a violinist, pianist and cellist as they perform from place-to-place, under very unusual conditions. Every time they play, they remind someone of a lost love, so they are hired immediately hired by nightclub owners, ship captains and even a pirate... wherever circumstances take them.
Midsummer Nightmare
Writer
Puck is introduced to the twentieth century and is as amused by the contemporary obsession with television as he was by the lovers' antics.
Midsummer Nightmare
Producer
Puck is introduced to the twentieth century and is as amused by the contemporary obsession with television as he was by the lovers' antics.
Midsummer Nightmare
Director
Puck is introduced to the twentieth century and is as amused by the contemporary obsession with television as he was by the lovers' antics.
The Hoffnung Music Academy
Director
An animated short based on the cartoons of Gerard Hoffnung.
Automania 2000
Writer
An animated, dark satire of America's automobile-obsessed, consumerist culture. An anonymous, brilliant scientist toils tirelessly in his ivory tower satisfying the public's ever-increasing demands for novelty and status consciousness, with predictable environmental consequences.
Automania 2000
Director
An animated, dark satire of America's automobile-obsessed, consumerist culture. An anonymous, brilliant scientist toils tirelessly in his ivory tower satisfying the public's ever-increasing demands for novelty and status consciousness, with predictable environmental consequences.
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Producer
The story of three children who find themselves with a friendly monster that grows at an alarming rate.
Hamilton The Musical Elephant
Director
Hamilton the elephant is being trained for the circus when he discovers his amazing musical ability; the ringmaster decides to exploit his new-found talent for jazz.
Piping Hot
Director
An animated film about the history and use of hot water.
The Christmas Visitor
Screenplay
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The Christmas Visitor
Director
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The Candlemaker
Director
A candlemaker entrusts his young son with the task of making candles for their church on Christmas Eve.
History of the Cinema
Writer
A humorously semi-factual account of the history of cinema.
History of the Cinema
Director
A humorously semi-factual account of the history of cinema.
Animal Farm
Director
A successful farmyard revolution by the resident animals vs. the farmer goes horribly wrong when corrupt pigs hijack it for their personal gain. Based on the socialist George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm”, a critique of Stalinist authoritarianism.
Animal Farm
Screenplay
A successful farmyard revolution by the resident animals vs. the farmer goes horribly wrong when corrupt pigs hijack it for their personal gain. Based on the socialist George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm”, a critique of Stalinist authoritarianism.
Animal Farm
Producer
A successful farmyard revolution by the resident animals vs. the farmer goes horribly wrong when corrupt pigs hijack it for their personal gain. Based on the socialist George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm”, a critique of Stalinist authoritarianism.
Power to Fly
Producer
A BAFTA award nominated film made for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company charting the history of aviation from Daedalus to jets.
The Moving Spirit
Producer
A BAFTA award nominated animation tracing the development of the motor car from the original horseless carriage common in the late 19th century to the 1950s streamlined, massed produced, designs.
The Figurehead
Producer
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 who is painted to look like a soldier and used as a figurehead on a sailing ship. The ship sinks and the figurehead is saved by a beautiful mermaid who falls in love with him. Her love is not returned because despite his dashing looks he has the wooden heart of a saint.
The Owl And The Pussycat
Producer
A short animation based on the Edward Lear poem
The Owl And The Pussycat
Director
A short animation based on the Edward Lear poem
Fowl Play
Director
Cartoon of chicken's adventures while being chased by woodland animal.
As Old as the Hills
Producer
Everyone knows that petroleum comes out of the earth, but the question is how did it get there, and what is it made of? The answer to these questions are given simply and accurately in this animated programme.
The Shoemaker and the Hatter
Director
The Shoemaker and the Hatter
Script
Charley's Black Magic
Producer
This cartoon propaganda short by Halas & Batchelor sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow.
Charley's Black Magic
Writer
This cartoon propaganda short by Halas & Batchelor sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow.
Charley's Black Magic
Director
This cartoon propaganda short by Halas & Batchelor sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow.
R.A.F.: First Line of Defence
Director
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 trainee pilot dreaming about the history of flight.
Charley Junior's Schooldays
Director
An overview of the new schooling system. Part of BFI collection "Your Children and You."
The Magic Canvas
Producer
A powerfully graphic piece of animation that best expresses John Halas' own feelings about mans universal quest for freedom.
The Magic Canvas
Writer
A powerfully graphic piece of animation that best expresses John Halas' own feelings about mans universal quest for freedom.
The Magic Canvas
Director
A powerfully graphic piece of animation that best expresses John Halas' own feelings about mans universal quest for freedom.
Robinson Charley
Director
No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain's economics. Meet Charley, the portrait of a nation. At the end of the 1940s the Central Office of Information commissioned Halas and Batchelor to make seven films about policies of the post-war Labour Government. Charley was cast as the figurehead of the campaign, learning about mining, farming, national insurance, and even schooling via a son at the end of the series. This short looks at the Marshall Plan, and makes the most explicit link between character and country as his life story stands in for 270 years of British economic history.
Charley's March of Time
Story
Popular animated character Charley explains the National Insurance Act, which was legislation that made health insurance available to all British citizens.
Charley's March of Time
Director
Popular animated character Charley explains the National Insurance Act, which was legislation that made health insurance available to all British citizens.
Water for Firefighting
Director
Feature-length instructional cartoon made for the Home Office and the Fire Brigade.
Your Very Good Health
Director
In this film Charley demystifies the new state-funded National Health Service, detailing the benefits a free-at-point-of-delivery health service will offer to everyone in England.
Charley in New Town
Director
Meet Charley, your jovial cartoon guide to Britain’s changing towns and cities.
Dolly, Put the Kettle On
Producer
Joy Batchelor directed, produced, wrote and designed this short film for Brook Bond Tea: two girls compete for the affections of a Teddy Bear.
Dolly, Put the Kettle On
Director
Joy Batchelor directed, produced, wrote and designed this short film for Brook Bond Tea: two girls compete for the affections of a Teddy Bear.
Train Trouble
Director
Cartoon proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In this 1940s cinema advert, the tardiness of Signalman Squirrel's breakfast brings passengers to the brink of a major rail disaster every day. The solution is not setting his alarm earlier, finding an extra pair of hands for his long-suffering wife, or (heaven forbid) making his own breakfast. No, the answer lies in a home delivery mix-up of a familiar cereal box.
6 Little Jungle Boys
Director
In commissioning Halas & Batchelor, the War Office recognised the potential of cartoons as an unobtrusive and entertaining medium by which official messages could be conveyed - in this case some rather unsavoury warnings pertaining to foot rot, dysentery and VD. Aimed at soldiers serving in the Far East, the antics of six sprightly soldiers stationed in the jungle illustrate with humour and clarity the potential pitfalls of poor personal hygiene.
Handling Ships
Writer
Instructional cartoon for the Admiralty.
Handling Ships
Producer
Instructional cartoon for the Admiralty.
Handling Ships
Director
Instructional cartoon for the Admiralty.
Cold Comfort
Director
A dancing radio stops partying to transmit an announcement on fuel conservation in this WWII cartoon short.
Abu's Dungeon
Producer
Abu's Dungeon
Director
Dustbin Parade
Animation
The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Dustbin Parade
Art Designer
The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Dustbin Parade
Producer
The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Dustbin Parade
Writer
The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Filling the Gap
Director
This World War II propaganda short encourages British people to "dig for victory," by planting vegetable gardens.
Fable of the Fabrics
Director
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 concept for a cartoon washing powder commercial can be credited to Alexander Mackendrick, who worked at the J Walter Thompson advertising agency before making films at Ealing and then Hollywood.
Dustbin Parade
Director
The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.
Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard
Director
A colorful cartoon commercial for soap flakes seems the last place that the realities of wartime life should creep in. A clothes cupboard opens to reveal a fantasy world where figures on fabric patterns come to life, and a neglected clown is shunned until he bathes in Lux Flakes. But in a last-minute coda, the clown returns to break the animated fourth wall and tell the audience that the product will not be made again till the war is over.
Music Man
Director
The first British animated Technicolor film.