John Halas Movies

An illustrated version of Twa Corbies made as the BFI’s contribution to the Festival of Britain. Enlivened by the distinctive voice of John...

A short animation based on the Edward Lear poem

Hamilton the elephant loves playing music with his trunk. When he is fired from the circus he does odd jobs till he gets his big break.

Hello darkness my old friend. The four-part “experiment in word, music and paintings” that was made by the BFI for the 1951 Festival of...

This cartoon propaganda short by Halas & Batchelor sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow.

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...

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...

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

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

A soon-to-be born baby learns about the kinds of schools he will attending in the years following his birth.

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 dancing radio stops partying to transmit an announcement on fuel conservation in this WWII cartoon short.

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

No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain’s economics.

Puck is introduced to the twentieth century and is as amused by the contemporary obsession with television as he was by the lovers' antics.

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

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

Popular animated character Charley explains the National Insurance Act, which was legislation that made health insurance available to all British...

A candlemaker entrusts his young son with the task of making candles for their church on Christmas Eve.