Bob Godfrey
Encyclopedia
Roland Frederick Godfrey (born 27 May 1921) is a British animator
whose career spans more than fifty years. He is probably best known for the children's cartoon series Roobarb
(1974), Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1977) and Henry's Cat
(1983) and for the Trio chocolate biscuit advertisements shown in the UK during the early 1980s. However, he has also produced a BAFTA and Academy
award-winning short film Great
(1975), a tongue-in-cheek biography of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
. He was previously nominated for a Academy Award for his film Kama Sutra Rides Again (1971) which was screened with the UK release of Stanley Kubrick
's film A Clockwork Orange
. Further Academy Awards nominations were received for Dream Doll (1980), with Zlatko Grgic
, and Small Talk (1994).
He worked at Larkins Studio for a period with Peter Sachs before leaving to set up Biographic with Keith Learner, Jeff Hale. Further members joined including Nancy Hanna and Vera Linnecar. While still working at Larkins he made Big Parade (1952) and Watch the Birdie (1954), a film inspired by a painting by Paul Klee
, both were filmed in the basement of his flat.
He subsequently made Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit which satirises animation and commercial advertising. The use of different animated forms, materials and techniques makes it one of his most exciting films to watch. The use of cutout animation for the narrator pre-dates Terry Gilliam
's use of the technique, and the film is often mis-credited as being produced by Gilliam. Michael Bentine
provided the narration for the film and worked with Godfrey on a number of films and commercials.
Most of Godfrey's animated work during the 1950s and 1960s appeared in TV commercials, but in 1964 he started his own company Bob Godfrey's Movie Emporium to develop his own creative projects including the famous children's cartoons. He is also recognised for a number of slightly risqué cartoons satirising British sexual habits, such as Henry 9 To 5, which was also awarded a BAFTA in 1971. He also animated the classic cartoon Alf, Bill and Fred
.
As well as animation he produced live action commercials and short films. A number of them starred the artist Bruce Lacey
who appeared in Battle of New Orleans, The Hanging Tree. His interest in live action included a number of appearances in self-directed commercials and minor film roles including The Beatles' film Help!
(1965) and Casino Royale
(1967). In 1965 he animated four episodes of The Beatles, an animated television series featuring the pop band, which had been sub-contracted out to different studios. Godfrey also worked as an uncredited adviser on Yellow Submarine (1968).
In 1974 he presented Do-It Yourself Film Animation Show on BBC1 which encouraged children to do animation; each episode had established animators talking about their work and different animation techniques. Guests included Richard Williams and Terry Gilliam. The series has subsequently been acknowledged by a new generation of animators, including Nick Park
, as a significant influence on them making animated films. Later films including social, political satires based on the work on Steve Bell
which included Beaks to the Grindstone and A Journalist's Tale. He worked with Bell again on the series Maggie Where I am Now?.
In the Thames Television
documentary The Thief Who Never Gave Up, broadcast in the late 1980s, animator Richard Williams credits Godfrey with giving him his start in the business, "Bob Godfrey helped me...I worked in the basement and would do work in kind, and he would let me use the camera...[it was] a barter system".
He was awarded an MBE in 1986 and received the newly established Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bradford Animation Festival on 18 November 2007, with the festival including a retrospective of his films. He has appeared on a number of programmes and documentaries on animation over the years, including the BBC 2 documentary The Craftsmen and the documentary series Animation Nation, shown on BBC Four
in 2005.
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
whose career spans more than fifty years. He is probably best known for the children's cartoon series Roobarb
Roobarb
Roobarb is a British animated television programme for children, originally shown on BBC1 just before the evening news. Each cartoon, written by Grange Calveley and animated by Bob Godfrey, was about five minutes long. Thirty episodes were made, and the show was first shown on October 21, 1974...
(1974), Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1977) and Henry's Cat
Henry's Cat
Henry's Cat is an animated children's television programme, written by Stan Hayward and produced by Bob Godfrey, who was also the producer of Roobarb, a similar cartoon series from the 1970s...
(1983) and for the Trio chocolate biscuit advertisements shown in the UK during the early 1980s. However, he has also produced a BAFTA and Academy
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
award-winning short film Great
Great (film)
Great is a 25-minute animated film, telling a humorous version of the life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was directed by Bob Godfrey, produced by Grantstern Films and distributed by British Lion. Great won the 1975 Academy Award for Animated Short Film....
(1975), a tongue-in-cheek biography of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
. He was previously nominated for a Academy Award for his film Kama Sutra Rides Again (1971) which was screened with the UK release of Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's film A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange is a 1962 dystopian novella by Anthony Burgess. The novel contains an experiment in language: the characters often use an argot called "Nadsat", derived from Russian....
. Further Academy Awards nominations were received for Dream Doll (1980), with Zlatko Grgic
Zlatko Grgic
Zlatko Grgić was a Croatian animator who emigrated to Canada in the late 1960s.Born in Zagreb, in the former republic of Yugoslavia, Grgic was nominated for the Academy Award for Animated Short Film at the 52nd Academy Awards for his 1979 film Dream Doll, produced by Bob Godfrey.Grgic created the...
, and Small Talk (1994).
He worked at Larkins Studio for a period with Peter Sachs before leaving to set up Biographic with Keith Learner, Jeff Hale. Further members joined including Nancy Hanna and Vera Linnecar. While still working at Larkins he made Big Parade (1952) and Watch the Birdie (1954), a film inspired by a painting by Paul Klee
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and is considered both a German and a Swiss painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism...
, both were filmed in the basement of his flat.
He subsequently made Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit which satirises animation and commercial advertising. The use of different animated forms, materials and techniques makes it one of his most exciting films to watch. The use of cutout animation for the narrator pre-dates Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's use of the technique, and the film is often mis-credited as being produced by Gilliam. Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine CBE was a British comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons. A Peruvian Briton by heritage as a result of his father's nationality, In 1971 Bentine received the Order of Merit of Peru because of his fund-raising work for the 1970 Great Peruvian...
provided the narration for the film and worked with Godfrey on a number of films and commercials.
Most of Godfrey's animated work during the 1950s and 1960s appeared in TV commercials, but in 1964 he started his own company Bob Godfrey's Movie Emporium to develop his own creative projects including the famous children's cartoons. He is also recognised for a number of slightly risqué cartoons satirising British sexual habits, such as Henry 9 To 5, which was also awarded a BAFTA in 1971. He also animated the classic cartoon Alf, Bill and Fred
Alf, Bill And Fred
Alf, Bill and Fred is the name of a short animation directed by Bob Godfrey and written by Stan Hayward in 1964. Its synopsis in Halliwell's Film Guide simply states "A man, a dog and a duck enjoy bouncing together....
.
As well as animation he produced live action commercials and short films. A number of them starred the artist Bruce Lacey
Bruce Lacey
"Professor" Bruce Lacey, born 1927, remains one of Britain's great eccentrics. After completing his national service in the RAF he became established on the avantgarde scene with his performance art and mechanical constructs. He has been closely associated with The Alberts performance group and The...
who appeared in Battle of New Orleans, The Hanging Tree. His interest in live action included a number of appearances in self-directed commercials and minor film roles including The Beatles' film Help!
Help! (film)
Help! is a 1965 film directed by Richard Lester, starring The Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr—and featuring Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, John Bluthal, Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill. Help! was the second feature film made by the Beatles and is a...
(1965) and Casino Royale
Casino Royale (1967 film)
Casino Royale is a 1967 comedy spy film originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an ensemble cast of directors and actors. It is set as a satire of the James Bond film series and the spy genre, and is loosely based on Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel.The film stars David Niven as the...
(1967). In 1965 he animated four episodes of The Beatles, an animated television series featuring the pop band, which had been sub-contracted out to different studios. Godfrey also worked as an uncredited adviser on Yellow Submarine (1968).
In 1974 he presented Do-It Yourself Film Animation Show on BBC1 which encouraged children to do animation; each episode had established animators talking about their work and different animation techniques. Guests included Richard Williams and Terry Gilliam. The series has subsequently been acknowledged by a new generation of animators, including Nick Park
Nick Park
Nicholas Wulstan "Nick" Park, CBE is an English filmmaker of stop motion animation best known as the creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep....
, as a significant influence on them making animated films. Later films including social, political satires based on the work on Steve Bell
Steve Bell (cartoonist)
Steve Bell is an English political cartoonist, whose work appears in The Guardian and other publications. He is known for his left-wing views and distinctive caricatures.-Early life:...
which included Beaks to the Grindstone and A Journalist's Tale. He worked with Bell again on the series Maggie Where I am Now?.
In the Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
documentary The Thief Who Never Gave Up, broadcast in the late 1980s, animator Richard Williams credits Godfrey with giving him his start in the business, "Bob Godfrey helped me...I worked in the basement and would do work in kind, and he would let me use the camera...[it was] a barter system".
He was awarded an MBE in 1986 and received the newly established Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bradford Animation Festival on 18 November 2007, with the festival including a retrospective of his films. He has appeared on a number of programmes and documentaries on animation over the years, including the BBC 2 documentary The Craftsmen and the documentary series Animation Nation, shown on BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
in 2005.