John Halas

Britain's first animated feature, which, despite the title and Disney-esque animal animation, is in fact a no-holds-barred adaptation of George Orwell's classic satire on Stalinism, with the animals taking over their farm by means of a revolutionary coup, but then discovering that although all animals are supposed to be equal, some are more equal than others... (imdb)

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

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. (imdb)

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. (imdb)

Charley questions the need for the National Insurance Acts of 1948. Welfare State. (youtube)

Charley Junior, waiting in the clouds to be born, is told about his future schooldays by a celestial ... (bcdb.com)

An animated cartoon on smoking and health. The villain, Old Nick O'Teen , disguises himself as an 18-year-old motor cyclist, 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. (youtube)

Charley has the workings of the National Health Service explained to him. (archive.org)

This animated cartoon film shows how to set about replanning a town. Post war period. New Towns, overcrowded inner cities, building out of town. (youtube)

Hamilton is being trained for the circus when suddenly, he discovers his musical ability, as he has a trumpet for a trunk. (bcdb.com)

Experimental early computer animation, set to the song "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk.

Animation. A War Office Instructional Film on the basic rules of personal hygiene, aimed at soldiers based in the Middle East. (BFI)

The film is designed to encourage recycling - which was a key part of the war effort.

The Magic Canvas is an abstract cartoon done to alternative Jazz that tells the story of human's duality.

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.

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.

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

Musical story of the Owl that falls in love, proposes, buys a ring and marries the Pussy-cat, animated to the tune of the nonsense words of Edward Lear's poem.

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