British Animation: The Channel 4 Factor by Clare Kitson – Book Review
A personal account of the rise of British Animation in the ’80’s and 90’s by the former commissioner of animation at Channel 4, Clare Kitson. Reviewed by film maker Lucy Lee.
For me this is such an important book, because it covers the films that inspired me to make animation in the first place. A time when Channel 4 was able to fund projects in a way that gave enough freedom and finance to the film makers, to let them create the best possible film they could. Resulting, happily, in UK Animation Oscar’s every year except one from 1990 to 1995, numerous Cartoon d’Or’s and a seemingly endless list of international festival prizes. British animation was possibly at its best, and Channel 4 is one of the key reasons that this was possible.
If we can learn from history then this book is a bible to what we will need again in the future. A ‘How To’ if you like, for creating the conditions for developing a great art form, and great people. Because this book shows not only how each film maker was given the freedom and finance to make a good film, but how this opportunity launched them into a productive career too. The long term benefits of this unique era, are a multitude of great animation companies, great animators, great animation tutors, all of which have spawned a huge new generation of graduating animation artists. What a brilliant resource, what a shame we can’t continue this growth and tradition of producing some of the worlds greatest animated films. Is it not short sighted of a nation to lose this crucial type of funding for such a rare and wonderful art form.
Clare does however ask the inevitable question, is TV the right format for this art form anyway? She includes information about the transmission slots for each film, or series and often why a good slot could not be found. The discussion about how important the right slot is, getting the right audience for a film or series is important to note and learn from. The question about TV being a mass medium and animation art being essentially for a niche audience is also a point to note but that by no way should result in any mass medium losing itself in the lowest common denominator. But that is the ultimate end for a purely market driven economy, so when Channel 4 lost its founding principles, to go for more popular programs in the increasingly competitive environment, it would inevitably lose many of its creative gems too.
The internet does offer a whole new approach to finding and viewing films (mostly through YouTube), it is ideal for finding, focusing and capitalizing on niche audiences, and we are in an exciting transition period for distributing and accessing film and animation. Channel 4 animation now exists as the 4mations broadband channel (www.4mations.tv). However until new forms of financing art animation is found it is an uncomfortable time, and we will not be world leaders again until we learn to look after our independent animation film makers.
I won’t summarize the entire book here, there is something relevant in it for a range of different readers. After a unique and personal insight into the development of Channel 4 and how animation came to be so blessed by it, 30 films (/series) are discussed ranging from the ever popular Snowman and Creature Comforts through those that deserve far more exposure, Pond Life, Alice, personal films, Many Happy Returns, films that broke the mould, A is for Autism, Death and the Mother, to art films such as Street of Crocodiles, Deadsy, Rabbit, The Black Dog. I would really have to name every film in fact, because all of them are classics worth studying. Each film covers a fascinating background of the film maker, how the film came to be funded, the overall budget, time taken to make, methods used, successes of the film, and the subsequent career of the film maker due to these successes. The book ends with how this utopia was lost, and where channel 4 animation is currently headed.
If you want to buy this book you need to go to the Parliament Hill Publishing website parliamenthillpublishing.co.uk (but if you are in North America you need to get it from Indiana University Press, Parliament Hill Publishing sells to the rest of the world). It is not being sold on Amazon because they demand a 60 per cent discount and that would mean selling the books for less than they cost to produce. However the Parliament Hill Publishing website is a great resource in itself, telling you where to see the films, more reviews, and extracts.
(Films covered in the book are: The Snowman, The Victor, When the Wind Blows, Street of Crocodiles, The Black Dog, Alice, Girls Night Out, Feet of Song, Lip Synch – War story and Creature Comforts, Deadtime Stories for Big Folk – Deadsy and Door, Secret Joy of Falling Angels, A is for Autism, Screen Play, The Mill, Bob’s Birthday, Eldorado, The Village, Abductees, Crapston Villas, Many Happy Returns, Pond Life, Death and the Mother, Silence, The Man with the Beautiful Eyes, Home Road Movies, City Paradise, Rabbit, Peter and the Wolf).
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