John Halas Movies

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...

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

This satirical animated short by the renowned Halas & Batchelor Studio asks the big Question. Can the meaning of life be found in religion or...

A BAFTA award nominated animation tracing the development of the motor car from the original horseless carriage common in the late 19th century to...

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

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

Hamilton the elephant is being trained for the circus when he discovers his amazing musical ability; the ringmaster decides to exploit his new-found...

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

A musically talented ape is captured in the jungle and taken back to civilisation. However, civilisation proves too uncouth for the cultured ape so...

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

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

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

Joy Batchelor directed, produced, wrote and designed this short film for Brook Bond Tea: two girls compete for the affections of a Teddy Bear.

A short animation based on the Edward Lear poem

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

Cartoon proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In this 1940s cinema advert, the tardiness of Signalman Squirrel's breakfast...

If you haven’t already been diverted by the history of John Gilpin, or would like to venture that way again, you couldn’t find a better...

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