British animation takes a careful headcount
British animation has marked 25 years of Chicken Run by gathering its feature films in one place and counting them very carefully. The result required no stadium, only a sensible table and somebody who knew where the spare plasticine lived.
The BFI has surveyed ten great British animated features for the anniversary. That is a proud national tradition and also a number small enough for each film to receive a handwritten birthday card from the archivist.
Chicken Run still leads the flock
Chicken Run remains the highest grossing stop motion feature. It achieved this through a prison escape, Yorkshire chickens and Britain’s deep faith in a homemade machine that looks dangerous from every angle.
“Our sector moves with tremendous precision,” said Penelope Frame by Frame of the Office for Patient Eyebrows. “On Tuesday, we raised an eyebrow. We expect the matching eyebrow to arrive before Christmas.”
British animated features have used drawn images, stop motion and computer imagery. Yet every producer still faces the same serious question from an accountant. Why does the chicken need feelings when it already has wings?
Hollywood begins work on the cup origin story
Meanwhile, Hollywood announced nine animated franchises before lunch. One explores the emotionally formative years of a branded cup. Another follows a spoon who learns that merchandise has always lived inside him.
Britain has responded with one beautifully made feature, due at a later date that everyone agrees will be worth it. Its hero has spent eighteen months considering an expression. Nobody wishes to rush art, especially when the next frame contains a mouth.
Finally, the BFI list offers a useful reminder that rarity can make a film special. It can also make a national cinema easier to inventory than a medium sized garden centre.
Read the real story: The BFI’s survey of great British animated features.
