(Produced and directed by John Halas. Associate Producer, Jean-Marc Peyron. Editor, Sean Lenihan. Commentary, David Healy and Oswald Laurence. Original Music, Peter Shade, Richard Arnell and David Hewson. 1986)

A series of four programs produced and directed by John Halas. Over 10 years in the making, Masters of Animation represents the peak achievements of 7,000 artists from 13 countries. Produced and directed by John Halas, former president of the International Animated Film Association and award-winning animator, the series provides an opportunity to experience the exciting diversity of the world's leading animation artists. In addition, viewers are treated to examples of state of the art animation technology.

Volume 1: USA and Canada



USA:
By the 1920s animation was firmly established in the United States. In this program such animation greats as Chuck Jones, Barrie Nelson and Leo Salkin discuss their work. Excerpts from the work of Walt Disney, the Hubleys, Will Vinton, Bob Blechman, Joanna Priestley and others make this a lively and well-rounded program.

CANADA:
The National Film Board of Canada
The NFBC is internationally known for its outstanding work in animation, Norman McLaren, Caroline leaf and Don Arioli discuss their work for the NFBC, and we see examples of their work as well as that of Eugene Fedorenko, Derek Lamb, Zlatko Grgic, Co Hoedman, Geoffrey Hale and Ishu Patel.

The CBC-Radio Canada/Canadian Independent Animators
Animation in Canada has achieved an international reputation for technical excellence and artistic content. This program presents outstanding examples of work by the CBC-Radio Canada as well as that of independent animators. Artists presented include Frederic Back, Graeme Ross, Andre Theroux, Al Sens, Philippe Bergeron, and others.

Volume 1: 85 minutes.




Volume 2: Great Britain, Italy, France



GREAT BRITAIN:
Within the European community Great Britain played a leading role in establishing animation as sophisticated entertainment. Interviews with John Halas, Joy Batchelor, and John Coates combine with works by Dunning, Godfrey, Grgic, and others to present the best of British animation.

ITALY:
The humor and artistry of Italian animation have their origins in the Renaissance. Emanuele Luzzati and Giulio Gianini discuss their films, while excerpts from the work of Manfredi, Cavandoli, Manuli, Lagana and Bozzetto round out this overview.

FRANCE:
France was a leader in the development of animated pictures. Today, French animators use a wide variety of styles and techniques. Works by Grimault, Alexeieff, Parker, Foldes, Lenica, Laguionie and the Gaumont Studios illustrate this variety.

Volume 2: 87 minutes.




Volume 3: USSR, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary



USSR:
With some 25 studios spread over its territory, the USSR has a long tradition of animated filmmaking. The work of such artists as Evanov-Vano, Atamanov, Vinokurov, Shvartzman, Kurchevsky, and Norstein exhibits a remarkable variety of animated styles.

YUGOSLAVIA:
In the past few decades, Zagreb Film has become one of the most active centers of European animation. Interviews with Vokotic, Stalter, Dragic and Dovnikovic and works by Majdak and Gasparovic illustrate the diversity of Yugoslavian animation.

POLAND:
In Poland animated programs are popular for all ages. Works by Giersz, Kijowicz, Kucia, Dumala and Szczechura illustrate the skill and humor with which Polish artists carry out their themes.

HUNGARY:
The widely diverse styles of Hungarian animation artists have produced many animated feature films. These works are represented by Macskassy, Dargay, Nepp, Varga, Rofusz, Reisenbuchler, Jankovics and Gemes.

Volume 3: 113 minutes.







Volume 4: Japan, Computer Animation Parts I + II



JAPAN:
Noted for producing most of the world's animated programs for children, Japan is also home to independent animators with widely varying styles. Works by Kinoshita, Tsukioka, Yusaki, Dawamoto, Tezuka and Kuri illustrate this diversity.

COMPUTER ANIMATION PART I:
This program takes the viewer inside the studios of the Institute National de l'Audiovisuel in Paris to show how computer animation is achieved. The medium is illustrated in works by, among others, Hourcade, Borenstein, Abel, Roberts, Whitney, Demos, Csuri, Rosendahl, Halas, and Donner.

COMPUTER ANIMATION PART II:
Computer animation technology is opening up new horizons in space research, medicine, the entertainment industry, architecture, advertising, and the arts. Works by such international experts as Rosendahl, Toyolinks Corporation, Sogitec Audiovisuel, Lodge-Cheesman, Nakamae and Makajima illustrate these applications.

Volume 4: 84 minutes.