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Episode 79 marks a special edition of the podcast, recorded back in February 2021 as part of the virtual Fantasy/Animation @ Canterbury Anifest event where Chris and Alex curated a series of podcasts, themed blog posts, a roundtable on the topic of diversity and inclusion (returning to the Anti-Racist Syllabus) and a live Q&A, as well as premiering a brand new Fantasy/Animation podcast episode released exclusively for festival attendees. This Anifest special tackles Bagpuss (1974) the 13-episode stop-motion television series from the celebrated Kent-based Smallfilms studio. Joining Chris and Alex to talk through his ongoing research into both Smallfilms and its founders Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate is Festival Director of the Canterbury Anifest Dr. Chris Pallant, who is also a Reader in Film Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University and President of the Society for Animation Studies. Chris has published widely across film and media studies, including his monograph Demystifying Disney: A History of Disney Feature Animation (Bloomsbury, 2011), and collections Storyboarding: A Critical History (Palgrave, 2015), Animated Landscapes: History, Form and Function (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: New Perspectives on Production, Reception, Legacy (2021). In this episode, Chris gives us a rundown of his favourite Top 5 Bagpuss episodes, with other topics including the modular structure of the series and its bricolage of storytelling and comic effects; the pleasures of ‘objectness' vs. anthropomorphic representation; Bagpuss' particular kind of character expressivity, pose and movement; fantasy rhetoric and the image of the ‘storyteller'; the vocal performances (and musical designs) of folk singing duo Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner; the seduction of the animation archive and locating lost production materials; how to tell animation history, and what gets include/omitted from industrial narratives; and the status of Bagpuss as a signature Smallfilms property, including the role of a saggy old cloth cat in shaping histories of this small but influential animation studio.
Julia and her husband, comedy writer Joel Morris, remember the magical day they visited Peter Firmin's house in Kent, where Small Films made Bagpuss, Noggin and the rest of their wondrous shows. (And do visit @boxdelightspod on Twitter to see some photos.) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Get yourself a flask of bilberry wine, and join Ren and Adam as they talk about the 1965 stop-motion animation series The Pogles, by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. In this episode we reminisce about what Postgate and Firmin's work has meant to us, chat about folk horror, and do more voices than might be strictly necessary. Cosy horror has never been more charming. A full transcript of this episode is available in the show notes at: https://stillscared.podigee.io/19-pogles
Episode 25 sees us welcome on board Andy Priestner as he discusses 'Secret Army' in general with a look at the episode 'A Question Of Loyalty' in particular. Warren joins us to pay tribute to the late Bernard Hepton and Peter Firmin, then Martin examines Part One of Tom Baker's debut 'Doctor Who' story 'Robot'. Nick and Paul review 'Sapphire & Steel' Adventure Six from 1982, with Warren returning to help us look at the 1973 production of 'Jack The Ripper' where the evidence is sifted by the old 'Z Cars' team of Barlow and Watt. Andy's podcast is 'World Enough And Time' and Paul's is 'The Shy Life Podcast', both of which are available here on Soundcloud (and are reposted on our profile).
Reuploaded Welcome to another episode of The AFA Podcast This time Chris and Dan sat down to talk about the British animation legends Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin and their company Smallfilms following the recent passing of FirminThen we move on to some other animation news 039 including the release information of The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales Studio Ponoc Short Film Theatre The Dragon Prince and Invincible Then its time for a stop by The Watercooler 121 with a discussion of both Incredibles 2 and Coco
Photo: Dame Gillian Lynne Matthew Bannister on: The choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne, best known for her work on Cats and the Phantom of the Opera. Peter Firmin who, with his partner Oliver Postgate, created beloved children's TV characters like the Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss. Reinhard Hardegen the last surviving U boat ace who took part in attacks on the East Coast of America in 1942 and Alan Longmuir, founder member of the Bay City Rollers. Archive clips from: Front Row, Radio 4, TX 2.7.2018.
Presenting the 82nd episode of the Skwigly podcast! In this episode we welcome special guests Gillian Lacey (Assistant Animator, subsequently of the Leeds Animation Workshop and the NFTS) and Lynn Mitchell (Cel Painter) who reflect on their experiences of working on George Dunning's animated fantasy adventure "Yellow Submarine", which this month celebrates the 50th anniversary of its original theatrical release. The film will be re-released in cinemas across the UK for a special one-day event this Sunday (July 8th), to be followed by several special screenings in the coming months as part of Anim18. Also discussed in this episode: The legacy of Smallfilms founder Peter Firmin whose own body of work (alongside co-founder Oliver Postgate) included such classic UK series as "Ivor The Engine", "Noggin The Nog", "The Clangers" and "Bagpuss". Presented by Ben Mitchell and Steve Henderson Interviews conducted by Ben Mitchell and Laura-Beth Cowley Produced and edited by Ben Mitchell Music by Ben Mitchell
The 60th Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.com Presented by Ben Mitchell and Steve Henderson Guest interviewer: Neil Whitman Special guests: •Peter Firmin, co-founder (with Oliver Postgate) of Smallfilms whose legacy of British television animation classics include 'Bagpuss', 'The Clangers', 'Noggin the Nog' and 'Ivor the Engine'. •Daniel Postgate, son of Oliver Postgate and executive producer/writer on the recent 'Clangers' revival, presently in production on its second series. Produced & Edited by Ben Mitchell Music by Ben Mitchell
The comedian and travel writer, Dom Joly, joins Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. Best known as the star of Trigger Happy TV, he has written a number of books including The Dark Tourist for which he visited some of the world's most unlikely destinations such as Chernobyl and North Korea. Julia Miles spent 28 years as the wife of a diplomat, living in Libya, Saudi Arabia and Athens, has worked as a social worker, a probation officer and is now a psychotherapist. She reveals the realities of life as ambassador's wife, ranging from food shortages to terrorist incidents. Saturday Live listener, David Ainsley, shares the story of his the best Father's Day gift he ever received. JP Devlin meets Peter Firmin, creator of the sets and puppets for The Clangers, Bagpuss and Basil Brush. At the age of 30, armed with a cannon, Gary Stocker took a break from a lucrative career in law for a shot at fame as a human cannon ball - performing as The Great Herrmann. The actor and presenter Bradley Walsh shares his Inheritance Tracks: Stranger in Paradise by Tony Bennett and The Hungry Years by Neil Sedaka. Viv Albertine is best known as the guitarist for the all-female English punk group The Slits. After the band broke up in 1981 Viv left music behind to become an aerobics instructor, a mother and housewife, and an artist. She returned to music in middle age, picking up her guitar for the first time in 25 years. Additional Information Here Comes the Clown - A Stumble Through Showbusiness by Dom Joly. The Ambassador's Wife's Tales by Julia Miles. A new series of The Clangers is on CBeebies. Bradley Walsh stars in Sun Trap on BBC One on Wednesday nights at 10.35pm. Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys, by Viv Albertine is in paperback.
It's tough on stage; Would you eat a dausage?; Peter Firmin; Doom Bar or not?; One Two Three; Keep your mileage high; Serve and Volley; An interview with Adam Shaw; Music from the 1957 Tail-fin Fiasco
Kirsty Lang talks to artist and puppet-maker Peter Firmin, whose iconic children's tv characters include Bagpuss, Basil Brush and The Clangers. Robert Edric on his novel Sanctuary, which explores the final months in the turbulent life of Branwell Brontë - brother to the more famous Brontë sisters. Kate Muir reviews the new film from Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Winter Sleep, which won the Palme D'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. And a new exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art revives the reputation of artists Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde. Jan Patience reviews.
TIN DOG INTRO MUSIC To celebrate the first birthday of the Doctor Who TIN DOG Podcast (and my own birthday on March 4th), I present a short episode of Torchwood for your enjoyment. And thanks for listening to me ramble on for a year. TIN DOG: This story is meant with the greatest and fondest respect to the works of Oliver Postgate , Peter Firmin, Russel T Davies and everyone else who has kept the blue light flashing. No breach of copyright is meant in any way. Please enjoy this special anniversary story to celebrate the Tin Dog Podcasts first Birthday. I present a one of Audio story with those lovely people from the popular secret organisation “Torchwood?. NARRATOR: In the bottom left hand comer of Wales, a meeting is taking place around an ikea table. Lets listen in… IANTO: “I have been monitoring activity around the hell mouth... er anomaly.. erm... I mean.. Rift and its been surprisingly quiet which means we can re-investigate some of the unsolved Torchwood files.? NARRATOR: The thin one with the dry whit gets out a file and blows dust off it in the sort of way Eric Morecambe would look at Ernie Wises wallet. GRAMS FX- blow... cough IANTO: This is one that dates back decades. The winged monsters of Tan-y-gwlch. OWEN “you know the rules we do not investigate anything we can't have sex with... apples and pares – queen mother – gawd bless her. IANTO: ah but.. Monkey boy... but this is season two and we seem to be moving away from pointless sex scenes so I thought we might look at this. GWEN: BUT this isn't happening in Cardiff... and you know the only time we leave Cardiff's in unseen adventures and spin off novels... oh and Audio Books... as a rule we don't ever set foot outside Cardiff... Couldn't we just send UNIT? NARRATOR said Gwen IANTO: This IS an Audio adventure which gives us an unlimited travel budget.. I have rang UNIT and they are apparently busy denying any links with the United Nations then they are all booked up recording a spin off story for Big Finish... which only leaves only US... Jack do you want to do the voice over? JACK: Torchwood. Outside the Government, Beyond the police, Of Junction 21 next door to Comet electrical. IANTO: Quickly... to the Torchwood Mobile... and on to North Wales. GRAMS MUSIC: Ivor the engine Music. NARRATOR: Oh hello ivor.. IVOR: Ba Baaaa! NARRATOR: Having a busy day IVOR: Ba Baaaa! NARRATOR: What are you upto today? Taking coal to grumby town? New shoes for a new hat for Mrs Dinwiddy? Saving sheep from the snow? IVOR: Ba Baaaa! NARRATOR: Oh I see... You're off to see your friends Idris and Blodwin the dragons. NARRATOR: Oh look Ivor... you have visitors... IVOR: bo bo bbbooooo... NARRATOR: No there not the English coming to stay in their cottage for one week of the year and drive up house prices... its those pesky Torchwood lot... yes Ivor the famous secret organisation. IVOR: ba ba JONES THE STEAM: Oh hello Mister Harkness. Can I ask you a question NARATOR: asked the hither too silent Jones the Steam JACK: Sure JONES THE STEAM: How come you get to walk the streets with a Webly Mark Four on your hip and no one bats an eyelid. This is the Wales after all you know not down town LA or something. JACK: It helps us sell the show to Americans. I mean who would watch a show where the heroes didn't have a gun and solved things using their intellect and cunning... GRAMS: FX Few bars of Doctor Who music JONES THE STEAM: Oh I guess you have a point. I just assumed you were over compensating for something. How can I help you today? GWEN: Flying Lizards JONES THE STEAM: Ah you mean the Dragons... IVOR: Booo Baa Baaa.. JONES THE STEAM: Quite right Ivor... I mean you mean the non-excitant Dragons on the extinct volcano. IVOR: Booo Baa Baaa.. JONES THE STEAM: Oh you and your fast talking city ways. I obviously mean the non-existent dragons that defiantly don't live anywhere round here…because they're not real... JACK: How are we doing for time Gwen? GWEN: Well were past over half way through the episode... so I think were just about to come up with a working hypothesis. So I recon that the Dragons are real and that they are in the extinct volcano... the one over there in fact – Boyo. OWEN: Jack. I hate to be the one to say this but theres been no homosexualist kissing so far...Apples and pairs JONES THE STEAM: Oh is that what you think? Me and Di station have been doing little Britain “only gay in the village? jokes all morning... mind you I'm sure you lot do those all the time down there in Cardiff... and not you lot are here its just going to become a joke too far if I bring that up again. DI STATION: Good point Jones. JACK: Lets go to the mountain. IVOR: Booo Baa Baaa.. JONES THE STEAM: Ivor says he can give you a lift if you want... I must say thats very good of you Ivor. IVOR: Booo Baa Baaa.. JONES THE STEAM: ah... so you think the plot is flagging and you want to move things along. JACK Lets leave the Torchwood Mobile here and head out. GRAMS: Ivor travel music. JONES THE STEAM: Gwen. I have a question for you. “Why doesnt your hair EVER move? Is it a wig? Come on you can tell me... Oh. look ivor.. were here. GRAMS : steam fx JACK: Tosh. You've been quiet… Oh you have a sore thought and the narrator doest think he is up to doing your voice, well he is butchering any attempt at mine. Anything on the tricorder… I mean non copyright breaching scaning device?.. GRAMS FX – Bleeping JONES THE STEAM: Do you think its noticed those dragons? GWEN: What the red heraldic ones spinning meters above us? JACK: Gwen? What's that flashing? is it one of those anomalies from primeval? GWEN: No it's a tourists camera. JONES THE STEAM: Ah so you have found out our little secret. Every so often the dragons come out for the tourists and get their photo taken. The pictures are blurred because they move so fast so there's not actual risk of anyone believing the pictures are real. Those dragons saved out town. You're not going to take them away from us are you Mister Harness? JACK No but it is likely that Owen will try and snog one of them OWEN I'd resent that remark if I hadn't seen the rest of the story ark. JONES THE STEAM: Look Mister Harkness one of them wants to ask you a question. IDRIS THE DRAGON: (as sample) “do you know land of my fathers? JACK: No it's abide with me or nothing GWEN: You know that still doesn't solve the real mystery. JACK: You mean how Ivor – a steam engine – speak? IANTO: oh that's easy. Ivor was made from a living metal that came through the rift at the end of the tea time war. IANTO: sorry... JONES THE STEAM: Did i say too much? I mean he is magic. GWEN: Ahhh. JONES THE STEAM: Tell you what…lets all go home for a nice cup of tea. OWEN: That's hardly a satisfying end to the narrative. Can't we blow something up? or lose a loved one through time. JONES THE STEAM: if you like IANTO: will that help with the fan base? JONES THE STEAM: No not really…. Ill just go and put the kettle on IVOR: boo baaaa. MUSIC. (Ivor the engine theme as base under the narrators final speech) NARRATOR: And so we must leave this quiet corner of Wales and journey back to podcast land thanks for listening to my pointless ramblings over this last year. Be seeing you MUSIC TDP Closing music NOTE: Some of you have never seen Ivor the Engine and this wont have helped so here is a youtube First Episode for you to enjoy!
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the animator Oliver Postgate. As the creator of Noggin the Nog, The Clangers and Bagpuss, Oliver holds a special place in many childhoods. So it may come as something of a surprise that he never thought about how his programmes would be received by children; instead he says he simply focussed on making the stories great - everything else was secondary. For 20 years he toiled in a converted pigsty in Kent, animating the characters Peter Firmin drew, churning out 120 seconds of film a day. He says a respectable average for an animation company now would be two seconds! Oliver's own childhood was a lonely one; ignored by his busy parents and sent to an experimental school he hated. He says that to this day, he has no meaning unless he is doing something, and this is a direct legacy of his desperation to be noticed as a child. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: When the Saints Come Marching In by Pete Fountain Book: Huge book of English Poetry Luxury: A comfortable bed.
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the animator Oliver Postgate. As the creator of Noggin the Nog, The Clangers and Bagpuss, Oliver holds a special place in many childhoods. So it may come as something of a surprise that he never thought about how his programmes would be received by children; instead he says he simply focussed on making the stories great - everything else was secondary. For 20 years he toiled in a converted pigsty in Kent, animating the characters Peter Firmin drew, churning out 120 seconds of film a day. He says a respectable average for an animation company now would be two seconds! Oliver's own childhood was a lonely one; ignored by his busy parents and sent to an experimental school he hated. He says that to this day, he has no meaning unless he is doing something, and this is a direct legacy of his desperation to be noticed as a child.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: When the Saints Come Marching In by Pete Fountain Book: Huge book of English Poetry Luxury: A comfortable bed.