John Halas OBE (born János Halász;Brian McFarlane ''The Encyclopedia of British Film'', London: Methuen/BFI, 2003, p.48 16 April 1912 – 21 January 1995) was a pioneering British animator. Together with Gyula Macskássy (an acquaintance from Sándor Bortnyik's Bauhaus art studio, Műhely), and Félix Kassowitz, Halász co-founded Hungary's first animation studio, Coloriton, in 1932. Coloriton existed for 4 years, producing animations for cinemas, including ''Boldog király kincse'' ("The Treasure of the Joyful King").Orosz, Márton.
Vissza a szülőföldre! / Back to the Homeland!
''. 10th Kecskeméti Animáció Film Fesztivál (KAFF) 2011. Orosz, Anna Ida and Orosz, Márton.
Vissza a szülőföldre! - I. rész - Halász János - John Halas
''. FilmKultura. 2011. Halász learned his craft under

George Pal George Pal (born György Pál Marczincsak; ; February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) was a Hungarian-American animator, film director and producer, principally associated with the fantasy and science-fiction genres. He became an American citizen after ...

, but launched his own career in 1934, and two years later moved to England where later, with his wife Joy Batchelor, founded Halas and Batchelor in 1940. Over the years they made over 70 short subjects during the war, using propaganda from the time. Their best-known film, ''

Animal Farm ''Animal Farm'' (originally ''Animal Farm: A Fairy Story'') is a satirical allegorical novella, in the form of a beast fable, by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. It tells the story of a group of anthropomorphic far ...

'' (1954), was the first full-length animated film made in Great Britain. They also produced a number of animated TV series, including Foo Foo, and '' Snip and Snap'' (1960) and the famous music video '' Love Is All'' by Roger Glover. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Festival of Animated Film - Animafest Zagreb in 1990. Halas died on 21 January 1995, aged 82.

References

Filmography

* ''The Cartoons of Halas & Batchelor'' (2000) *''Halas and Batchelor Cartoons: an animated history''; Paul Wells, ed. London: Southbank, (2006) (book & DVD; DVD contains Magic canvas, 1948; The figurehead, 1953; The history of the cinema, 1957; Automania 2000; The symphony orchestra, 1964; Dilemma, 1981; Know your Europeans UK, 1995)

External links

* * * 1912 births 1995 deaths British animated film directors British animated film producers Hungarian emigrants to the United Kingdom Film people from Budapest International Animated Film Association Hungarian animated film directors Hungarian animated film producers Halas and Batchelor Officers_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire {{animator-stub