Halas and Batchelor

Halas and Batchelor was a British animation company founded by John Halas and his wife, Joy Batchelor. The company started as a small animation unit that created commercials for theatrical distribution. The unit continued until the outbreak of World War II and became well known for its over 70 animated propaganda short films.

HB's first feature film Handling Ships (1945), made in 1945, was the first-ever British animated feature. After the war, they continued making short films, while in production, the first British animated feature released worldwide, Animal Farm was being made. The studio grew from a small unit to a proper animation company, with several different British locations. Its best-known animation series were Foo Foo (1959-60), DoDo, The Kid from Outer Space (1965-70) and The Lone Ranger (1966-69). Halas and Batchelor also produced Snip and Snap (1960).

As well as short films, the studio made a few feature films, such as Ruddigore (late 1960s). The company no longer exists but most of the 2000 films now form part of The Halas and Batchelor Collection Limited that was started in 1996.

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