The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
The Twelve Days of Christmas
A classic Christmas carol brought joyously to life in this engaging and colourful Sheila Graber animation, with help from her school class.
From the collection of:
Overview
In 1975, Sheila Graber made this highly imaginative cut out animation, shown on BBC Look North the same year. Inspired by her own designs for Christmas decorations on the walls of the comprehensive school where she taught for many years, nobody watching it will ever forget the words of the carol ever again.
Sheila Graber started doing animation in 1970, experimenting with anything from cut-outs and pastel to plasticine, with her first full film ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ in 1972. She has had a prolific career as an animator, for television and much else, and has pioneered the teaching of animation for children and adults with special needs. As Head of Creative Studies at King George Comprehensive School, Graber believed in education through art, making films on artists like Turner and Blake, demonstrating how artists worked. The composer, Brenda Orwin, ran the school madrigal choir. In 2004 Graber started teaching on the first animation degree of its type in the UK at the University of Sunderland.
Related
Face to Face Face to Face
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1981 3 mins Location: South Shields
Marking time on a face, a swift, bleak portrait of a man from cradle to grave.
Little Cinders Little Cinders
Amateur film 1952 21 mins Location: Leeds
A magical film in many ways, a fairy tale story using trick photography and with artful and imaginative stop motion animation.
Pipe Dreams Pipe Dreams
Amateur film 1965 3 mins Location: Wakefield
A once common object in many households becomes transformed into a quirky dancing troupe in this simple homespun animation.
For Your Pleasure For Your Pleasure
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1970 4 mins Location: Flatford Mill
An iconic rural scene becomes a protest site for the bitter yet comic vision of prolific amateur animator Derek Phillips
The Battle of Wangapore The Battle of Wangapore
Amateur film 1955 9 mins Silent
Charge into this slick amateur cartoon from the Grasshopper Group which was three years in the making
Plastic Platitudes Plastic Platitudes
Amateur film 1957 4 mins
Specially commended by ‘Amateur Cine World'. Nineteen fifties claymation by Douglas Butcher offering tongue-in-cheek advice for life.
South Shields Silver Jubilee Celebrations South Shields Silver Jubilee Celebrations
Amateur film 1977 6 mins Silent Location: South Shields
One big happy family on the streets of South Shields for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit.
How the Whale Got his Throat How the Whale Got his Throat
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1981 10 mins Location: South Shields
Travel into the belly of whale lore with Rudyard Kipling’s whimsical tale for little children.
I Frog I Frog
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1983 5 mins Location: South Shields
A new build for a homeless frog who reveals the story of his double life to a rescuer.
Moving On Moving On
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins Location: South Shields
Getting there: enjoy a racy history of transport and travel by land, sea and air.
Marking Time Marking Time
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1978 3 mins Location: South Shields
An uptempo look at man’s passionate obsession with time from first light to the dawn of the digital age.
Evolution Evolution
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 4 mins Location: South Shields
Staying alive, from a single cell to a big bang. Blink and you’ll miss the end.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.