=== > > > Hello! < < < ===
> This site celebrates the work of British computer animation pioneer, Tony Pritchett (1937-2017).
**** In 1967 Tony Pritchett created a 2 minute cartoon called THE FLEXIPEDE ****
THE FLEXIPEDE is:
> Britain’s 1st computer-animated entertainment film!
> Arguably the world’s 1st computer-animated character animation!
> Definitely the 1st use of comedy in a computer-animated film!
> The world’s first computer animated story!
>>> It was created using <<<
> One of the world’s most powerful supercomputers
> A high-security fusion research lab
> A squeaky office chair
>>> Tony created computer animation before there was a computer animation industry <<<
> He worked on many projects, often with like-minded pioneers.
> I was very lucky to meet Tony. He told be so many great stories that I’d like to share…
> So I am creating a multimedia eBook, which will contain his stories and further research into his work.
// Above is an excerpt from a lecture given at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, by Dr. Victoria Marshall, Prof David Duce and myself.
It’s a quick (- ish!!) overview of Tony’s career. //
>>> I enjoyed exploring Tony’s work with him <<<
> But when my friend Tony ‘logged off’ he left me without a tour guide.
> I couldn’t even speak any of the local (ancient computer) languages.
> His work is temporarily stored in my house and garage!
> Luckily for me, some very kind and esteemed folks are helping me continue my research.
“I think I would have liked to be an explorer, actually (chuckles). That’s one of the things I would have liked to have been.
I’m not sure I would’ve liked to have been an arctic explorer, that’s a bit cold for me – or even a jungle explorer… well I don’t know…
But I do like the idea of exploring – new territories”.
-Tony Pritchett 2014
>>> It is extremely important to preserve Tony’s pioneering work <<<
> Thanks to The BFI and The Computer Arts Society, it is likely that the physical archive has found two new secure homes.
> I am currently looking for funding to help digitise Tony’s celluloid archive.
“As the Curator of Animation at the BFI National Archive it has become increasingly apparent to me that Tony Pritchett’s work represents a vital continuity though a foundational shift in British animation history. With The Flexipede, Tony instinctively created a film that was as much about character as coding, proving the concept that computer animation was not only viable, but that it belonged squarely within the context of the existing art and industry.
Kate Sullivan’s mission to excavate his story, first in partnership with Tony himself, and then with many of his former colleagues after his sad passing, has formed a rare and vital network between past and present and already yielded significant insights. It would be fantastic for her to be able to continue this work, which as well as unearthing and preserving knowledge about an under investigated area of screen history, is also informing her own artistic practice.
As with Tony, Kate has intuitively linked her research with her creative spirit, adding whole new dimensions to this project that I am sure will result in unique insights and bring new audiences to its outcomes.”
Jez Stewart
] ] ] ] ] ] …And Finally… [ [ [ [ [ [
Thank you to everyone who’s helped document and preserve my friend’s work.
…And thank you for visiting this site : )
Very best wishes, Kate Sullivan.