TonyPritchett.co.uk
Hello!
>>> This website is part of a project researching, documenting, and celebrating the work of TONY PRITCHETT <<<
======== In 1967, TONY created a 2-minute cartoon called THE FLEXIPEDE ========
He made it using...
One of the world’s most powerful supercomputers (THE LONDON ATLAS)
A high-security fusion research lab
A squeaky office chair and some Letraset
/// And FORTRAN V, a scientific programming language definitely not designed for character animation! \\\
=> THE FLEXIPEDE premiered at The ICA'S 'CYBERNETIC SERENDIPITY' exhibition, curated by JASIA REICHARDT.
=> The show blurred boundaries between the arts and sciences.
=> TONY felt the exhibition helped him "de-pigeonhole" himself!
THE RUTHERFORD ATLAS. PHOTO KATE SULLIVAN (C.2015). THANKS: RAL / DR. VICTORIA MARSHALL.
'THE DIGITAL COMPUTER' OPEN UNIVERSITY (1975).
PHOTO K.SULLIVAN, N0.W.HERE FILM CO-OP (C.2014). THANKS: JAMES HOLCOME
TP and I had a great deal of fun researching and documenting his computer animations.
We discovered that THE FLEXIPEDE is:
> Britain’s 1st computer-animated entertainment film!
> Probably the world’s 1st digital character animation!
> The 1st use of comedy in a computer-animated film!
> The world’s first computer-animated story!
// After making The FLEXIPEDE, Tony went on to create other pioneering work, including sequences for 'ALIEN' (1979) and BLADERUNNER (1982).
// He also animated one of the UKs most iconic pieces of branding: The original Channel Four logo! (He told me a great story about the making of that!)
// None of Tony's work is credited. He was a humble man who worked very much behind the scenes.
TP and I had fun researching and documenting his animations.
The idea was to CREATE A MULTIMEDIA PROJECT, sharing his inspiring process, stories, and knowledge with a new audience.
Very sadly, in 2017 Tony unexpectedly passed away.
Thanks to many generous folk, our project continues.
Tony’s work is housed in my garage. (Many thanks to Dr. Nick Lambert and Tony's family).
The BFI has generously offered to house the 16mm and 35mm film collection in their giant fridge. (Many thanks to Jez Stewart)
I am currently looking to RAISE FUNDS TO DIGITISE AND SHARE THE ARCHIVE.
Please do get in touch if you're able to help in any way!
'SOFTWARE GENERATION' FORMED IN 1973, WERE A GROUP OF FREELANCE ANIMATORS.
PHOTO K.SULLIVAN, TONY'S HOUSE (C. 2016)
TONY PRITCHETT, ICA 'CYBERNETIC SERENDIITY' RETROSPECTIVE, (2014). PHOTO K.SULLIVAN
“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