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Willie Comes to Life

See how Willie the white elephant is brought to life in an animation studio for a National Savings ad

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 3 mins

Overview

Don’t worry this is safe for work, honest! Willie the White Elephant was the star of a post WWII National Savings poster - β€œIf you don't need it - don't buy it!” – which was then brought to life in a Technicolor cartoon Willie Does His stuff (also on the Player). This short looks behind the scenes at the production of the animation at Julius Pinschewer’s studio. Only the end title β€œFinis” is a clue that the majority of the work actually took place in Switzerland, bar British animator Harold Mack who is seen animating alone in London.