A hand-drawn comic documentary in which veteran British animator and Oscar-winner Bob Godfrey describes how he got started in Animation and the losses of one era ending and the excitement of a new one beginning.

Bob’s narration is taken from an interview he gave in 2006 in his Acme Studio in South London. I Am A Rebel was animated entirely in Flash/Animate and is the successor to an earlier film, What Is Animation?

A bit about the subject

Bob Godfrey MBE (1921-2013) was a much-loved British animator and director, best known for Roobarb (1974) the children’s television series and Henry’s Cat (1983-1993). In 1976 he became the first British recipient of the Oscar for Best Animated Short for his film Great (1975).

A bit about the director

Martin Pickles is a London-based filmmaker and animator. He studied Classics at The Queen’s College, Oxford and Animation at the Royal College of Art. He created and curates London Animation Club, a monthly screening event, and is senior lecturer in Animation Theory at UCA Farnham. His work has been shown around the world, including at Animafest Zagreb, Hiroshima, Ottawa, Stuttgart and London International Animation festivals.

Film Credits

Voice: Bob Godfrey
Sound Design: Tom Lowe
Music: Tanera Dawkins
Script editor: Anna Minton
Thanks to Andrew Baird, Laurie Hill, Tony Fish, Jez Stewart, Vicky Smith and Dennis Sisterson
Directed, animated and edited by Martin Pickles

Forthcoming Screenings

Selected for the London International Animation Festival 2025

A 20-second film trailer