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Philip Stapp's Filmography
Compiling Stapp's filmography is an ongoing process.
Many of the Stapp-animated films
listed below were
Detail from the film 'Symmetry'' (1966) 'South American' titles (1940-5) Julien Bryan was hired by the U.S. Government to make a series of twenty-three films covering the many positive cultural aspects of South American countries, for which Stapp contributed the main titles, and flat and relief maps. Films in this series include: Atacama Desert (1943) Boundary Lines (1946, directed and written by Stapp). In this, the first Stapp-produced film emerging from his European period, we see the emergence of two techniques that would come to fruition three decades later: the animated musical "line", and the evolving scroll. The former, consisting of an animated line that rises and falls in conjunction with musical pitch, suddenly bursts in accompaniment to composer Gene Forrell’s multiple voices. While never again appearing in Stapp’s films, this technique re-appeared in his two-dimensional multi-panel paintings of the 1970s, suggesting dance figures propelled by converging and diverging lines based on the structure of musical forms. In the latter, an arrow shot by a primordial hunter races across an animated continuum of time, changing its payload to represent the armament of choice throughout time, eventually ending as an atomic bomb, ready to descend on a city. ‘Boundary Lines’ refers to the imaginary lines of prejudice that separate individuals, races, and countries. Their legacy is graphically represented by lynchings and concentration camps. Picture in Your Mind (1948) Sent by the U.S. government as a participant in the Marshall Plan with a specific mission to assist the French in re-gearing their animation studios, Stapp discovered a Europe much-decimated by war, but in further danger of annihilation by nuclear weapons. Returning to the U.S., he produced this alarming-yet-hopeful film, replete with its lonely, Tanguy-inspired landscapes peopled with static figures casting long shadows across charcoal-colored plains. While taking the risk of leaning a bit toward didacticism, Stapp managed to urgently convey the thought that world destruction was not necessarily inevitable, provided that people embrace, rather than reject their cultural and racial differences. ‘Picture’ is a unique document resulting from the sometimes dreamy, sometimes nightmarish vision of the artist in a war-torn land, with the spectre of death hovering ever-so-slightly ahead. Shoemaker and the Hatter (1950) Produced for the Marshall Plan's Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA) by John Halas and Joy Batchelor, Ltd., this film featured animation supervised by Stapp. Without Fear (1951) Another ECA Marshal Plan film, directed by Peter Sachs, with production supervision by Stapp. 'Hugo' animated films (1952) Stapp provided the concept for three animation shorts made by the celebrated Dutch animator Marten Toonder and produced by a Mr. Rathvon under the auspices of the Promotion Division of the Marshall Plan Organisation (then based in Paris) with the intention of promoting the idea of a unified Europe. These films were 'Hugo and the House of Europe', 'Hugo's Garden' and 'Hugo in the Circus'. In the 'Circus' film, different nations are depicted as circus performers. Music was composed for two of them by Lex van Delden, the other by Hugo de Groot. There appear to be no extant prints of these films. Thanks to Lex Van Velden, Jr., and Jan-Willem de Vries for the information about these films. Animal Farm (1953) Contributed animation to this John Halas/Joy Batchelor adaptation of Orwell's story. To Your Health (1955) In a film directed by Stapp for Halas and Batchelor, animators Brian Berthwick and John Smith present a beautifully animated, but often preachy tale about the perils of alcohol consumption. Produced by Mary Losey for the World Health Organization. Nearest Star (1960) Stapp animated some of the solar sequences in this film produced by the National Academy of Sciences. South America (1960) (Some artwork by Stapp) Amazon Family (1961) (Maps by Stapp) Tropical Africa (1961) Stapp produced animation for this Bill Claiborne-directed film. Water (1961) Produced by the United Nations, this utopian view of international cooperation over water rights was written and animated by Stapp, combining small amounts of live-action footage with artistically-treated still photography and Stapp's pointillist-inspired floating images. Africans All (1963, directed by Greg Knowles) Stapp introduces stereotypes (white explorers in cooking pot, etc) and occasional graphics in this travelogue. Ancient Egyptian (1963) Stapp animated the introductory sequence. Israel (1965) Stapp here depicts the history of the Jewish people from early times through WWII. Approximately 13 minutes of te opening of this film are Stapp's alone. The remainder consists of live footage. Symmetry (1966) In perhaps his greatest film, Stapp's stylized and pointillist-inspired abstract images dance in a surrealist floating world reminiscent of Japanese "ukiyo-e" illustration, the "stage" seen from three perspectives (overhead, direct, and diagonal), the figures continually rotating, dividing, and converging. First Americans (Part I): And Their Gods (1969) Utilizing pointillist, abstract, and multiplanar split-image figures, Stapp describes Mayan and Aztec cultures, unfolding in codex-like form, accompanied by ethno-concrète music by Thomas Wagner & Arthur Burrows. Ancient Africans (1970) With mostly live footage by Sam Bryan accompanied by music from Thomas Wagner, Stapp's fine animation accents the story of Kush, Axum, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali, Songhai, and others. It's the Greatest Little City (1970) This funny animated short, a cynical look at the excesses of commercialism in city and town planning, was produced at Ohio State University, with animators Thomas Crane, Terry Campbell, and Elizabeth Lloyd, directed by Stapp. How Old is Old? (1971) Stapp animated portions of this film on scientific dating. Ancient Chinese: An Introduction (1974) Although written, directed, and animated by Stapp, this film is largely based on old prints and live footage, with a bare-minimum of Stapp graphics. First Americans (Part II): Some Indians of the Southlands (1976) Stapp's pointillist style here has matured since the first of the series, done in 1969. Here, he also makes extensive use of parallel images converging and diverging on the multi-plane camera. Sea Within Us, The (1976, prod. Sid Milstein). Stapp animated this Sid Milstein-produced film, detailing fluid systems within the human body, made for Searle & Co. by Aegis Productions. Homage à François Couperin (1978) Also known as "Butterflies". A three-minute fantasy of butterflies and dragonflies cavorting amongst the pussywillows, Japanese-inspired animation accompanied by two variations on keyboard works by the Baroque composer. High Blood Pressure: A Game of Chance (1979, dir. Sid Milstein) We’re not sure what we liked best, the big floating pointillist steak and egg platter, or the galaxy-like arteries collecting all that cholesterol. In this animated ode to heart disease produced by the American Heart Association, Stapp takes us on a dizzying ride through the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, stopping briefly for cigarette, ice-cream, and fatty meat breaks. High Blood Pressure: If Only It Hurt a Little (1979, dir. Sid Milstein) Stapp's pointillist body parts and functions are a highlight of this fun film directed by Sid Milstein for Aegis Productions and the American Heart Association. High Blood Pressure: What it Is, What it Can Do to You (1979, dir. Sid Milstein). Lots of Stapp animation on the circulatory system. High Blood Pressure: What You can Do About it (1979, dir. Sid Milstein) Another film in this four-part series, with lots of Stapp animation Stapp also contributed animation to various other titles made for educational film companies, often uncredited, including films such as Defining Democracy (1954, EB). Middle Ages: Rise of Feudalism (1966, prod. George Vicas) This film is an edited educational version of the NBC televison program "The Middle Ages," which aired in May, 1966. Much, if not all of the animation was done by Stapp.
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