Animation Showdown

Discover the magic of animation from early zoetrope technology to contemporary CGI and everything in between. Explore how Australian pop culture, entertainment and technology has changed through a diverse and exciting selection of animated cartoons, advertisements and films.

Program information

Year Levels	Years 4 to 12
Duration	50-minute facilitated Theatrette presentation, allow 30 minutes for teacher-guided gallery experience
Availability	Weekdays: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; Evenings: Monday to Thursday 5pm to 8pm; Weekends: 10am and 12pm
Minimum Numbers	5 students (day), 15 students (evening)
Maximum Numbers	120 per group
Cost	$5.50 per student (day), $6.50 per student (evenings and weekends), teachers and carers free of charge
Curriculum Links	Download Australian Curriculum links

Program objectives

Identify different forms and styles of animation held in the National Film and Sound Archive collection.
Investigate the evolution of animation technology.
Discover the various uses for animation as a means of social and cultural expression.
Discover the importance and roles of the National Film and Sound Archive as a memory institution.

Additional resources

australianscreen
The clips in this collection are accompanied by teachers’ notes created by specialist curriculum writers.

School Screen
Provides free screenings of Australian feature films, shorts and documentaries for school students and their teachers in local cinemas around Australia.

Cartoons of the Moment: The War Zoo
Cartoonist Harry Julius used animals to represent the various countries involved in the First World War, creating easily identifiable – and satirical – character stereotypes.

Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table
With an abundance of playful silliness, Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table is a delightful product of its era and remains very watchable today.

L’il Elvis
Li’l Elvis wants to be a normal kid, not an Elvis impersonator, but his mother is aghast, 'What about your fans, what about the bank, what about the king!’