Crocus

Legacy: A Very Short History of Natural Resources

1979

Legacy takes the audience on a rapid-fire journey through the evolution of the world, starting with a cosmic bang, evolving through billions of years of plants, animals and the creation of natural resources, ending with man and his bounty – “sitting on his world contemplating his coconut”. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

Black Hula

1988

A dirge-like hula song illustrates humanity's woes. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010.

Jasper and the Beanstalk

1945

The Scarecrow trades Jasper a handful of beans for his harmonica. Jasper plants the beans and climbs up the resulting beanstalk and, at the top, finds a beautiful girl in a golden cage playing a golden harp. Jasper rescues her from the Scarecrow, brings her down the beanstalk, and spends the rest of his days dancing to the music his girlfriend plays on the harp. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive in 2009.

John Henry and the Inky-Poo

1946

In this Puppetoon animated short film (an Academy Award Best Short Subject, Cartoons nominee), legendary American folklore figure John Henry (voice of Rex Ingram) goes to work for the C&O Railroad, which shortly thereafter buys an automatic steel-driving engine, The Inky-Poo. John Henry matches his strength against the engine, saying that any man can beat a machine because a man has a mind. Can he prevail? In 2015 this film, deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive in 2009.

A Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Double Feature

1966

A prototype of modern music videos, this is an animated film set to the music of two popular tunes recorded by Herb Alpert and his Latin-flavored brass ensemble - "Spanish Flea" and "Tijuana Taxi". Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2003.

Jolly Roger

1999

After marauding and sinking another ship, a band of pirates capture a female passenger, then send her overboard as punishment for her defiance. She vows revenge, and fortunately is rescued by a small passing ship carrying only its captain, his first mate and a cat. They cross paths with the pirates, but both sides - after seeming to have victory within their grasp - meet a fate neither could have predicted. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2008.

Munro

1961

A four-year-old boy is drafted into the army. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2004.

The Great Cognito

1982

The film tells of a music hall impressionist who caricatures personalities from the second world war. Animated by Barry Bruce at Will Vinton Productions. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

Technological Threat

1988

Human fear of technology is portrayed in this very amusing futuristic parody. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2013.

Sundae in New York

1983

A character closely resembling then-mayor Ed Koch sings a variation on the "Theme from 'New York, New York'" in an entirely clay-animated film depicting a variety of locations and celebrities associated with New York City. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

Penelope's Condition

1976

A reinterpretation of the Greek legend of Penelope, ”the most faithful of wives”, who waited 20 years for her husband Odysseus to return from The Trojan War. In this animation, the two of them are presented in a more modern setting. While Odysseus is busy exploring the universe in his space rocket, Penelope is stuck at home, taking care of the children, showing how traditional gender roles say men should work, while women stay at home.

The Creation

1981

The film is based on a poem by James Weldon Johnson depicting the power of the southern black American preacher's telling of the biblical creation story.

A Doonesbury Special

1977

Garry Trudeau's classic characters (Mike Doonesbury, Zonker, etc.) examine how their lifestyles, priorities, and concerns have changed since the end of their idealistic college days in the 1960s. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

Maleta Llena

2024

The Village

1993

A village is ruled by the church, but is filled with hypocritical sinners who constantly spy on each other. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2008.