International Rocketship Ltd. fonds

  All archival collections
1969-2011

Biographical History


Date 1975-

International Rocketship Ltd. is an animation company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1975 by Marv Newland (creator of the 1969 cult favourite Bambi vs. Godzilla), the company has produced 20 short animated films as well as several animated sequences for television commercials, station IDs, and two longer films. Animated short films made at International Rocketship are director-driven, and while many of these films are broadcast or screened theatrically, they are not created for a specific commercial market.
After founding International Rocketship, Newland began producing, directing and self-financing his own animated short films including Sing Beast Sing (1980), Anijam (1984), and Black Hula (1988). He has also produced short animated films for other directors under the International Rocketship umbrella; these include Danny Antonucci’s Lupo the Butcher (1986) and J. Falconer’s Dog Brain (1988). Over the years, International Rocketship’s commercial contracts have underwritten the costs of Newland’s personal films while also subsidizing the cost of other freelancers. In some cases director/animators were awarded grants from Canada Council, the British Columbia Arts Council, B.C. Film or other funding agencies.
Throughout his time with International Rocketship, Newland has continued to freelance as a storyboard artist and director. He has been recognized as a senior animator at the National Film Board, and has served as a mentor to many younger people in this capacity.
International Rocketship Ltd. has produced more animated short films in Canada than any other Canadian animation studio. Retrospectives of the company’s films have been held at international film and animation festivals, and they have won numerous awards. In the early years, distribution came as a result of the exposure these festivals provided; however, as International Rocketship’s reputation grew, the company was able to send video versions of new films to broadcasters and distributors prior to the festival screenings.
Many International Rocketship films continue to be shown in theatres and on television throughout the world.

Extent and Medium

4.14 m of textual records


2,360 photographs
· 2,360 col. slides


110, 434 graphic materials
· 53,177 animation cels (incl. cel setups, pan cells, Rotoscope photo on cel, matte cels)
· 56,879 drawings (incl. layout, rough, backgrounds, advertising design, models)
· 7 storyboards
· 78 posters
· 10 character models
· 283 shadow mattes


49 cinefilms
· 61 16mm reels (incl. release print, pencil and pan test, duplicate negative, optical soundtrack, magnetic soundtrack, outtakes, soundtrack)
· 708 35mm reels (incl. workprint outtakes, workprints, work negative, pencil test negative, pencil pan test, mono magnetic dub mix, picture trims, magnetic sound mix, release print, internegative, camera original negative, magnetic soundtrack, interpositive, duplicate negative, camera original colour negative)


78 video recordings
· 40 1in. magnetic tapes
· 1 Digital Betacam cassette
· 8 DCT cassettes
· 1 DMI 19mm cassette


92 audio recordings
· 82 1/4 in. magnetic tape reels
· 8 DAT cassettes
· 1 DA88 cassette
· 1 CD


5 artifacts
This fonds is composed of the production material from 20 short animated films and 14 television commercials produced between 1969 and 2003. The fonds is divided into 5 series. These are: Textual Material, Graphic Material, Film Elements, Video Material, Audio Material, and Ephemera.
The first series, Textual Material, includes scripts, contracts, timing sheets, notes, advertising art, and 36 information binders.
The second series, Graphic Material, constitutes the bulk of the collection and includes several kinds of animation cels, pencil and pastel sketches, ink drawings, backgrounds, posters, design work, models, advertising artwork, layout drawings, and storyboards.
The third series, Film Elements, consists of 16mm and 35mm release prints and elements (including duplicate negatives, optical and magnetic soundtracks, outtakes, and picture trims).
The fourth and fifth series (Video Material and Audio Material) consists of video and audio components of International Rocketship productions.
The sixth series, Ephemera, includes t-shirts and puppets.


This fonds includes textual material relating to a number of productions, including:

Bambi Meets Godzilla (Film, 1969)
Sing Beast Sing (Film, 1980)
The Butterfly (Film, 1983)
Points (Film, 1984)
Anijam (Film, 1984)
Hooray for Sandboxland (Film, 1985)
Dry Noodles (Film, 1985)
Lupo the Butcher (Film, 1987)
Black Hula (Film, 1988)
Dog Brain (Film, 1988)
Waddles (Film, 1988)
Earl’s Restaurants—Table at Earl’s (Commercial, 1990)
Let’s ChoopSooE (Film, 1991)
Pink Komkommer (Film, 1991)
Pollen Fever (Film, 1993)
BC LottoVarious (Commercial, 1993/1995)
Interior Plumbing (Film, 1994)
Midas Muffler—Three Headed Guy (Commercial, 1994)
Parker Bros—Various (Commercial, 1994/1995 )
Nalley’s Dippers—Football (Commercial, 1995)
Nickelodeon—Nick Jr. Dinoslide (Commercial, 1995/1997)
Ottawa ’96 Signal Film (Film, 1996)
FUV (Film, 1999)
Friday Night Idiot Box (Film, 2001)
Explodium (Film, 2001)
My Friend Max (Film, 2001)
Beijing Flipbook (Film, 2003)
Converse Shoes—(Commercial, n.d.)
Microsoft (Commercial, n.d.)
This fonds includes audiovisual material relating to a number of productions, including:

Bambi Meets Godzilla (Film, 1969)
Sing Beast Sing (Film, 1980)
The Butterfly (Film, 1983)
Anijam (Film, 1984)
Points (Film, 1984)
Hooray for Sandboxland (Film, 1985)
Dry Noodles (Film, 1985)
Lupo the Butcher (Film, 1987)
Dog Brain (Film, 1988)
Black Hula (Film, 1988)
Waddles (Film, 1988)
Earl’s Restaurants—Table at Earl’s (Commercial, 1990)
Let’s ChoopSooE (Film, 1991)
Pink Komkommer (Film, 1991)
Pollen Fever (Film, 1993)
BC LottoVarious (Commercial, 1993/1995)
Interior Plumbing (Film, 1994)
Midas Muffler—Three Headed Guy (Commercial, 1994)
Parker Bros—Various (Commercial, 1994/1995 )
Nalley’s Dippers –Football (Commercial, 1995)
FUV (Film, 1999)
Friday Night Idiot Box (Film, 2001)
Explodium (Film, 2001)
My Friend Max (Film, 2001)
Beijing Flipbook (Film, 2003)
Nickelodeon—Pop Goes the Monkey (Commercial, n.d.)
Converse Shoes (Commercial, n.d.)
Microsoft (Commercial, n.d.)

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International Rocketship Ltd. fonds

Description
This fonds is composed of the production material from 20 short animated films and 14 television commercials produced between 1969 and 2003. The fonds is divided into 5 series. These are: Textual Material, Graphic Material, Film Elements, Video Material, Audio Material, and Ephemera. The first series, Textual Material, includes scripts, contracts, timing sheets, notes, advertising art, and 36 information binders. The second series, Graphic Material, constitutes the bulk of the collection and includes several kinds of animation cels, pencil and pastel sketches, ink drawings, backgrounds, posters, design work, models, advertising artwork, layout drawings, and storyboards. The third series, Film Elements, consists of 16mm and 35mm release prints and elements (including duplicate negatives, optical and magnetic soundtracks, outtakes, and picture trims). The fourth and fifth series (Video Material and Audio Material) consists of video and audio components of International Rocketship productions. The sixth series, Ephemera, includes t-shirts and puppets. This fonds includes textual material relating to a number of productions, including: Bambi Meets Godzilla (Film, 1969) Sing Beast Sing (Film, 1980) The Butterfly (Film, 1983) Points (Film, 1984) Anijam (Film, 1984) Hooray for Sandboxland (Film, 1985) Dry Noodles (Film, 1985) Lupo the Butcher (Film, 1987) Black Hula (Film, 1988) Dog Brain (Film, 1988) Waddles (Film, 1988) Earl’s Restaurants—Table at Earl’s (Commercial, 1990) Let’s ChoopSooE (Film, 1991) Pink Komkommer (Film, 1991) Pollen Fever (Film, 1993) BC LottoVarious (Commercial, 1993/1995) Interior Plumbing (Film, 1994) Midas Muffler—Three Headed Guy (Commercial, 1994) Parker Bros—Various (Commercial, 1994/1995 ) Nalley’s Dippers—Football (Commercial, 1995) Nickelodeon—Nick Jr. Dinoslide (Commercial, 1995/1997) Ottawa ’96 Signal Film (Film, 1996) FUV (Film, 1999) Friday Night Idiot Box (Film, 2001) Explodium (Film, 2001) My Friend Max (Film, 2001) Beijing Flipbook (Film, 2003) Converse Shoes—(Commercial, n.d.) Microsoft (Commercial, n.d.) This fonds includes audiovisual material relating to a number of productions, including: Bambi Meets Godzilla (Film, 1969) Sing Beast Sing (Film, 1980) The Butterfly (Film, 1983) Anijam (Film, 1984) Points (Film, 1984) Hooray for Sandboxland (Film, 1985) Dry Noodles (Film, 1985) Lupo the Butcher (Film, 1987) Dog Brain (Film, 1988) Black Hula (Film, 1988) Waddles (Film, 1988) Earl’s Restaurants—Table at Earl’s (Commercial, 1990) Let’s ChoopSooE (Film, 1991) Pink Komkommer (Film, 1991) Pollen Fever (Film, 1993) BC LottoVarious (Commercial, 1993/1995) Interior Plumbing (Film, 1994) Midas Muffler—Three Headed Guy (Commercial, 1994) Parker Bros—Various (Commercial, 1994/1995 ) Nalley’s Dippers –Football (Commercial, 1995) FUV (Film, 1999) Friday Night Idiot Box (Film, 2001) Explodium (Film, 2001) My Friend Max (Film, 2001) Beijing Flipbook (Film, 2003) Nickelodeon—Pop Goes the Monkey (Commercial, n.d.) Converse Shoes (Commercial, n.d.) Microsoft (Commercial, n.d.)
Extent and Medium
4.14 m of textual records


2,360 photographs
· 2,360 col. slides


110, 434 graphic materials
· 53,177 animation cels (incl. cel setups, pan cells, Rotoscope photo on cel, matte cels)
· 56,879 drawings (incl. layout, rough, backgrounds, advertising design, models)
· 7 storyboards
· 78 posters
· 10 character models
· 283 shadow mattes


49 cinefilms
· 61 16mm reels (incl. release print, pencil and pan test, duplicate negative, optical soundtrack, magnetic soundtrack, outtakes, soundtrack)
· 708 35mm reels (incl. workprint outtakes, workprints, work negative, pencil test negative, pencil pan test, mono magnetic dub mix, picture trims, magnetic sound mix, release print, internegative, camera original negative, magnetic soundtrack, interpositive, duplicate negative, camera original colour negative)


78 video recordings
· 40 1in. magnetic tapes
· 1 Digital Betacam cassette
· 8 DCT cassettes
· 1 DMI 19mm cassette


92 audio recordings
· 82 1/4 in. magnetic tape reels
· 8 DAT cassettes
· 1 DA88 cassette
· 1 CD


5 artifacts
Date Range
1969-2011