The world of animation mourns the loss of Emma Calder, a trailblazing British animator and illustrator whose quirky, boundary-pushing works left an indelible mark on the industry. Calder passed away at age 65 after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a rich legacy spanning over four decades.
A Distinctive Voice in Independent Animation
From her early days as a student at the Royal College of Art, Calder forged a unique path in the animation world. Her 1983 graduation project, Madame Potatoe, exemplified her penchant for mixed media and unconventional storytelling, featuring a potato-print animated film accompanied by a cookbook, T-shirts, and a motorized sculpture of the titular character.
Throughout her career, Calder’s distinctive style and vocal presence made her a key figure in the British animation scene. She consistently pushed for more funding and support for independent animators, particularly as opportunities began to dwindle in the early 2000s.
Pioneering Projects and Collaborations
In 1989, Calder co-founded Pearly Oyster Productions with creative partner Ged Haney, producing a range of innovative projects including shorts, music videos, and children’s television content. Their collaborations, such as Haney’s 1992 film The Kings of Siam, benefited from the support of broadcasters like Channel 4.
Calder’s 1998 dream project, The Queen’s Monastery, marked a significant milestone as the first UK animation to receive lottery funding. Set to music by Leoš Janáček, this mini-epic of love and war garnered critical acclaim and several awards, introducing Calder’s work to wider audiences.
Emma was a slightly built but vocal figure in the British animation scene, never prepared to accept the increasing drought of funding for independent animation.
– According to a close source
Venturing into New Territories
In the face of challenges in the animation industry, Calder diversified her creative output. She illustrated the children’s book Miss Louise Goes to Paris in 2008 and launched a series of handmade sticker books, later published by Thames & Hudson. Her online series of shorts, Random Person, showcased her self-proclaimed title as “The Queen of Collage.”
Calder also ventured into animated documentaries before reuniting with Haney in 2016 for Roger Ballen’s Theatre of Apparitions, a short film based on the South African photographer’s images of drawings and marks on the environment.
A Final Triumph and Enduring Legacy
In 2022, at the age of 63, Calder released her short film Beware of Trains, which went on to win the prestigious Cutting Edge award at the 2024 British Animation Awards. The film’s success led to a retrospective of her work at the Tricky Women festival in Austria in 2023, cementing her status as a pioneering force in the world of animation.
Despite her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, Calder continued working on an animated short titled House of Love. The film will be completed by a network of her collaborators, including her partner Julian and their children Coco and Oliver, ensuring that her creative vision lives on.
Emma Calder’s unique voice, tireless advocacy, and boundary-pushing works have left an indelible mark on the landscape of British and international animation. Her legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations of animators to come.
– According to an industry insider
As the animation community mourns her loss, there is no doubt that Emma Calder’s contributions will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. Her distinctive style, unwavering passion, and commitment to the art form have forever changed the face of independent animation.
