Videoteca

Toys Will Be Toys 1988
The South Shields-born animator Sheila Graber looks at the growing gender bias in toys for girls and boys. At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, monster killing machines and robots fight each other and toy soldiers in khaki battle against pink clad, cute dolls, threatened animals and fairies. The toys gradually find their traditional roles reversed and harmony returns to the fictional killing fields of a Christmas home.

The Pigeon Cree 1986
A pastel animation produced by Sheila Graber and based upon the short story by Sid Chaplin. Narrated by north east broadcaster Mike Neville the film tells the story of Geordie, a miner, and his love for his pigeons and the trials and tribulations of his passion which is very popular around the region. The face of Sid Chaplin is used as Geordie.

My River Tyne 1986
An animated film produced by Sheila Graber with music performed by Tom Gilfellon. The history of the River Tyne, from the source in Scotland to the mouth at South Shields, is pictured using pastel, paintings, drawings, personal photographs and documentary film footage.

Expressionism from Cave Art to Now 1985 star_border 10
The history of Expressionism summed up in 6 absolutely terrifying minutes.

Bio and Bones 1985
An educational children’s animation by Sheila Graber about the workings of the human body. The film features a one celled character called Bio as he guides the viewer on the structure of the skeleton.

Dance Macabre 1982
Animated short.

Face to Face 1980
Using a smudge-and-click pastel animation technique, traces the history of a life from cradle to grave.

Christmas Around the World 1979
A short Christmas animation produced by Sheila Graber in which Santa Claus and his three robin helpers deliver presents all over the world.

Larn Yersel' Geordie 1979
An animated interpretation of Scott Dobson’s comic guide to the Geordie dialect, Larn Yersel’ Geordie, presented in three lessons. With artwork by South Shields animator Sheila Graber and narrated by Scott himself, the film takes a humorous – and at times outrageous – look at Geordie culture and language.

Marking Time 1978 star_border 10
A very brief history of time, and how it has been measured from the dawn of time to the dawn of digital watches.

Be a Good Neighbour 1977
A dog on holiday is shocked to discover his kennel has been burgled. He learns about the ways in which he can protect his home through the Good Neighbours Scheme.

The Lady of Shalott 1976
A pastel animation produced by Sheila Graber based on the Victorian ballad by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. With commentary by Francis Carr the film loosely tells the Arthurian legend of Elaine of Astolat, a woman living in isolation inside a tower who sees the world through the reflections in a mirror.

The Boy and the Song 1976
An animated film by the South Shields film maker Sheila Graber in which the boy and his cat feature in a set of adventures inspired by the lyrics of some well-known songs the boy sings. This film is a follow up to her earlier film entitled the Boy and the Cat.

The 12 Days of Christmas 1975
A short Christmas animation produced by Sheila Graber based on the traditional carol ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. The film focuses on Santa Claus as he introduces each of the twelve days to comic effect.

The Boy and the Cat 1974
The first complete animation produced by Sheila Graber and set in her native South Shields. The film follows the adventures of a small boy and his cat as they walk through the snowy landscape, chase a Robin down onto the River Tyne and meet Father Christmas. The character of the boy is based upon Sheila’s nephew Nigel and the cat is based upon her own cat Whitey.

I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General 1974
A short Sheila Graber cut out animation.

When I Went to the Bar 1973
A short Sheila Graber cut out animation.