Oliver Twist (1982/II) (TV)

Director:

Richard Slapczynski

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
John Palmer (adaptation)

Release Date:

1982 (Australia)

Genre:

Animation

Plot:

The orphan Oliver Twist runs away and joins up with a group of thieves under the supervision of Fagin. Will Oliver be a thief or live an honest life with Mr. Brownlow? |

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Poverty | Charles Dickens | Murder | 2d Animation

Cast

Barbara Frawley	...	(voice)
Robin Stewart	...	(voice)
Wallas Eaton	...	(voice)
Derani Scarr	...	(voice)
Ross Higgins	...	(voice)
Bill Conn	...	(voice)
Sean Hinton	...	(voice)
Faye Anderson	...	(voice)
Robin Ramsay	...	(voice)

Directed by
Richard Slapczynski

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Charles Dickens		novel
John Palmer		adaptation

Produced by
Tom Stacey	....	executive producer
George Stephenson	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Bowden

Film Editing by
Peter Siegl

Production Management
Eddy Graham	....	production manager

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Epperson	....	camera operator
Jenny Ochse	....	camera operator

Animation Department
Yosh Barry	....	layout artist
Ty Bosco	....	animator
John Burge	....	animator
Peter Connell	....	background artist
Gairden Cooke	....	animator
Dick Dunn	....	animator
Don Ezard	....	animator
Warwick Gilbert	....	animator
Greg Ingram	....	animator
Pam Lofts	....	animator
Carol Lumsden	....	background artist
Don MacKinnon	....	animator (as Don McKinnon)
Paul Maron	....	animator
Steve Robinson	....	animator
Kevin Roper	....	layout artist
Oleg Rozyn	....	background artist (as Oleg Rosyn)
Jenny Schowe	....	painting supervisor
Mike Stapleton	....	animator (as Michael Stapleton)
Maria Szemenyei	....	animator
Jean Tych	....	animation supervisor
Pere Van Reyk	....	animator
Ken Wright	....	background artist

Music Department
Richard Bowden	....	conductor

Production Companies

• Burbank Films Australia

Distributors

• Nine Network Australia (1982) (Australia) (TV)
• Digiview Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (1984) (Australia) (VHS)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Burbank Films Australia

Movie Connections:

References "Perry Mason: The Case of the Twice Told Twist (#9.21)" (1966)

Decent

As far as the Dickens Burbank Films Australia animations go, this Oliver Twist is not as good as David Copperfield but miles ahead of The Old Curiosity Shop. It does have its problems, the animation does often look very stiff especially in the character designs for Oliver and Bill Sykes. Some of the storytelling, which is generally faithful in spirit to the book, also feels rushed and has a rather sprawling quality particularly towards the end. Nancy's death doesn't have any impact as a consequence. However, the music is very hauntingly beautiful, the dialogue is on the most part thoughtful and flowing and there is evidence of a meticulous atmosphere. The characters are generally well done, Bill Sykes is brutally menacing, Oliver is a character you do identify with, Mr Brownlow is appropriately benevolent and Nancy has the vulnerability you'd expect. Fagin is sadly a disappointment though as I don't think his oily and manipulative side came through enough, and to me he looked too much like a wise wizard rather than the rather predatory-looking man described and depicted before. I do understand that this is an animated adaptation for a different target audience than most adaptations but I still think there could have been more to Fagin than there was. The voice acting is solid. All in all, a decent animated adaptation but was lacking as well. 7/10 Bethany Cox