A special documentary at the programme of Be there! Corfu Animation Festival: The Disney of Duivendrecht.The Disney of Duivendrecht, a businessman’s idea of an artist is a historical film and a background story on the ground-breaking puppet animation films with which the Dutch animation pioneer Joop Geesink conquered the world.
Over fifty years ago, the Netherlands had a professional film specialising in puppet animation: th Geesink Studio. From the 1940s to the 1970s, this company was run by producer Joop Geesink (1913-1984) and conceived hundreds of puppet films under the name Dollywood.
The studio has won over 80 international prices among which several Lions awards from the renowned international advertising festival in Cannes.
Joop Geesink was one of the animation pioneers in the Netherlands, along with Marten Toonder and George Pál. The Geesink Studio mainly produced commercials. Apart from their biggest Dutch client Philips, Geesink’s international clientele was quiet impressive: Mackeson, Ballantine, Campari, Coca-Cola, Knorr, Heineken, Heinz, and many more. T
he studio produced commercials for markets in Europe, Asia, South and North America. Germany and Italy were particularly important markets for Geesink; he even opened offices in Dusseldorf and Rome. In his heydays the studio employed over 100 people.
The puppet films are little gems that strike the eye by their professional animation techniques, immaculate backgrounds, cute puppets and funny stories. The productions typically show a safe world populated by cheerful characters.
This documentary The Disney of Duivendrecht shines light on the innovative entrepreneurship of Joop Geesink and the unique talents of his animators through interviews with former employees and numerous memorable film fragments..
Τhe festival would like to thank NGN Produkties for their help.
