Oliver Postgate
Great BritainBiography of Oliver Postgate
Oliver Postgate was an English animator, television program creator, and talented writer. He was born on April 12, 1925, in England, to Raymond Postgate and Daisy Lansbury. His grandfather, George Lansbury, was a popular politician and activist, while his paternal grandfather, John Percival Postgate, was a renowned expert in classicism.
Postgate had aspirations of attending drama school, but his plans were disrupted by World War II. In 1943, he encountered problems as he was expected to join the military service but evaded it. However, he was later sentenced to three months of imprisonment in Feltham Prison after being tried. He was eventually released from prison and went on to work on a farm until the end of the war, after which he became a social worker.
In 1948, Oliver Postgate returned to England and enrolled in drama school in pursuit of his long-desired education. Unfortunately, he was unable to find his own niche in the field and soon became interested in another form of art. In 1957, he became the manager of the independent television company Associated-Rediffusion and later joined another London-based television organization.
Postgate soon became the creator of a beloved children's cartoon series featuring a lovable mouse. After the immense success of this project, he embarked on creating a new animated film. He wrote the script for "The Journey of Master Ho," specifically designed for deaf children, which received great acclaim and recognition. Subsequently, Oliver Postgate established his own animation company and became the creator of numerous children's programs, including "Pingwings," "Pogles' Wood," "Noggin the Nog," "Ivor the Engine," "Clangers and Bagpuss," among others.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, Postgate was considered one of the most innovative animators and influential figures in the television industry. For instance, his children's television project, "Bagpuss," was named the most popular in 1999. Oliver Postgate passed away quietly in December 2008 at a nursing home in Broadstairs.
