There Once Was A Man, Edward Lear...

Today marks the 200th birthday of British artist, illustrator, author, and poet Edward Lear. He's best known now for his literary nonsense poems and stories -- and especially for his limericks.

Mr. Lear, who died in Italy in 1888, didn't invent limericks (contrary to popular belief), but he popularized them. Unfortunately, all of Lear's limericks were clean!

Some animated productions to "Lear" at:



The Owl And The Pussy-Cat(Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films, 1953)
This six-minute short was the first British 3-D cartoon. It describes the courtship of the owl and the pussycat who go to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. They take some honey and plenty of money as they set sail to the land where the bong tree grows. No, not that "bong"!

The Tomfoolery Show (Rankin Bass Productions/Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films, 1970)
This show was devoted to the nonsense poems of Edward Lear, among others. Seventeen episodes were made, which ran through September 4, 1971. This marked the first time that Rankin/Bass employed Halas and Batchelor Animation for a show. Some of the background music was reused from such earlier Rankin/Bass cartoons as The King Kong Show and Mad Monster Party?.

The Owl And The Pussy Cat(Lyn O'Neill, 1978)
Released in the United Kingdom, this theatrical cartoon was adapted from Lear's poem for children.

Missis Ink Iz Manily(Veselaya Karusel' N 23; Soyuzmultfilm, 1991)
Produced during the dying days of the Soviet Union, this two-minute vignette in the "Merry-Go-Round" series was based on a poem by Lear. The English translation is "Mrs. Ink from Manila."

Nonesense And Lullabyes: Poems For Children(Michael Sporn Animation, 1992)
This direct-to-video half-hour depicted children's poems- classic and contemporary- including such favorites as "The Owl and the Pussycat."

Poetry in Motion (Ambix Productions, 2001)
Running for 22 minutes, this video was a series of nine animations based on poems by Lear and others.



He reads but he cannot speak Spanish,
He cannot abide ginger-beer;
Ere the days of his pilgrimage vanish,
How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!

-- Last stanza of "How Pleasant to know Mr. Lear," by Edward Lear