About

A season of films honouring the beautiful art and storytelling of animation. From stop motion to puppetry, British hand-drawn classics to anime fantasy worlds, this filmmaking technique has sparked imagination for over a century—and continues to push creative boundaries today.

Explore more about the history of animation in the museum’s new Sound and Vision galleries, and enjoy a diverse programme of screenings, talks and live performances.

📽️ What’s On – Selected Dates & Times

• Sat 12 July

  • Jason and the Argonauts (U) — 11:00 A mythic adventure featuring legendary stop-motion creatures, including skeleton warriors and harpies.

  • Clash of the Titans (PG) — 13:30 Ray Harryhausen’s epic fantasy unleashes Medusa, the Kraken, and other mythical beasts.

  • Isle of Dogs (PG) — 16:00 Wes Anderson’s quirky stop-motion tale of a boy searching for his lost dog in a dystopian Japan.

• Sat–Sun 12–13 July

  • Kids’ Club: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (U) — 10:00 Disney’s timeless fairytale that launched a century of animated storytelling.

• Sun 13 July

  • Classic Sunday: When the Wind Blows (PG) — 14:00 A poignant animated drama about an elderly couple facing nuclear fallout.

• Thu 17 July

  • BIFA presents: Waltz with Bashir (18) — 18:00 A haunting animated documentary exploring memory and war through surreal visuals.

• Sat 19 July

  • The Boy and the Beast (12A) — 11:00 A Japanese fantasy about a boy who enters a magical beast realm and finds family.

  • Jim Henson Idea Man (12A) + intro — 13:30 A documentary celebrating the creative genius behind The Muppets and Sesame Street.

  • Kids’ Club: The Rescuers Down Under (U) — 10:00 A daring rescue mission unfolds in the Australian outback with two brave mice.

  • The Dark Crystal (PG) + intro — 16:00 A dark fantasy classic featuring groundbreaking puppetry and animatronics.

• Tue 22 July (Members’ exclusive)

  • Anomalisa (15) + Sound & Vision talk — 18:00 Charlie Kaufman’s introspective stop-motion film paired with a talk on animation history.

• Sat–Sun 26–27 July

  • Kids’ Club: The Secret of Kells (PG) — 10:00 A visually stunning Irish animation about creativity and courage in medieval times.

• Sat 26 July

  • The Adventures of Prince Achmed (PG) + Live Score & Q&A — 14:00 The world’s oldest surviving animated feature, brought to life with a live musical performance.

Tickets General admission: £8.50 Kids’ Club: discounted rates available Visit the Brought to Life programme page for full listings and booking.

This season is part of Bradford: A City of Film, co-produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and the National Science and Media Museum, with support from the BFI and the National Lottery.

Image: Secret of Kells.