Sweet Disaster is a 1986 series of short films, made for Channel 4. [1] It consists of "animated visions of the apocalypse", [2] and includes films such as Babylon and Sweet Disaster. The series was conceived by producer David Hopkins. [3] TheLostContinent explains "Hopkins scripted each of these films aside from the dialogue-free Dreamless Sleep". [2] The films are fairly obscure; Nick Park noted that Babylon "hasn't really seen the light of day for a long time." [4]
Babylon was one of several Aardman Animations films commissioned by Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Paul Madden. [3] The film was directed by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. [2] The editor is David McCormick. [5] It is included on the Aardman Classics DVD, and so is the least obscure of the series. [2] The short is 15 minutes long. Its release date in the UK was 4 May 1986, and it was later released in Canada on 7 June 2003 at the Worldwide Short Film Festival. [6] Tony Robinson plays the role of Voice of Speaker. [7] The film received two awards: Peter Lord and David Sproxton won the Audience Award, and Peter Lord won the Award of Merit for a Film Between 5 and 15 Minutes [8] This was the first film project Nick Park worked on after joining Aardman Animations in the mid 80s. [9] [10] Aardman agreed to supply Park with extra resources for A Grand Day Out if he agreed to help them finish the film. [11]
Dreamless Sleep was made by David Anderson. [3] ScreenOnline notes that the film "spent ten wordless minutes subtly conveying a couple's fear in the face of an incoming nuclear blast." [1] The film won the Hiroshima Peace Prize. [12] The film had an estimated budget of £125,000 [13] The short was made in Bristol. The title of the short came from David Anderson "going to a carol concert in Bristol with the composer Martin Kiszko and listening to ' Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". [14]
Paradise Regained was directed by Andrew Franks. [2] The film had an estimated budget of £80,000. [15]
Conversations by a Californian Swimming Pool was directed by Andrew Franks. [2] The film had an estimated budget of £80,000. [16]
Death of a Speechwriter was directed by David Hopkins. [2] Tony Robinson played The Speechwriter. The film had an estimated budget of £75,000. [17]
Animation World Network described Babylon as "hauntingly powerful", and described Dreamless Sleep as "equally haunting". [3] ScreenOnline cited Dreamless Sleep as an example of how "later work strengthened Anderson's command of his complex technical resources". [1]