John Coates (7 November 1927
– 16 September 2012) was a British film producer, best known for producing the animated film ''
The Snowman'' based on the picture book by
Raymond Briggs, one of the first animated productions screened on
Channel Four and still repeated every year on the channel.
He co-founded the animation studio TVC (Television Cartoons) London with
George Dunning in 1957 and worked on
The Beatles's animated feature ''
Yellow Submarine'' and produced numerous other animated films including ''
When the Wind Blows'', ''
Granpa
''Granpa'' is a British family-oriented animated film that adapts a picture book by John Burningham. Produced by TVS for Channel 4 Television in 1989, it was released on VHS by Universal Studios in 1994. '', ''
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas. Although now known as a Christmas gift-bringer, and typically considered to be synonymous with Santa Claus, he was originally part of a much older and unrel ...
'', ''
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends'' and ''
The Bear''.
John's business partner for many years was Norman David Kauffman, who first worked with him at the age of 16 as a trainee animator. He became a Director of TVC and associated companies in 1999 until his retirement in 2012.
John was the nephew of
the 1st Baron Rank, and worked within the
Rank Organisation after leaving school at Stowe. He had 3 siblings, most notably, Anne V. Coates, Academy Award-winning editor of ''
Laurence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–1918 ...
''.
Coates died of cancer at the age of 84 in his home in
Kent, England, on 16 September 2012.
''
The Snowman and the Snowdog
''The Snowman and the Snowdog'' is a 2012 British animated short film. It is the sequel to ''The Snowman'', and was created to mark the 30th anniversary of the original short film. ''The Snowman and The Snowdog'' is dedicated to John Coates (the ...
'' is dedicated to his memory.
References
External links
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1927 births
2012 deaths
British film producers
Deaths from cancer in England
{{UK-film-producer-stub