We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tale

Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tale

Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 1986

PG
Parental Guidance

A Perspective

Footrot Flats: The Dog's (Tail) Tale, released in late 1986, was New Zealand's first animated feature film, developed from Murray Ball's widely syndicated newspaper cartoon Footrot Flats.

The strip is told from the wry perspective of Dog, a border collie adopted by a farmer, Wal. It follows Wal's bumbling rural adventures running a farm on Footrot Flats: lusting after the bulging hairdresser Cheeky Hobson, whitebaiting with his greenie neighbour, Cooch, being terrorised by the Murphy Brothers and daydreaming of becoming an All Black.

Murray Ball and Dog, in the making of documentary.

In 1981 Murray Ball was approached by producer Pat Cox, who was keen to make a movie from the strip. Ball was eventually won over, and over the ensuing years writer Tom Scott came on board to work with Ball on the script, while Cox joined forces with John Barnett to get the project financed and off the ground.

Through his work making commercials, Cox knew Sydney animator Robbert Smit, who, as animation director, would be crucial in getting the film's look and animation right. As a faithful (if leisurely) record of the inhabitants of Footrot Flats, it is undeniably accurate.

It's great to see the world of Footrot Flats given such affectionate attention. Like John Clarke's Fred Dagg (Clarke provides the voice for Wal), the world of the comic strip played off nostalgic stereotypes that, even at the time of screening, were more a fond myth than the reality of an urbanised, multicultural New Zealand. Here are the cabbage trees and paddocks of the flats, rusting corrugated iron etc. To see these familiar landscapes animated rather than photographed postcard-style was something new for audiences.

Wal (John Clarke) shows Dog (Peter Rowley) his new home.

There was an inherent challenge with converting a mute, black and white strip from the newspaper into a talking feature. Readers of Footrot Flats had formed their own voices for the characters; the task of adapting the characters to the screen and remaining true to how readers imagined them, was a tough one. Perhaps toughest of all was finding the voice for Dog, who in the comic strips expressed himself in thought bubbles. Murray Ball admits in the making of documentary that the character was the closest one to him. Peter Rowley (The Billy T James Show) finally got the job, just in the nick of time.

John Clarke in an earlier role as another beloved Kiwi farmer. 

The voices for the characters were a starting line-up of Kiwi comedy and acting talent of the time, and audiences suspended disbelief and enjoyed the recognisable repartee. Aside from Clarke and Rowley, the cast includes Billy T James, Rawiri ParateneFiona SamuelPeter HaydenDorothy McKegg, and Brian Sergent. There are some shortcomings: the film's soundscape, despite some classic original songs from Dave Dobbyn, feels sparse; and the script's narrative reflects input from energetic individuals coming at the project from differing experiences. But the laconic, finding-humour-in-adversity spirit of the comic strip remains; the film leveraged the large comic strip readership to attract big audiences on both sides of the ditch.

Footrot took $2.5 million at the New Zealand box office, making it the most successful local feature of the 1980s. It was also a rare Kiwi feature to win wide release in Australia (with 60 prints). Dobbyn created two huge hits for the soundtrack: 'You Oughta Be in Love' and 'Slice of Heaven', the latter song featured band Herbs. 'Slice of Heaven' spent four weeks atop the Australian singles chart in 1987, and became known as the unofficial New Zealand national anthem.

Successful commercials producer Pat Cox would go on to make the iconic Speights "onya mate" and Mainland Cheese ads. In Footrot Flats he was mining the same golden weather territory. Six years in development, 15 months in the making, Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tail Tale brought Murray Ball's world to a new audience; its popular success was just reward for Cox's tenacity.

- Tony Hiles spent spent a decade working in state TV, before setting up City Associates with Judith Fyfe. Later he directed documentaries on everything from architects to flying, plus a series of films on artist Michael Smither.  

If you liked this, you might also like...

Collection
Collection image for The Sheep Collection

The Sheep Collection

New Zealand is said to have earned its prosperity "off...

Collection
Collection image for NZ Book Collection

NZ Book Collection

This collection features screen adaptations from New...

Collection
Collection image for The Animation Collection

The Animation Collection

From talking chickens to dancing Cossacks, feast on this...

Collection
Collection image for Best of the 80s

Best of the 80s

This 1980s collection shows the screen icons from the...

Collection
Collection image for The Sir Dave Dobbyn Collection

The Sir Dave Dobbyn Collection

A collection celebrating the work of legendary musician...

Collection
Collection image for Cats and Dogs

Cats and Dogs

A collection of screen cats and dogs. The purrfect canine...

Collection
Collection image for John Clarke - The Collection

John Clarke - The Collection

A collection celebrating the outstanding career of...

Collection
Collection image for The NZ Film Commission turns 40

The NZ Film Commission turns 40

A collection celebrating 40 years of the NZ Film...

Thumbnail image for The Making of Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tale

The Making of Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tale

The 'making of' documentary for the film

Thumbnail image for From Len Lye to Gollum - New Zealand Animators

From Len Lye to Gollum - New Zealand Animators

Footrot Flats features in clip three

Thumbnail image for Dave Dobbyn - Overnight Success

Dave Dobbyn - Overnight Success

Dave Dobbyn mentions 'Slice of Heaven' 18 minutes in

Thumbnail image for Homegrown Profiles: Dave Dobbyn

Homegrown Profiles: Dave Dobbyn

Interview with Footrot Flat's composer Dave Dobbyn

Thumbnail image for Goodnight Kiwi

Goodnight Kiwi

Another animated pop culture icon

Thumbnail image for Dogstar

Dogstar

Documentary on Kiwi farmers and their dogs

Thumbnail image for Cartoonists Inc

Cartoonists Inc

Documentary about New Zealand cartoonists

Thumbnail image for The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil

The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil

A hand-drawn animated film featuring a dog

Thumbnail image for Bryan and Bobby - SNAP

Bryan and Bobby - SNAP

Another of NZ's favourite canines

Thumbnail image for Came a Hot Friday

Came a Hot Friday

Billy T James in another Kiwi classic

Thumbnail image for Sensitive to a Smile

Sensitive to a Smile

Another classic Herbs song

Thumbnail image for Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Another iconic Kiwi dog

Thumbnail image for A Dog's Show - 1981 Final

A Dog's Show - 1981 Final

The classic sheep dog sports show

Thumbnail image for Bitch

Bitch

Directed by Fiona Samuel (voice of Pongo & Cheeky Hobson)

Thumbnail image for The Best of The Billy T James Collection

The Best of The Billy T James Collection

A collection of classic skits from the Billy T James Show

Thumbnail image for Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male

Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male

Screenwriter Tom Scott features in this

Thumbnail image for Gliding On - Mastermind (Series Four, Episode Five)

Gliding On - Mastermind (Series Four, Episode Five)

More 1980s comedy

Thumbnail image for Fraser - John Clarke interview

Fraser - John Clarke interview

Ian Fraser interviews John Clarke

Thumbnail image for Gallery - Fred Dagg and company

Gallery - Fred Dagg and company

Earliest comic sketches featuring Fred Dagg

Thumbnail image for Separation City

Separation City

Another script from Tom Scott

Thumbnail image for bro'Town - Honky the Wonder Horse

bro'Town - Honky the Wonder Horse

Another iconic Kiwi animation

Thumbnail image for Men Shouldn't Sing

Men Shouldn't Sing

A live action musical

Thumbnail image for Extraordinary Kiwis - Colin Meads

Extraordinary Kiwis - Colin Meads

Another celebrated NZ man of the land

Thumbnail image for Outdoor Dogs

Outdoor Dogs

Real working dogs in the 1950s

Thumbnail image for Radiradirah - First Episode

Radiradirah - First Episode

Features more animated comedy

Thumbnail image for Mosley

Mosley

Another animated feature involving Kiwi talent

Thumbnail image for Bloopers - Animals

Bloopers - Animals

Features another famous Kiwi dog, Dexter

Thumbnail image for Dog Squad - First Episode

Dog Squad - First Episode

A show following working dogs

Thumbnail image for Face to Face with Kim Hill - John Clarke

Face to Face with Kim Hill - John Clarke

Interview with the man who voices Wal

Thumbnail image for Pipi Mā - Series Three

Pipi Mā - Series Three

An animated series in te reo Māori for children

Thumbnail image for Tākaro Tribe - Series 5, Episode 18

Tākaro Tribe - Series 5, Episode 18

An animated series for children in te reo Māori

Thumbnail image for Godzone Sheep

Godzone Sheep

Footrot Flats features in this documentary