Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tale

Animated movie Footrot Flats - The Dog's Tail Tale became the most successful Kiwi release of the 1980s. It also managed to win over viewers in Australia (where the animation work was handled). The adaptation of Murray Ball's beloved comic strip brought his beloved cast of animals to earthy life, alongside farmer Wal — voiced by John Clarke. Peter Rowley plays Dog. The opening clip served double duty as both movie trailer and music video for Dave Dobbyn's hook-laden 'Slice of Heaven'. It proved to be a key weapon in the film's Australian success. Tony Hiles writes about the movie's creation here.

...it's a Trans-Tasman thing. Although all the actors and all the music and all the direction and that sort of thing comes from New Zealand, the animation itself was done in Australia.

– Footrot Flats director Murray Ball, in the making of documentary

Key Cast & Crew

Murray Ball

Director, Writer, Original Author

Peter Rowley

As: Dog

Pat Cox

Producer

John Barnett

Producer

Tom Scott

Writer

John Clarke

As: Wal