The Making of Footrot Flats

This documentary explores Footrot Flats's path from beloved comic strip to New Zealand's first animated feature. While Pat Cox, the original producer, stays off-screen, Footrot creator Murray Ball discusses moving from lone creator to directing a large team as they bring his world to life. Others discuss the challenges of finding an actor to voice Dog, the character that Ball admits is closest to him. Amongst the making of footage, Dave Dobbyn talks music, and the late Mike Hopkins (who won Oscar glory on Lord of the Rings) lends his feet to the sound effects. Tony Hiles writes here about the making of the movie.

...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

Key Cast & Crew

Dave Dobbyn

Subject, Composer

Lesley Stevens

Producer, Director

Tom Scott

Subject

John Clarke

Subject

Murray Ball

Subject

Martin Didsbury

Producer