The Beatles were at the height of their popularity in 1968 when this animated feature was made. The fab four are taken through a series of wild and comic adventures which mostly involve riding inside a yellow submarine. The plot, what there is of it, involves saving the fun-loving inhabitants of Pepperland from the Blue Meanies cruel and gloomy beings who have conquered and enslaved the populace. Along the way they gain the assistance of Nowhere Man, who seems to be an incompetent `wet blanket' but later turns quite useful.
Although the images are memorable, the animation is jerky; obviously not much money was spent on that aspect. Also the humour is a bit dated, though nostalgic. Still this is one of the best animated features of the 1960's.
The style of cartooning is simple and vivid enough that children will like it immediately, but grown-ups will appreciate hearing Beatle-songs (eleven of them) they remember from their own youth, and savouring the many puns. The images (invented by Bohemian artist Heinz Edelmann) defined and illuminated the spirit of the times, and originated the psychedelic art that was so popular in the early 1970's. Nowadays we are used to seeing images where every object looks like an over-inflated tire, but this is where it started.
Although the images are memorable, the animation is jerky; obviously not much money was spent on that aspect. Also the humour is a bit dated, though nostalgic. Still this is one of the best animated features of the 1960's.
The style of cartooning is simple and vivid enough that children will like it immediately, but grown-ups will appreciate hearing Beatle-songs (eleven of them) they remember from their own youth, and savouring the many puns. The images (invented by Bohemian artist Heinz Edelmann) defined and illuminated the spirit of the times, and originated the psychedelic art that was so popular in the early 1970's. Nowadays we are used to seeing images where every object looks like an over-inflated tire, but this is where it started.