Robert Swarthe

This short educational film introduces viewers to the vibrant world of camera-less animation. In just 10 minutes, it showcases three creative examples of animation made entirely by drawing, painting, and scratching directly onto film stock. Designed as an instructional resource, the film emphasizes how simple classroom materials can be used to produce expressive and visually striking animated works. With its energetic tone and hands-on demonstrations, it's both a fun watch and an effective teaching tool—perfect for budding animators or educators exploring experimental film techniques.

An Oscar Nominated short film about the adventures of a red pair of legs. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010.

A satirical look at the world of Walt Disney: Mickey and Minnie run afoul of racially-insensitive cannibals and arabs, a tour through the seedy underbelly of Disneyland, and the final destination: Mickey Mouse in Snow White's glass casket.

An abstract film, featuring various colors and shapes.

Short directed by Robert Mitchell and Robert Swarthe.

An animated film drawn in india ink directly on 65 mm film. It was reduced optically to 35mm film with colour added. The story of the film concerns a rivalry between two simple stick figures characters for the championship in a unicycle race. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2011.

A delightful spoof on industry-sponsored documentary films, this is a tongue-in-cheek documentary tribute to the oil refining industry as a symbol of American pride. The parody concepts of this film are so true to the banality of their subject of derision that many audiences may be unaware that this is a spoof, and react with patriotic pride to the tribute itself. In this way, the reaction of each audience to the film is potentially as whimsical as the film itself!

Animation Workshop Color UCLA Student Film, Preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. A hand-drawn animation made during the start of the anti-Vietnam War and anti-Cold War movement in the United States.