David D. Hand when he was Managing Director and Production Supervisor of Gaumont British Animation. Courtesy of Giannalberto Bendazzi.

Despite the heavy stylistic influence of Hollywood, the Animaland films represent an important part of the history of West European animation, the product of its first large scale studio and the first to use the Disney model, in its authentic form. Amongst the animators trained by Hand, at least one, Nicholas Spargo, was later to become a master of London animated commercials, and John Wilson had fruitful career in the United States, highlighted by the Shinbone Alley feature.

Il Paese degli animali&nbsp(Animaland). A videocassette of nine shorts for children by David Dodd Hand. Edited by Ken Kramer and David Hale Hand. Produced by Alfadedis. Voices by Luca Barbareschi. Release date: December 4, 1996.

Editor's Note: In 1992, Los Angeles-based Streamline Pictures did release a video containing four of David Hand's British films under the title David Hand's Animaland. It included three of the Animaland and one of the Musical Paintbox series. The tape is now out of print, but Streamline is said to be in line to release the Alfadedis series in the United States.

Clean Up Model Sheet for G.B. Animation short. © 1948 G.B. Animation. Courtesy of Giannalberto Bendazzi.