# animate! › Films › Emperor by Elizabeth Hobbs › all › synopses › direction & collaboration › full production credits › film stills › tools & processes › format & distribution › background material Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/emperor/all Discovery terms: 2000s animation, watercolour animation, rostrum camera, napoleon, death, history, comedy, filmmaker, animator The following is the archived page text; discovery terms above are separately sourced metadata. Archive status: restored in 2026; historical calls, deadlines and services are closed. --- **Emperor** a film by Elizabeth Hobbs [Elizabeth Hobbs](https://lizzyhobbs.co.uk) 2001, 4 min 20 sec [watch this film ›](https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-the-emperor-2001-online) ![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor04.jpg) PARIS1 ### animate! synopsis Comic colour capers as we learn the tabloid tale of Bonaparte and his not so bony part. A sensual wash from Waterloo to auctioneers as his pickled portion goes under the hammer. History was never this persuasive. History was never this. ### short synopsis **The Emperor** is a watercolour animation about Napoleon Bonaparte. It is a tale of courage and war, heartbreak, death and pickled private parts. ### long synopsis **The Emperor** is a watercolour animation about Napoleon Bonaparte’s last moments on the island of St. Helena. Captain Lepissoir, a brave soldier who fought with the emperor’s grand army at the battle of Waterloo, sets out from Paris to rescue Bonaparte from exile. After a three month journe he arrives at Longwood House on the remote island just as the emperor expires. He is heartbroken and sets of home narrowly missing the spectacle of his great hero’s private parts being snipped off during the post mortem. The tale finishes in the present day with the pickled penis being sold at a Christies Auction for one thousand pounds. ### key credits **director** Elizabeth Hobbs **voices** Jonathon Booth **narrator** Elizabeth Hobbs **editor** Mark Jenkins **music** John Harris **sound designer** Jane Hicks **producer** ### Elizabeth Hobbs #### biography Elizabeth Hobbs is an artist based in Edinburg. Since graduating in 1991 she has undertaken residencies in Finland, Cork, Dumfries, Aberdeen & Inverness, during which time she has published many artist’s books under the press name Spellbound. In 1998-9 she acquired a PG (Dip) in Electronic Imaging from Duncan of Jourdanstone College of Art & Design. She has made four animated films. 1 June 2001 #### artist’s website [Elizabeth Hobbs](http://www.spellboundanimation.co.uk) Elizabeth's website ### a film by Elizabeth Hobbs ### direction **director** Elizabeth Hobbs ### script **writer** Elizabeth Hobbs ### voice-over **voices** Jonathon Booth **narrator** Elizabeth Hobbs ### image personnel **editor** Mark Jenkins ### sound personnel **music** John Harris **sound designer** Jane Hicks ### production personnel **post production** Evolutions Television Gemini Audio The Sound Company **producer** Red Kite Productions ### support **thanks** Simon Payne, Sir Robert Ricketts, Christies **primary funding** Arts Council of England/Channel Four © Elizabeth Hobbs 2001 [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor01.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor01.jpg) PENIS - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor02.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor02.jpg) BATTLE - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor03.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor03.jpg) ESCAPE - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor04.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor04.jpg) PARIS1 - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor05.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor05.jpg) PARIS2 - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor06.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor06.jpg) GARDEN - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor07.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor07.jpg) DANCING - *click on image for full size still* [![Emperor, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/emperor08.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/emperor08.jpg) LONGWOOD - *click on image for full size still* ### technical #### process summary Shot under a 35mm rostrum. ### master copy format **format** 35mm **colour or black & white** colour ### video distribution format **video format** BetaSP **screen aspect ratio** 4:3 **video standard** PAL **sound type** stereo ### distributor LUX [info@lux.org.uk](mailto:info@lux.org.uk) +44 (0)20 7503 3980 [www.lux.org.uk](http://www.lux.org.uk/) **Emperor** film, stills and other materials © Elizabeth Hobbs 2001