# animate! › Films › The Nuclear Train by Daniel Saul › all › synopses › direction & collaboration › full production credits › film stills › tools & processes › format & distribution › background material

Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/nucleartrain/all

Discovery terms: 2000s animation, hand-drawn animation, live action and animation, digital compositing, nuclear waste, family, fear, disability, drama, filmmaker

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.

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**The Nuclear Train** a film by Daniel Saul

[Daniel Saul](https://rachelanddaniel.co)

2002, 9 min 03 sec

![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain05.jpg)

### animate! synopsis

An animated drama. James is deeply disturbed by the heavy vibrations made by the train carrying nuclear waste past his home. When he runs away from the house and a failing relationship, he enters a surreal dreamscape from which he may never return.

### one sentence synopsis

An animated drama.

### short synopsis

James is deeply disturbed by the heavy vibrations made by the train carrying nuclear waste past his home. When he leaves the house he enters a surreal dreamscape from which he may never return.

### long synopsis

James and his family live by the railway tracks used to transport nuclear waste through the middle of London. Already disturbed, James begins to feel all his problems are related to the nuclear train and resolves to run away from home.

Once outside he enters a dreamscape city falling apart at the seams. He ends up on the waterfront in a fractured wasteland piled high with rubbish.

Full of guilt James uses junk to make a pair of prosthetic arms for his disabled daughter. But he soon begins to fear that his family may never join him on the scrap heap by the river.

**The Nuclear Train** combines video drama with animation to create a mutated world that reflects our fears about the future. It is perhaps a parable about what we should take with us and what we should leave behind.

### key credits

**director**
Daniel Saul

**writer**
James Flint

**director of photography**
Simon Starling

**production designer**
Sarah Lovett

**live-action producer**
Jo Wiser

**music**
Shane Cullinan

**sound designer**
Graeme Miller

### Daniel Saul

#### short biography

Daniel studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University. He is a versatile filmmaker; he worked with Century Films on Channel 4’s film of the official Millennium Poem and his animated experimental documentary [The Morris Jelly House of Fashion](http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/2003/en/film/3861.html) was an international festival hit.

Amongst his community-based works is a half-hour film for MENCAP about professional artists with learning difficulties.

October 2002

### James Flint

#### short biography

James is author of the acclaimed first novel *Habitus*, former editor of *Wired UK* and was joint editor with Zadie Smith of the limited edition magazine *Lippes Loop*. His recent novel [52 Ways to Magic America](http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/di21/books_files/52ways_IoS.htm) was published by Fourth Estate in July 2002. He works extensively as a journalist.

November 2002

#### artist’s website

[James Flint](http://www.jamesflint.com)

James’ own website

### a film by Daniel Saul, written by James Flint

### direction

**director**
Daniel Saul

### script

**writer**
James Flint

### cast in picture

**james**
Joe Duttine

**mary**
Josephine Butler

**martha**
Michaela Turner

**Rever**
Scott Woods

**security guard**
Rizwann Butt
James Flint
Hari Kunzru
Toby Saul

### live-action personnel

**director of photography**
Simon Starling

**gaffer**
Mitch Spooner

**production designer**
Sarah Lovett

**first assistant director**
Polly Nash

**runner**
Dante Pertusini
John Hockridge

**live-action producer**
Jo Wiser

### image personnel

**additional animation**
Steve May

### sound personnel

**music**
Shane Cullinan

**sound recording**
John Arnold

**sound designer**
Graeme Miller

### support

**thanks**
Mariam Imani, Carol Salter

© Dan Saul 2002

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain01.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain01.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain02.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain02.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain03.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain03.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain04.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain04.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain05.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain05.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain06.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain06.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain07.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain07.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain08.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain08.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain09.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain09.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

[![The Nuclear Train, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/nucleartrain10.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/nucleartrain10.jpg)

*click on image for full size still*

### technical

#### process summary

A digital blend of treated footage, drawn animation and live-action characters.

### master copy format

**format**
DigiBeta

**colour or black & white**
colour

### video distribution format

**video format**
DigiBeta

**screen aspect ratio**
16:9

**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/)

**The Nuclear Train** film, stills and other materials © Dan Saul 2002