Ian Emes is a renowned British animator and film director, hailing from Handsworth, Birmingham, England, who has made a lasting impact on the music world through his collaborative work with the iconic rock band Pink Floyd. Born circa 1949, Emes has built a remarkable career spanning multiple decades, marked by his innovative animated films and live-action shorts.
Emes' father, Ronald Emes, was a Birmingham policeman who played a significant role in training the British canoe team for four Olympic Games. Ian Emes himself was educated at Marsh Hill Boys Technical School in Birmingham's Erdington district and later pursued his studies at Bristol.
Emes' creative journey began with his first major work, 'French Windows', which he started while a student at Birmingham College of Art and completed during his period of unemployment. This groundbreaking animation, set to Pink Floyd's recording 'One of These Days', premiered at Birmingham's Ikon Gallery before being showcased on the popular television program The Old Grey Whistle Test. This exposure led to Pink Floyd's invitation for a private screening, after which Emes was commissioned to create animated films to be projected during their performances of Dark Side of the Moon. His iconic animation for the song 'Time' is featured on Pink Floyd's P•U•L•S•E DVD.
Emes' remarkable collaboration with Pink Floyd extended to his work with Roger Waters, creating live-action films for his performance of The Wall – Live in Berlin. He also received the opportunity to animate Wings' 'Oriental Nightfish' at the request of Linda McCartney and has contributed animations to concerts by Mike Oldfield.
Throughout his illustrious career, Emes has received numerous accolades, including the 1983 BAFTA Award for Best Short Film for his live-action short film Goodie Two Shoes, which was later nominated for an Academy Award. He also received another BAFTA for co-directing the popular children's television series Bookaboo.
In 2010, 'French Windows' was exhibited once more at Birmingham's Ikon gallery, accompanied by original cels. Today, Emes continues to live in London, where he is married and a devoted father.
