John "Run" Wrake (24 November 1965 – 21 October 2012) was an English animator, film director, graphic designer, and music video director. He was best known for his 2005 short film, Rabbit.
Early life and education Wrake was born in Yemen on 24 November 1965. His father was a chaplain assigned to the British army there. He grew up in Sussex. He studied graphic design at the Chelsea College of Arts, later graduating with an M.A. in animation from the Royal College of Art in London. His 1990 animated student film from his days at the Royal College, Anyway, aired on MTV's Liquid Television in 1994.
Career After graduating, Wrake worked freelance, illustrating and designing album covers and tour visuals for artists such as U2 and Howie B, in addition to directing commercials for companies such as Coca-Cola throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. He also directed music videos, many of which were for Howie B. He later began working with Animate Projects, which commissioned him to direct animated short films. In 2005, he released his animated short film entitled Rabbit, his most notable work. Rabbit tells a morality tale about the dangers of greed through a Dick and Jane art style. Wrake's main inspiration for the film was an envelope he found in a thrift shop containing children's educational stickers, illustrated by Geoffrey Higham, from the 1950s. The film received numerous awards and nominations, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Short Animation Film at the 2006 BAFTA Awards.
Death In November 2011, Wrake was diagnosed with lung cancer. This inspired him to direct the short film, Down with the Dawn, with music by Howie B. On 21 October 2012, aged 46, Wrake succumbed to the illness.
Filmography + FilmYearTitleRoleNotes1990AnywayDirector, writerShort film1994JukeboxDirectorShort film1996Music for BabiesDirectorShort film to accompany Howie B's album of the same name1998M2 – Ping Batter PongDirectorShort film2001What Is ThatDirectorShort film2002Lessons in SmokingDirectorShort film2002NME GalleryDirectorShort film2005RabbitDirector, producer, writerShort film Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation Film2008The Control MasterDirector, writerShort film2009Just a MinuteDirectorShort film2011Here We Go Loopy LouDirectorShort film2011Public MeatDirectorShort film to accompany Public Image Ltd's song "Public Image"2012Down with the DawnDirector, producerShort film to accompany Howie B's album of the same name2012Meat StreetDirectorUnfinished pilot
+ Music videos Year Video Artist Role1991"Cadillac"Gang of FourDirector1993"TV Tan"The WildheartsDirector1996"Butt Meat"Howie BDirector1996"We Have Explosive"The Future Sound of LondonDirector, photography1997"Angels Go Bald:Too"Howie BDirector1997"Switch"Howie BDirector1998"Maniac Melody"Howie BDirector1998"Take Your Partner by the Hand"Howie BDirector1999"I Can Sing but I Don't Want To"Howie BDirector1999"She Called Again"Howie BDirector2000"Papua New Guinea"The Future Sound of LondonDirector2001"The Beamer"SpacerDirector2001"We Belong in This World Together"Stereo MCsDirector 2002"Mr. Bobby"Manu ChaoDirector2004"Try Again Today"The CharlatansDirector, producer2005"Flyover"Asian Dub FoundationDirector
References
External links
Official website
Run Wrake at Discogs