Barry is an Oscar and BAFTA nominated director usually, but not exclusively, working with animation. He has animated and directed many series for television such as The Wind in the Willows, Rupert Bear and Bob the Builder. He has worked in significant roles on such feature films as Mars Attacks! and King Kong, and directed over 60 commercials and titles sequences, including a campaign for Marketing Manchester. In 2011 he was awarded an Honary doctorate from the University of Staffordshire, and a lifetime achievement award from a festival in Poland. Barry has taught at universities and schools literally around the world.
Films
His own, very theatrical, and often controversial, films have won more than sixty awards around the world, and many festivals have held retrospectives. Barry's films are known for their innovation, passion, elegance, lush visuals and fresh interpretations of familiar subjects. The films are:
- Next, (the complete works of Shakespeare in five minutes) (and noted as one of the 25 films all aniamtion festival programmers should include)
- Screen Play (the Willow Pattern story told through Kabuki) (and voted by ASIFA as the 40th best animation short)
- Rigoletto (a version of Verdi’s opera)
- Achilles (a very adult retelling of the Iliad)
- Gilbert and Sullivan (using their words and music to retell of their stormy relationship)
- Hamilton Mattress (an aardvark’s attempt to survive in the corrupt world of showbiz)
These were re-released in 2008 on a compilation DVD: 'Barry Purves – His Intimate Lives' (Potemkin).
The Complete series of The Wind in the Willows is available on several DVD's as is Rupert Bear - Follow the magic.
More recently, Barry has made:
- 'Plume' for ARTE France, 2010 (his own film, featuring a primæval winged man)
- 'Tchaikovsky' for Russian TV, 2011 (an interpretation of the composer's life)
Barry’s films are discussed at length in many books, including those written by Ray Harryhausen, Clare Kitson and Paul Wells, as well as being studied on most animation courses.
Barry is currently directing a 52 part stop motion children's series for Five, based on a travelling circus. This will start transmitting in september 2012.
Publications
Barry’s first book, ‘Stop Motion – Passion, Process, Performance’ was published in 2008 by Focal Press. Using animation as a catalyst, it looks at the creative process in related media.
A second book, 'Animation Basics – Stop motion' was published in 2010 by AVA Publishing, aimed at students and first time animators.
Theatre
Away from film Barry works in theatre when he can, this being another true passion. He has directed and designed ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, ‘The Turn of the Screw’, Jekyll and Hyde’, several Ayckbourns, ‘La Cage Aux Folles’, ‘The Ritz’, ‘Habeas Corpus’, Ronald Harwood’s ‘Quartet’, the farce ‘ Don’t Dress for Dinner’ as well as designing a huge panto, 'Aladdin', in Peterborough. He designed ‘A Man for all seasons’ a new musical by Mal Pope, ‘Cappuccino Girls’, and ‘Murder Mystery Musical’ for the 2009 Edinburgh Festival, which received 5 star reviews. In 2011 he directed and designed 'High Society' . Early in 2012 Barry will direct a Sherlock Holmes play, and then design the Elton John and Tim Rice musical 'Aida'
Teaching
Barry teaches and gives master classes at studios and colleges all over the world, including regular courses at the National Film and Television School, the National Film school of Italy (animation department) and Staffordshire University. He is often a member of festival juries, judging or curating screenings. In 2011 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Staffordshire University for services to the university and animation. In 2011, Barry completed a semester teaching 'Animation' at manchester University Drama Department.
Writing
Barry has also taught ‘Writing for Performance’ at Manchester University, where he was originally a drama student. His own play, written with Emil Wolk, ‘The Eight Wonder’ looks at the making of the original King Kong through the eyes of Ginger Rogers and Fay Wray. A second play treatment, Handel and Lewis, has been written for Liverpool Scenic Workshops – this involves a young opera loving boy and a live 25 foot robot. Several other feature film treatments and play ideas are being written.