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In memory of Eli Noyes
a year ago
I'm writing this because my uncle Eli Noyes passed away last night after a long battle with cancer. He was 81.
Eli was an independent animator and filmmaker and a true individualist. In the '70s he was one of the first to really start experimenting with claymation. He also used sand and sped up photos, and early computer animation. Some of the animated inserts on the early Sesame Street episodes were done by him, and some short claymation bits on a Nick Jr. show called Eureka's Castle. He was briefly with Pixar, but left before they became a big name. But he never regretted it - Eli was too much of an individualist to ever be happy in a major studio where he wouldn't have his creative freedom.
He was a wildly funny person who never wanted to have any title, so he always refused to be called 'Uncle Eli.' He was also, in a way, the first fursuiter I ever knew - he once made a short video on rainy day activities where he dressed in a green gorilla suit and talked in 'ape talk' with translations. I think it was meant to be a demo for a kids show that never got going. As kids we always called the tape 'Ooga-Booga.' It taught us how to make flip-books and shadow-puppets.
But I'm not writing this to try and share any grief on this site. I want to share his legacy and make more people aware of his work, which was wonderful even if it never became famous in people's minds. So here are some of the short animations he did that made it to Youtube. Please take the time to check them out. Bless you Eli.
Eli was an independent animator and filmmaker and a true individualist. In the '70s he was one of the first to really start experimenting with claymation. He also used sand and sped up photos, and early computer animation. Some of the animated inserts on the early Sesame Street episodes were done by him, and some short claymation bits on a Nick Jr. show called Eureka's Castle. He was briefly with Pixar, but left before they became a big name. But he never regretted it - Eli was too much of an individualist to ever be happy in a major studio where he wouldn't have his creative freedom.
He was a wildly funny person who never wanted to have any title, so he always refused to be called 'Uncle Eli.' He was also, in a way, the first fursuiter I ever knew - he once made a short video on rainy day activities where he dressed in a green gorilla suit and talked in 'ape talk' with translations. I think it was meant to be a demo for a kids show that never got going. As kids we always called the tape 'Ooga-Booga.' It taught us how to make flip-books and shadow-puppets.
But I'm not writing this to try and share any grief on this site. I want to share his legacy and make more people aware of his work, which was wonderful even if it never became famous in people's minds. So here are some of the short animations he did that made it to Youtube. Please take the time to check them out. Bless you Eli.
Those yt vids are brilliant...i do remember watching old skool sesame street here in uk..on channel 4..bbc had take hart..1972 morph was shown..aardman did morph..and obs wallace and gromit..and a show called creature comforts..and a more mature show called rex the runt...
As a fan of claymation, seeing your uncles work was brilliant
Your uncle looked very talented...i cant fathom how long these took to make
The world has lost an incredibly talented creator...and how it is lovely that you shared his work
So everyone can see how talented he was
I recognized his name right away from when I used to read about independent animators. Do you think any of his talent rubbed off on you, either via DNA or just being a favorite uncle whose work you loved?
I think creative people can't help being creative, and express themselves creatively in just about every aspect of their lives; you're very lucky you had someone in your life like Eli and I'm sorry he's gone. (I had an aunt who encouraged me to keep drawing when I was doing little more than doodles - I remember her teaching me about perspective.)
I know he definitely couldn't help himself, like you've said. He never really stopped. One of the last things I sent him was my dragon drawing from earlier in the year. It seemed like the best message to give him.