About us

Education and Inspiration

This website is an educational resource for animation enthusiasts and (starting) animators. Here you will find quotes, technical explanations and inspiration from historical films. Because some films are timeless and deserve to be seen and quoted.

The dream came true

Dutch Vintage Animation was born out of Arie den Draak's love for animated films, especially the creations of Joop Geesink's Dollywood. When Geesink's 100th birthday was commemorated in 2013, and it became apparent that there was little information available about his work, Arie decided to take action. His goal: to make the knowledge about this film pioneer, whose oeuvre has been declared national cultural heritage, accessible to everyone. The interest in the Dollywood films arose due to a chance combination of circumstances. At an event, the film ‘A Dream Come True’ was shown, along with several other Dollywood classics. These films made a deep impression on the brothers.

From Super 8 to professional studio

The fascination with Dollywood began in the youth of Arie and his brother Huibert. They experimented with Super 8 films and made their own puppets. In 1973, they approached Joop Geesink himself with the question of how they could solve certain technical problems. This was the beginning of a special connection, with visits to the studio and educational conversations with animators and puppet makers. From that time (1973) onwards, the link between Geesink and Den Draak was definitive. This was followed by several visits to the studios with educational conversations with animator Cor Icke and puppet maker Harry Tolsma, among others. A few years later, two work placements followed and eventually Huibert succeeded in becoming the first freelance animator to work at Toonder-Geesink Studios.

Locatie Geesink Studio's in Nederhorst den Berg. (1973)

Louise Geesink (middle) in conversation with Arie den Draak (left)

Arie den Draak gives lectures on the work of Joop Geesink upon request.
Please get in touch if you are interested.

Own studio

Arie and Huibert started their own film studio, Den Draak Filmproducties, in 1986. Both brothers had worked in the animation film industry for many years. Between 1986 and 2000 they had their own film studio, which had been started by his brother Huibert (1957). The studio (Den Draak Filmproducties) produced stop-motion films, cartoons and occasionally live-action films. They were the first stop-motion studio to use computers on a modest scale: first for cartoons, later a robotic arm for 3D camera work. Brother Huibert emigrated to Canada and Arie continued the studio with numerous freelancers.

Competitors with their own vision

The brothers inadvertently became Geesink's competitors, but they had their own ambition: to make independent animated films financed by paid assignments. One example of this is ‘$ave Your Soul and Buy My Song’ (1993), a parody of benefit projects and a homage to the Dollywood films. It was a special honour that the famous puppet maker Harry Tolsma, who was formally retired, collaborated on this film.

Lectures and contact

Arie den Draak has given presentations about Dollywood productions and, together with Louise Geesink and EYE curator Leenke Ripmeester, was a guest at EYE for presentations at films and provided important input for a documentary about the production of stop-motion puppets according to the Geesink technique. He also gives educational and entertaining lectures on request about the work of Joop Geesink, illustrated with puppets and moving images. Please get in touch if you are interested.!