Concept and creative process
‘It’s A Square World’ was a zany comedy series devised and written by Michael Bentine (who also starred) and John Law, which ran from 1960-64. In 1962 it won the BAFTA Award for Light Entertainment and in 1963 the Press Prize at the Golden Rose of Montreux Festival. It used all kinds of wacky techniques in its comedy sketches, including cartoon animation in a cut-out style, later revived by Terry Gilliam in ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ to great effect. The title animation depicted the square world enclosed by a rectilinear white line, which created space for the title lettering. The animation was created from artwork filmed under the rostrum camera. The square world was superseded by the live image of Michael Bentine and a wipe to studio.