Payut Ngaokrachang
Filed under: People, Animator, Educator, Studio Head, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, Commercials, Propaganda, Toei Animation Studio,
Full Name:Payut Ngaokrachang
Occupation / Title:Animator, Educator, Studio Head
Date of birth:01/04/1929
Date of death:27/05/2010
Birthplace:Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
Biography
Payut Ngaokrachang was a Thai animation pioneer and creator of Thailand’s first animated feature film. He is known as “Thailand’s Walt Disney.”
Family and early life
Payut grew up in the coastal province of Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand, where he utilized his access to the beaches’ natural items to practice his drawing.
In 1941, in a chance encounter, Ngaokrachang met legendary Thai painter Saneh Klaikluen. Saneh told Ngaokrachang to seek him out if he happened to come to the capital city of Bangkok.
Career outline
Ngaokrachang continued to hone his skills, and by 1955 at age 26, Ngaokrachang completed Amazing Incidents, a 7-minute, 16mm silent short film. The film showcases Bangkok street scenes with Thai character styles merged with Disney-like visual gags.
The success of Amazing Incidents caught the attention of the US embassy leading to Ngaokrachang’s hiring by the US Information Service (USIS). They provided Ngaokrachang a scholarship for training in animation and he spent a few months in Japan learning under Toei Animation to further develop his craftsmanship. In collaboration with the USIS, Ngaokrachang made several animation films that focused on anti-communism propaganda in his over 30 years with USIS.
During this time in the 1960s, Ngaokrachang founded his own company called Triple Film, where he made several TV commercials.
In the 1970s, Ngaokrachang worked with the Jirabanterng Company to produce Thailand’s first feature-length animation, Sudsakorn. Ngaokrachang was responsible for the entire creative process of the film, painting 66,000 images to complete the 82-minute film. The film premiered on April 13, 1979, at Athens Cinema.
During the making of Sudsakorn, Ngaokrachang used his knowledge from his time in Japan to design his own version of the camera stand because it was expensive to get products to Thailand. When Ngaokrachang retired, he kept his camera stand to show visitors, animators, and students.
Ngaokrachang died in 2010 at the age of 81.
Influences
Payut utilized his early exposure to American cartoons to shape his aesthetic sensibility.
Honors and awards
The Thai Film Archive hosts the annual Thai Short Film and Video Festival awards the Payut Ngaokrachang Medal for an animated film in honour of Ngaokrachang’s pioneering spirit.
References:
Holmstrom, Heidi. “Animatics and Anti-Communism: Payut Ngaokrachang Animates Hanuman for the USIA.” National Archives and Records Administration, 15 May 2019, https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2019/05/15/animatics-and-anti-communism/.
IMDb. “Payut Ngaokrachang.” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3212540/.
Thai Film Archive. “Payut Ngao-Krachang, Father of Thai Animation.” Google Arts & Culture, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/payut-ngao-krachang-father-of-thai-animation-thai-film-archive/sAXhQtVXnGgZWQ?hl=en.