# Run Wrake

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English animator (1965–2012)

Run Wrake Born John Wrake (1965-11-24)24 November 1965 Yemen Died 21 October 2012(2012-10-21) (aged 46) Ashford, Kent Occupations Animator, film director Years active 1990–2012 Spouse Lisa Wrake Children 2

**John "Run" Wrake** (24 November 1965[1] – 21 October 2012) was an English animator, film director, graphic designer, and music video director. He was best known for his 2005 short film, *Rabbit*.

## Early life and education

Wrake was born in [Yemen](/source/Yemen) on 24 November 1965. His father was a chaplain assigned to the British army there. He grew up in [Sussex](/source/Sussex).[1] He studied [graphic design](/source/Graphic_design) at the [Chelsea College of Arts](/source/Chelsea_College_of_Arts), later graduating with an [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts) in animation from the [Royal College of Art](/source/Royal_College_of_Art) in London.[1][2] His 1990 animated student film from his days at the Royal College, *Anyway*, aired on [MTV](/source/MTV)'s *[Liquid Television](/source/Liquid_Television)* in 1994.[2]

## Career

After graduating, Wrake worked freelance, illustrating and designing album covers and tour visuals for artists such as [U2](/source/U2) and [Howie B](/source/Howie_B), in addition to directing commercials for companies such as [Coca-Cola](/source/The_Coca-Cola_Company) throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.[1][3] He also directed music videos, many of which were for Howie B. He later began working with Animate Projects, which commissioned him to direct animated short films.[1] In 2005, he released his animated short film entitled *Rabbit*, his most notable work. *Rabbit* tells a morality tale about the dangers of greed through a [Dick and Jane](/source/Dick_and_Jane) art style.[2] Wrake's main inspiration for the film was an envelope he found in a thrift shop containing children's educational stickers, illustrated by Geoffrey Higham, from the 1950s.[4] The film received numerous awards and nominations, including a [BAFTA](/source/BAFTA) nomination for Best Short Animation Film at the [2006 BAFTA Awards](/source/59th_British_Academy_Film_Awards).[1][4][5]

## Death

In November 2011, Wrake was diagnosed with lung cancer. This inspired him to direct the short film, *Down with the Dawn*, with music by Howie B.[1][6] On 21 October 2012, aged 46, Wrake succumbed to the illness.[1][2]

## Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Anyway Director, writer Short film 1994 Jukebox Director Short film 1996 Music for Babies Director Short film to accompany Howie B's album of the same name 1998 M2 – Ping Batter Pong Director Short film 2001 What Is That Director Short film 2002 Lessons in Smoking Director Short film 2002 NME Gallery Director Short film 2005 Rabbit Director, producer, writer Short film Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation Film[7] 2008 The Control Master Director, writer Short film 2009 Just a Minute Director Short film 2011 Here We Go Loopy Lou Director Short film 2011 Public Meat Director Short film to accompany Public Image Ltd's song "Public Image" 2012 Down with the Dawn Director, producer Short film to accompany Howie B's album of the same name 2012 Meat Street Director Unfinished pilot

Music videos Year Video Artist Role 1991 "Cadillac" Gang of Four Director 1993 "TV Tan" The Wildhearts Director 1996 "Butt Meat" Howie B Director 1996 "We Have Explosive" The Future Sound of London Director, photography 1997 "Angels Go Bald:Too" Howie B Director 1997 "Switch" Howie B Director 1998 "Maniac Melody" Howie B Director 1998 "Take Your Partner by the Hand" Howie B Director 1999 "I Can Sing but I Don't Want To" Howie B Director 1999 "She Called Again" Howie B Director 2000 "Papua New Guinea" The Future Sound of London Director 2001 "The Beamer" Spacer Director 2001 "We Belong in This World Together" Stereo MCs Director 2002 "Mr. Bobby" Manu Chao Director 2004 "Try Again Today" The Charlatans Director, producer 2005 "Flyover" Asian Dub Foundation Director

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-bfi_1-7) Thomas, Gary (31 March 2014). ["Run Wrake, 1965-2012"](https://www2.bfi.org.uk//news/obituary-run-wrake). [British Film Institute](/source/British_Film_Institute). Retrieved 8 April 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-brew_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-brew_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-brew_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-brew_2-3) [Amidi, Amid](/source/Amid_Amidi) (23 October 2012). ["Run Wrake (1965-2012)"](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/run-wrake-1965-2012-72306.html). [Cartoon Brew](/source/Cartoon_Brew). Retrieved 8 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-animate_3-0)** ["animate! › Films › Rabbit by Run Wrake › direction & collaboration"](http://www.animateonline.org/films/rabbit/biography.html). *Animateonline.org*. Retrieved 1 May 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-portfolio_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-portfolio_4-1) ["Rabbit"](http://runwrake.com/portfolio_page/rabbit/). *Runwake.com*. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-projects_5-0)** ["Run Wrake"](http://www.animateprojects.org/films/by_artist/w/r_wrake). Animate Projects. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Pryor, John-Paul (3 April 2014). ["Howie B – Down With The Dawn"](http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/19441/1/howie-b-down-with-the-dawn). *[Dazed](/source/Dazed)*. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["2006 Film Short Animation Film"](http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/film/short-animation-film). [British Academy of Film and Television Arts](/source/British_Academy_of_Film_and_Television_Arts). Retrieved 8 April 2016.

## External links

- [Animation portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Animation)
- [Biography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

- [Official website](http://www.runwrake.com/)

- [Run Wrake](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1552695/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Run Wrake](https://www.discogs.com/artist/2013418-Run-Wrake?filter_anv=0&type=Credits) at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Run Wrake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_Wrake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_Wrake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.