The breaking of the German’s Enigma Code was a crucial piece of Allied intelligence work during the latter stages of WWII, widely considered to have taken years off the war, thereby saving millions of lives. The recent film The Imitation Game focused on Alan Turning and his part in the cryptography team working at Bletchley Park, but there are many unsung heroes behind that moment of victory (just ask the Polish), and the courage of three British seamen is the subject of The Petard Pinch.

Commissioned by Bletchley Park Trust, the film tells the story of the recovery of vital documents from a stricken German U-boat. While the crew of U-559 abandoned their sinking vessel, First Lieutenant Tony Fasson, Able Seaman Colin Grazier, and the 16-year old canteen assistant Tommy Brown, swam from the HMS Petard to recover any relevant documents they could find, regardless of risk to themselves. Untold for decades, it is a story of duty and matter-of-fact selflessness, and the film captures this well, telling it in a very direct fashion without the need for spectacle or sentiment. With the mix of dramatic retelling and documentarian tone, The Petard Pinch feels heroic and engaging, touching on both the individualism of the act, and its global impact.

It is the animation that grabs you at first. Influenced by the propaganda posters of the 1940’s, and the colorful work of British graphic artist Brian Cook, the animation mixes 2D, 3D, traditional cel animation, treated footage & photoshop brushes. Speaking by email, director and animator Michael Brookes tells us it took 3 months to complete, including experimentation in new software, lots of research work, and at one point filming himself jumping off a piano stool for reference. The result was worth the work, as the film plays out with effective imagery which feels both modern but yet of the period.

The film is part of a fuller exhibition in Hut 8 at Bletchley Park, and you can see more work from Michael Brookes on his website.