The Water Babies (film)

The Water Babies is a 1978 live-action/animated fantasy film directed by Lionel Jeffries. It is loosely based on the 1863 children's novel The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby by Charles Kingsley.

The film tells the story of Grimes, a cruel Victorian chimney sweep, who escapes into a magical underwater world after being wrongly accused of theft and accidentally killing a young apprentice named Tom. In this underwater realm, Grimes is transformed and encounters the Water Babies, children who have drowned and been transformed into aquatic beings. He must atone for his past misdeeds and work to earn redemption, facing challenges presented by malevolent creatures and learning about kindness and compassion.

The film blends live actors with animated sequences to depict the fantasy world and its inhabitants. It features a cast including James Mason, Billie Whitelaw, Bernard Cribbins, Joan Sims, and David Tomlinson. The animated segments were created by Halas and Batchelor.

The Water Babies received mixed reviews upon its release. While the animation was generally praised, the live-action segments and the adaptation of the source material were often criticized. The film is notable for its early use of combining live-action and animation techniques, and it has become a cult classic for some viewers, particularly those who saw it in their childhood.