John Coates

An abundantly illustrated biography of the British animation producer behind Yellow Submarine, The Snowman, and other classics.

John Coates is best known as the producer of The Snowman, When the Wind Blows, Wind in the Willows, Willows in Winter, and Famous Fred—and as the man behind the Beatles film Yellow Submarine. In his long, eventful career, he earned a BAFTA and a CableACE Award as well as Primetime Emmy and Academy Award nominations.


This intimate biography takes us on a journey through Coates's youth, his years as an army officer in the 11th Hussars in World War II, and his postwar life, working as a distributor for Rank Films throughout Asia before returning to England and eventually taking over TVC's animation studio.

With a foreword by Raymond Briggs and an epilogue by John Coates