A Is for Atom

A Is for Atom
Directed byCarl Urbano
Art Direction:
Gerald Nevius
Lew Keller
Written byTrue Boardman
Produced byJohn Sutherland
George Gordon
(Associate Producer)
Narrated byJohn (Bud) Hiestand
Music byEugene Poddany
Animation byArnold Gillespie
Emery Hawkins
Backgrounds byTony Rivera
(Production Design)
Distributed byJohn Sutherland Productions
Release dates
  • 1953 (1953)
  • 1964 (1964) (Revised/updated)
Running time
14:45 min:sec
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Is for Atom (1953) is a 14-minute promotional animated short documentary film created by John Sutherland and sponsored by General Electric (GE). The short documentary, which is now in the public domain, explains what an atom is, how nuclear energy is released from certain kinds of atoms, the peacetime uses of nuclear power, and the by-products of nuclear fission. The film is Sutherland's most-decorated film, having won numerous honors at film festivals.[1]

The film also received a theatrical release, opening at the Pantages and Hillstreet Theatres in Los Angeles on July 2, 1953.[2] The distributor was Al O. Bondy, who made the short available for free.[3]

  1. ^ Heintjes, Tom. ""Animating Ideas: The John Sutherland Story," Hogan's Alley, 2002". Cartoonician.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  2. ^ The Hollywood Reporter, July 3, 1953, pg. 13
  3. ^ Boxoffice Barometer, Jan. 30, 1954, pg. 145