Monty Python is a group of six British comedians, and is one of the most recognisable comedy acts of all time. Their work is often credited as a major influence to many current comedians, both British and from other places around the world. Made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam (American but born in Britain), Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, they redefined comedy throughout their original run from 1969 to 1983.
The main animation for the group was actually done by Terry Gilliam, who also directed several Hollywood films such as Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. He began work as a cartoon artist, writing a strip for Help!, which would often feature John Cleese. After moving to England, he animated several sequences for children’s TV show Do Not Adjust Your Set which also featured Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. He originally wasn’t an official member of the group, and was only credited as an animator, but was eventually made a full member of Monty Python.
His cartoons linked the show's sketches together, and defined the group's visual language in other forms of media, like LPs and title sequences for their films. Gilliam's animations mix his own art, characterized by soft gradients and odd, bulbous shapes, with backgrounds and moving cut-outs from antique photographs, mostly from the Victorian era. His animated work was so well made and influential, Gilliam was also given a BAFTA Special Award in 1969 for the graphics and animations in Monty Python's Flying Circus.