{"product_id":"footrot-flats-heres-to-the-good-times-by-murray-ball-9781869718862","title":"Footrot Flats: Here's to the Good Times!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe 50th anniversary celebration of the much-loved\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ecomic strip and its creator, Murray Ball. A must-own for all fans of this iconic series.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those who know and love Wal', Dog, Horse, Cooch, Major, Aunt Dolly, Cheeky Hobson and Rangi,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eneeds no introduction. But it does need a 50th birthday celebration! This tribute to the iconic series gives old fans and new a chance to enjoy daily life on the farm and share the joy that Wal' Footrot, Dog and their friends bring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMurray Ball was a New Zealand cartoonist who wanted to change the world. He was, what you might call, a bit of a stirrer. Then in 1976 he decided a cartoon about a man and his dog 'might be a good idea' and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ewas born. It turned out to be a bloody good idea!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edaily cartoons went on to appear in over200 newspapersin New Zealand and Australia, and also found fans in Denmark, where it was translated and renamed'Faehunden'. Its popularityled to compilation books and merchandising, a stageplay and anamusement park. Then, in1986\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dog's\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eTale\u003c\/i\u003e, New Zealand's first animated feature film, was released and firmly fixed Wal' and Dog in the national psyche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMurraystopped drawing\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein 1995. He noted that Dog would, by then, have been old with a grey-streaked muzzle - and he couldn't let that happen to his old mate. So Ballretired the strip, reflecting that, in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003c\/i\u003e, he was 'just happy to have struck something people like'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAffection for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFootrot Flats\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas only grown stronger over time, and in its 50th anniversary year it is only fitting we celebrate Wal' Footrot, Dog and their friends. Curated by the Ball family, this collection will immerse fans in the world they love and adore. Aptly named\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHere's to the Good Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eit just might be THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER!!!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47976522252524,"sku":"9781869718862","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781869718862.jpg?v=1784682215","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/footrot-flats-heres-to-the-good-times-by-murray-ball-9781869718862","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}