This is the story of Art Clokey, who in 1954 took a humble slab of clay and molded it into the cartoon legend Gumby. At once quirky and colorful, heartbreaking and redemptive, Gumby Dharma takes us on a journey through the life and career of a spiritual seeker whose famous characters, Gumby and Pokey, and Davy and Goliath, echoed the spiritual path of their creator. It's a journey that leads us from an orphanage to adored adopted father, from the Seminary to Hollywood, from nuclear family to hippie counterculture, and from the traditional Episcopalian church to Buddhism and Indian guru Sai Baba.
Gumby Dharma features candid and revealing interviews with an 85-year-old Clokey, vivid scenes from Gumby episodes, home movies shot by Art when he was a kid, and interviews with contemporary leaders in animation, including Director Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and special effects legend Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts, Adventures of Sinbad). Also included is new stop motion animation of Gumby and Pokey, who narrate this playful and touching homage to the grandfather of clay animation, Art Clokey.