Apr 26 2025
Eyvind Earle (April 26, 1916 – July 20, 2000) was more than just an artist; he was a visionary whose work transformed the landscape of animation. Born in New York City and raised in Hollywood, Earle’s artistic journey began at an early age, influenced by his father’s career in film and his mother’s musical background. …
Apr 16 2025
Inspired after seeing this on Soviet Visuals and Folklore Film Fest‘s #SovietFilmWednesday, this was the first Soviet film I shared a little over four years ago, and it is still one of my favorites. What can I say, I love rain and cats, and the illustrations are beautiful, so this seemed like the perfect starting place for …
Dec 04 2024
Here is a charming little song, “Singing Cat,” an excerpt from Ladislas Starevich’s first animated feature, and often regarded as his finest work, The Tale of the Fox (Le Roman de Renard), which was made with the help of his daughter Irene in 1941. Ladislas Starevich was born in Moscow to Polish parents on August …
Dec 02 2024
Step into a world of whimsy and nostalgia as we journey back in time to the enchanting Frosty’s Winter Wonderland. Released on this day December 2, 1976, this beloved holiday classic created by Rankin & Bass has captivated audiences of all ages and continues to warm hearts with its endearing characters and delightful story. Set …
Nov 13 2024
Seasons, made in 1969, with its beautiful stop-motion animation, is one of the most beloved Russian short films. Seasons was directed by Yuri Norstein and Ivan Ivanov-Vano, set to the music of Tchaikovsky. The detailed stop-motion animation, much done with delicate lace, features a couple gliding through the seasons, all set to brilliant renditions of “October” and …
Nov 06 2024
Today we have another wonderful Yuri Norstein film, Hedgehog in the Fog. Norstein is best known for this animation, as well as his Tale of Tales. Hedgehog in the Fog was directed by Norstein, written by Sergei Kozlov, with music by Mikhail Meyerovich. It was produced by Soyuzmultfilm in 1975. It is the story of a hedgehog and a bear cub who …
Nov 01 2024
The evolution of Hello Kitty is an exemplary tale of a simple concept transforming into a global phenomenon. Hello Kitty, the endearing, mouthless cartoon character was created on November 1, 1974 by Yuko Shimizu and was introduced by the Japanese company, Sanrio. Originally, Hello Kitty was depicted sitting between a bottle of milk and a …
Oct 16 2024
Last week we had an introduction to the Brumberg Sisters, and this week we have another great film by the duo, featuring one of the scariest characters of folklore, Baba-Yaga. While this fairy tale, and others, portray her as a child-hunting witch, there are some different renditions of Baba-Yaga. In Slavic folklore, Baba-Yaga is typically …
Oct 09 2024
Meet the Brumberg Sisters, Valentina and Zinaida Brumberg, both Moscow-born artists who worked together as animators, screenwriters, and directors, creating around 50 films in total. Made in 1937, this is their spooky animation of Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Perrault’s version was a cautionary message to children about stranger danger. Soviet Film …
Oct 02 2024
In Birthnight, Night visits young Tima, a boy who sleeps with the light on because he is afraid of the dark, and she invites him to her nighttime birthday party in the woods. If the story doesn’t sound intriguing enough, the eccentric synth music of Eduard Artemyev is sure to transport you to another world, …
