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, …
Sep 23 2024
Remember when the future looked like a utopia of flying cars, robot maids, and meals at the push of a button? If you’re feeling a twinge of nostalgia, you’re not alone. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the beloved animated series that captured our imaginations and shaped our visions of the future …
Sep 18 2024
Here’s a little treat for this Wednesday: a jam ad created for Russian Sugar directed by Yuri Norstein. It was one of a group of Russian Sugar commercials made by Norstein between 1994 and 1995 that used cutouts and drawings for the animations (a bit past the Soviet era but still delightful and created by …
Sep 05 2024
Born on this day September 5, 1924, Frank Armitage was an Australian-born American artist whose brush strokes brought magic to both the silver screen and theme park walls. His journey from Melbourne to the heart of Disney’s creative empire is a testament to the power of artistic passion and perseverance. Disney’s Background Wizard Armitage’s talent …
Aug 08 2024
Born on this day August 8, 1922, in the Hungarian village of Balatonszemes, Károly Reich’s artistic journey was as rich and diverse as his illustrations, encompassing a range of styles from folk art to modernism. His deft use of color and form, coupled with his unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects, made his …
