The 1973 animation Fox and Rabbit (Лиса и заяц) was Yuri Norstein’s debut as an exclusive director. In keeping with Norstein’s most beloved animation techniques, it is made with wonderful cut-outs and has that signature Norstein earthy feel, brimming with folksy forest animals and seasonal motifs.
Based on a Russian folk tale, it is the story of a fox who lives in a house of ice and a hare who lives in a house of wood. When spring comes and starts to melt fox’s house, fox takes rabbit’s stable house of wood, however rabbit’s forest friends come to the aid of poor rabbit to try to get his home back.
Fox and Rabbit was written by Vladimir Ivanovich Dal and narrated by Viktor Khokhryakov. Francheska Yarbusova served as the art director and the animation features the cinematography of Teodor Bunimovich. The music was composed by Mikhail Meyerovich.
