Cartoons of the Cartoons of the Stagnation era Stagnation era

Everyday life and philosophical Everyday life and philosophical exploration of beingexploration of being

Animation Techniques Animation Techniques

Traditional hand-drawn animation:Traditional hand-drawn animation: stop-motion: Pioneered in Russia by stop-motion: Pioneered in Russia by

Ladislas Starevich (Starewicz) using Ladislas Starevich (Starewicz) using insectsinsects

plasticine animation (stop-motion with plasticine animation (stop-motion with plasticine figures)plasticine figures)

Wladislaw Starewicz Wladislaw Starewicz (1882-1965) (a.k.a. Ladislas Starevich)(1882-1965) (a.k.a. Ladislas Starevich)

First Russian animated films, beginning in First Russian animated films, beginning in 1910.1910.

Stop motion technique. Stop motion technique. Used dead beatles, attaching legs with wax.Used dead beatles, attaching legs with wax. The Cameraman’s Revenge The Cameraman’s Revenge (1912)(1912) After revolution moved to France, worked in After revolution moved to France, worked in

Paris. Paris.

Fyodor Khitruk, animatorFyodor Khitruk, animator

One of the pioneers at One of the pioneers at Soyuzmultfilm (founded 1953)Soyuzmultfilm (founded 1953)

Story of a Crime Story of a Crime (1962)(1962)

Story of a Crime, Pt. 2Story of a Crime, Pt. 2

The IslandThe Island

Cheburashka and Krokodil Cheburashka and Krokodil Gena (1971)Gena (1971)

Cheburashka, Krokodil Gena Cheburashka, Krokodil Gena and Shapokliakand Shapokliak

Based on a children’s story by Eduard Based on a children’s story by Eduard

UspenskyUspensky Used clay puppets and stop-motion Used clay puppets and stop-motion Director Roman Kachanov Director Roman Kachanov Art director Leonid ShvartsmanArt director Leonid Shvartsman

Cheburashka et al.Cheburashka et al.

Four series:Four series: Gena Gena the Crocodilethe Crocodile (1969)(1969) CheburashkaCheburashka (1971)(1971) Shapokliak Shapokliak (1974)(1974) Cheburashka goes to school Cheburashka goes to school (1983)(1983)

Just You Wait Just You Wait (1969-2006)(1969-2006) by Viacheslav Kotionochkinby Viacheslav Kotionochkin

Mystery of the Third Planet Mystery of the Third Planet (1981) by Roman Kachanov(1981) by Roman Kachanov

Plasticine Plasticine CrowCrow (1981)(1981)

by Aleksandr Tatarskiby Aleksandr Tatarski

Yuri Norstein b.1941Yuri Norstein b.1941Used cut-outs and painted glass screensUsed cut-outs and painted glass screens

Hedgehog in the Fog Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) by Yury Norshtein(1975) by Yury Norshtein

Hedgehog in the Fog Hedgehog in the Fog trivia:trivia:

The muzzle (profile) The muzzle (profile) might be a portrait of might be a portrait of a writer Liudmila a writer Liudmila PetrushevskaiaPetrushevskaia

Fan sites, popular Fan sites, popular punch lines (“Freak!”)punch lines (“Freak!”)

A stamp (1988) and A stamp (1988) and a monument (Kiev, a monument (Kiev, 2009)2009)

Norstein and Norstein and

Petrushevskaia Petrushevskaia (the (the “prototype” of the Hedgehog)“prototype” of the Hedgehog)

Hedgehog in the FogHedgehog in the Fog

Hedgehog in the FogHedgehog in the Fog

In 2003, based on a survey of 140 cinema In 2003, based on a survey of 140 cinema critics and animators worldwide, proclaimed the critics and animators worldwide, proclaimed the best film in history of animation. Norshtein is best film in history of animation. Norshtein is given the highest Japanese order for his given the highest Japanese order for his influence on world and Japanese animation.influence on world and Japanese animation.

Original “blurring” technique conveying the Original “blurring” technique conveying the philosophical content.philosophical content.

Based on a story by Sergei KozlovBased on a story by Sergei Kozlov

Hedgehog in the FogHedgehog in the Fog

Existentialist experience: as one faces the unknown, all Existentialist experience: as one faces the unknown, all senses sharpen.senses sharpen.

The voice of a loved one leads through the danger.The voice of a loved one leads through the danger. Exploration of the unknown (its duality).Exploration of the unknown (its duality). Getting out of touch with familiar realityGetting out of touch with familiar reality Relativity of reality: morphing, shifting, unstable forms Relativity of reality: morphing, shifting, unstable forms

of objects.of objects. No objective point of view.No objective point of view. The notion of beauty (white horse)The notion of beauty (white horse)

Existential loneliness; Existential loneliness; the metaphor of life as a paththe metaphor of life as a path

Threats and dangersThreats and dangers

Familiar objects turn strangeFamiliar objects turn strange

Small hedgehog, big Small hedgehog, big worldworld

Exploring the unknownExploring the unknown

A white horse: the elusive beautyA white horse: the elusive beauty

Hedgehog in the FogHedgehog in the Fog

Going with the flow, accepting one’s Going with the flow, accepting one’s predestinationpredestination

Isolation of an individualIsolation of an individual Internal dialogueInternal dialogue Self-exploration (“Who are you?”)Self-exploration (“Who are you?”) Unseen Someone – divine interference?Unseen Someone – divine interference? Life-changing experience: leaves H. Life-changing experience: leaves H.

shattered.shattered.

The bear cub is lookingThe bear cub is looking at theat the hedgehog, the hedgehog is looking hedgehog, the hedgehog is looking inside himself:inside himself:

Norshtein’s Norshtein’s Tale of Tales Tale of Tales (1979)(1979)