Interplanetary Revolution – 1924 Soviet Animation

Paul Gallagher at Dangerous Minds posted this 1924 Russian propaganda masterpiece. It’s a wild, science fiction, abstract work of art that just keeps pumping out wondrous images, one after the other. I love the ragged edges and mix of photographs, hand-drawn animation and cutouts.

Hansel and Gretel Animated by Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen, the great stop-motion animator of dinosaurs, sea creatures and dancing skeletons made this version of Hansel and Gretel in 1951. The dolls are a bit off-putting if I must be honest about it. But it’s got some great movement and settings.  This is one of a series of films he made for children after World War II.

1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast in Toy Animation

I am on a roll of discovery tonight! Here’s the perfect film to kick off the Halloween season for 2010. This is a recording of the legendary 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater. But Toyman Studios has animated the entire thing with toys! Toy sets, toy people, and amazing toy battles! It’s beautiful. This is just the perfect way to tell this story now. I want more from Toyman Studios!

Shakespeare Animated: Macbeth

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales was a BBC television series of the 1990s that produced 30-minute versions of Shakespeare’s plays with animation done by well-known Russian animators at the Christmasfilms studio.  This version of ‘The Scottish Play’ stars Brian Cox.

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Shakespeare Animated: The Winter’s Tale

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales was a BBC television series of the 1990s that produced 30-minute versions of Shakespeare’s plays with animation done by well-known Russian animators at the Christmasfilms studio. This version of The Winter’s Tale is Shakespeare’s dark comedy about a king’s jealousy run wild.  This little animated version is loaded with gorgeous wintry scenes.

Click the continue reading link for parts 2 and 3.

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Shakespeare Animated: The Tempest

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales was a BBC television series of the 1990s that produced 30-minute versions of Shakespeare’s plays with animation done by well-known Russian animators at the Christmasfilms studio. This version of The Tempest from 1992 is a masterpiece. It’s simply one of the best film adaptations of Shakespeare I’ve ever seen. The island setting is wonderfully romantic and diffused. The characters are unbelievably expressive in movement. The voice work is superb. Though the script is pared down to 30 minutes, it preserves the essential fun of Shakespeare’s magical work.

Click the continue reading link for parts 2 and 3.

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Animation: Pushkin

Pushkin is a stop-motion animation by Trevor Hardy for his Fool Hardy Films studio.  The film is full of very easy-going humor that starts as soon as the old woman first opens her mouth to ask if anyone has seen her missing cat.  I think the way the character talks is just hilarious.  This little studio is a one-man outfit that is producing totally marvelous work.

I found this via the fantastic no fat clips!!!

A Wolf Loves Pork: Stop Motion Photo Animation

Takeuchi Jaijin made this film by photographing the action in stop motion then photographing the photos again in his room.  He makes the action seem to take place all along his walls, countertops and floors.  I love the way the boy dives into the filled sink and swims across!  The photo animation technique reminds me of the photo collages of artist David Hockney.

Thanks to David Pescovitz at BoingBoing for posting this.