Product Description

Films included in this volume: Seasons (I. Ivanov-Vano, 1969), Ballerina on a Boat (L. Atamanov, 1969), Armoire (A. Khrjanovsky, 1970), Battle of Kerjenets (I. Ivanov-Vano and Yuri Norstein, 1971), Butterfly (A. Khrjanovsky, 1972), Island (F. Khitruk, 1973), Fox and Rabbit (Y. Norstein, 1973), Heron and Crane (Y. Norstein, 1974), Hedgehog in the Fog (Y. Norstein, 1975), Crane's Feathers (I. Garanina, 1977), Firing Range (A. Petrov, 1975), Contact (Vladimir Tarasov, 1978).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12346 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-05-16
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Russian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 125 minutes

Vince Bonavoglia, DVD Unleashed
The artists featured on the second volume of Image Entertainment and Jove Films' enchanting Masters of Russian Animation, in their decision to abandon the real world in favor of one over which they have complete control, knew full well the inherent power of images. Each of the twelve short films presented on the disc, spanning a broad range of styles and moods, is more astounding than the next. Unfettered by the laws of nature, the animator's vision is of the purest essence, limited only by the boundaries of their imagination (a lesson well learned by modern visionaries like Tim Burton and the Brothers Quay). Given the oppressive conditions under which these films were created -- Russia has never been a bastion of free speech and unrestrained creativity -- the decidedly upbeat message delivered by most of the shorts came as somewhat of a surprise^Ethe overall picture painted is glaringly positive.

The most visually stunning piece in the set comes from Ivan Ivanov-Vano and Yuri Norstein (whose 1979 film, Tale of Tales, was deemed the best animated film of all time by a group of international animation historians). Entitled Battle at Kerzhenets, the short illustrates the onslaught of an army of foreign invaders on the unsuspecting people of Russia, portrayed in the style of the ancient masters. The Russian women, cradling infants, their robes laced with gold, look unmistakably like the Blessed Mother of the Classical period, leading one to believe that the advancing hordes have come to not only destroy the people, but their religious beliefs, as well. The filmmakers used breathtaking stop-motion animation, cut paper, and forced perspective to bring the battle at Kerzhenets to life. The invaders are draped in black and gold, their ebony horses breathing fire as they storm across the battlefield. To great effect, the score (by Rimsky Korsakov) increases in intensity as the confrontation progresses. The final moments of the battle are especially devastating: their earthly shells heaped in mounds, the spirits of the dead -- black bodies silhouetted in neon blue -- oversee the arrival of their fallen comrades into the afterlife, far and away the film's most affecting sequence. All is not without hope, however, as evidenced by the film's final sequence in which the survivors of the confrontation rise up to rebuild their shattered lives.

The twelve films, digitally restored from new 35 mm prints (struck by the National Film Archive of Russia) and presented in a number of different aspect ratios, look absolutely stunning. The overall quality of the collection is not hampered in the slightest by the few infrequent bursts of print damage and minor discoloration, a fact of life when dealing in films of this vintage. The collection spans the gamut from wildly colorful (Vladimir Tarasov's Contact) to downright dismal (Yuri Norstein's dreary Hedgehog in the Fog), all of which are magnificently displayed in crisp, superbly detailed transfers. The mono soundtrack, while not as robust as it could have been (Tchaikovsky has definitely sounded better), serves the imagery well

Customer Reviews

Great collection with the best animation ever made in USSR
This is a great collection! for those who is unfamiliar with Soviet cartoons and never seen one it will be hard perhaps to understand the appeal of some of them. But considering most of them were made in 70's and remembering what was available in 70's as far as cartoons go will help. The best cartoon of this bunch is "The Hedgehog In The Fog." This piece was immensely popular in USSR at the time it was made. It certainly reflects what Russians value in animation - the story, the feelings, a little abstract thinking and the zen attitude. Great selection!

Trippy
Geez, I did not know that Russian animators used to smoke the same stuff The Beatles did! I've just finished this collection, and although almost all are enjoyable in some way, I especially liked three: "Ballerina on a boat", which resembles the UPA cartoons of the same era in its minimalism, "Butterfly", which resembles Yellow Submarine's trippiest parts, and "Crane Feathers", which is curious because it is a Japanese folk story told by Russian animators. The last one, "Contact", is also very, very "Pepperland" (The town in "Yellow Submarine"). I have a couple of gripes with this collection:

1) Although "Seasons" and "Battle" are widescreen, they are presented within a 4:3 frame.

2) English subtitles are hard-coded in the four shorts that have dialogue: Fox, Heron, Hedgehog and Firing Range.

3) Two of the shorts, "Battle at Kerzhenets" and "Crane Feathers", should have more detailed explanation in the booklet. The first one depicts historic Russian events and the second one, a Japanese folk tale.

All in all, I liked this DVD and I think it is a fine addition to my collection of mainstream and not-so-mainstream animation. Even my mother liked some of the shorts and started to found morals in some of them.

Note to parents (warning: spoiler): All these shorts are family-friendly. Most of them were made for children. The only short that would deserve a PG is "Firing Range" for stylized violence (people dying in explosions, but we see no blood or gore).

I'll add a still image extracted from each short so you can see for yourself the quality of these works. I hope this helps you to make up your mind and buy it.

A colorful glimpse into art from another country
I really, really enjoyed this collection. Yuri Norstein's shorts, "Hedgehog in the Fog" in particular, are absolutely incredible. The kind of depth he can create with only two dimensions to work with is truly impressive. Also prepare to be amazed by "Butterfly" and "Ballerina on the Boat."