Yuri Norstein
PAR Yuri Norstein (Russian: Ю́рий Бори́сович Норште́йн, Yuriy Borisovich Norshteyn; born 15 September 1941), is a Soviet and Russian animator best known for his animated shorts, Hedgehog in the Fog and Tale of Tales. Since 1981 he has been working on a feature film called The Overcoat, based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol of the same name. According to the Washington Post, "He is considered by many to be not just the best animator of his era, but the best of all time". Yuri Norstein was born to a Jewish family in the village of Andreyevka, Penza Oblast, during his parents' World War II evacuation. He grew up in the Maryina Roshcha suburb of Moscow. After studying at an art school, Norstein initially found work at a furniture factory. Then he finished a two-year animation course and found employment at studio Soyuzmultfilm in 1961. The first film that he participated in as an animator was Who Said "Meow"? (1962). After working as an animation artist in some fifty films, Norstein got the chance to direct his own. In 1968 he debuted with 25th October, the First Day, sharing directorial credit with Arkadiy Tyurin. The film used the artwork of 1920s-era Soviet artists Nathan Altman and Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. The next film in which he had a major role was The Battle of Kerzhenets (1971), a co-production with Russian animation director Ivan Ivanov-Vano under whose direction Norstein had earlier worked on 1969's Times of the Year. Throughout the 1970s Norstein continued ...
Hedgehog in the Fog (1975)
A little hedgehog, on the way to visit his friend the bear, gets lost in thick fog, where horses, dogs and even falling leaves take on a terrifying new aspect... (more)
A little hedgehog, on the way to visit his friend the bear, gets lost in thick fog, where horses, dogs and even falling leaves take on a terrifying new aspect... (more)
Tale of Tales
(1979)
Skazka Skazok (Tale of Tales) is a 27-minute animated short film, considered the masterpiece of influential Russian animator Yuri Norstein. Told in a non-narrative style by free association, the film employs various techniques including puppets, cut-outs, and ... (more)
Skazka Skazok (Tale of Tales) is a 27-minute animated short film, considered the masterpiece of influential Russian animator Yuri Norstein. Told in a non-narrative style by free association, the film employs various techniques including puppets, cut-outs, and ... (more)
The Battle of Kerzhenets (1971)
The story is based on the legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, which disappears under the waters of a lake to escape an attack by the Mongols. (more)
The story is based on the legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, which disappears under the waters of a lake to escape an attack by the Mongols. (more)
Winter Days (2003)
Winter Days is a 2003 animated film, directed by Kihachirō Kawamoto. It is based on one of the renku (collaborative linked poems) in the 1684 collection of the same name by the 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō. The creation of the film followed the traditional ... (more)
Winter Days is a 2003 animated film, directed by Kihachirō Kawamoto. It is based on one of the renku (collaborative linked poems) in the 1684 collection of the same name by the 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō. The creation of the film followed the traditional ... (more)
The Heron and the Crane
(1975)
Animated short about a love between a heron and a crane. (more)
Animated short about a love between a heron and a crane. (more)
The Fox and the Hare (1973)
As winter gives way to spring in the Russian wilderness, a crafty fox promptly expels a defenceless hare from his warm, comfortable residence, claiming the house for himself and leaving the poor owner to sleep outside under the stars. An assortment of compassionate ... (more)
As winter gives way to spring in the Russian wilderness, a crafty fox promptly expels a defenceless hare from his warm, comfortable residence, claiming the house for himself and leaving the poor owner to sleep outside under the stars. An assortment of compassionate ... (more)
25 October, the First Day (1968)
A short film made by Yuri Norstein for the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, The 25th - the First Day recounts that day using art from the revolutionary period. (more)
A short film made by Yuri Norstein for the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, The 25th - the First Day recounts that day using art from the revolutionary period. (more)
Magia Russica (2004)
A poetic view of Russian animation and of cultural and social transformations Russian society has been gone through. It is about multi faceted and humorous animation, almost never exposed to western eyes. (more)
A poetic view of Russian animation and of cultural and social transformations Russian society has been gone through. It is about multi faceted and humorous animation, almost never exposed to western eyes. (more)
Gennady Shpalikov. Life Of A Charming Man (2017)
Gennady Shpalikov. He was 25 when he offered George Danelia a script for the future film “I walk through Moscow”. At this time, Shpalikov was already finishing the script for Ilyich's Outpost for Marlen Khutsiyev! Both of these films will be called the manifesto of ... (more)
Gennady Shpalikov. He was 25 when he offered George Danelia a script for the future film “I walk through Moscow”. At this time, Shpalikov was already finishing the script for Ilyich's Outpost for Marlen Khutsiyev! Both of these films will be called the manifesto of ... (more)
The Spirit of Genius - Fedor Khitruk and His Films (1997)
Alder uncovers not only the life and works of the elusive Cold War soviet master, but also sheds light on the Soviet animation regime. (more)
Alder uncovers not only the life and works of the elusive Cold War soviet master, but also sheds light on the Soviet animation regime. (more)
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum (2005)
A documentary about the Ghibli Museum. It features Goro Miyazaki speaking with Isao Takahata about the "charm" of the museum and its various influences. Goro tours the viewer around the museum, explaining the intricate details that his father, Hayao Miyazaki made ... (more)
A documentary about the Ghibli Museum. It features Goro Miyazaki speaking with Isao Takahata about the "charm" of the museum and its various influences. Goro tours the viewer around the museum, explaining the intricate details that his father, Hayao Miyazaki made ... (more)
Seasons (1969)
A delicate stroll through the Russian wilderness at different times of the year. (more)
A delicate stroll through the Russian wilderness at different times of the year. (more)
Children and Matches (1969)
A cut-out animation warning for children about the danger of fire and playing with matches, far from the grim warning of your typical PSA and anticipating the complicated human psychology of Norshteyn's subsequent work. And, no doubt, there is a metaphor aimed at ... (more)
A cut-out animation warning for children about the danger of fire and playing with matches, far from the grim warning of your typical PSA and anticipating the complicated human psychology of Norshteyn's subsequent work. And, no doubt, there is a metaphor aimed at ... (more)
With You I Am Again... (1980)
The second part of a trilogy of films based on Pushkin's drawings, poems and letters. (more)
The second part of a trilogy of films based on Pushkin's drawings, poems and letters. (more)
Masters of Russian Animation - Volume 2 (2000)
Volume 2 (1969-1978): "Ballerina on the Boat", "Seasons", "Armoire", "The Battle of Kerzhenets", "Butterfly", "Island", "Fox and Rabbit", "The Heron and the Crane", "Hedgehog in the Fog", "Crane's Feathers", "Firing Range" Contact (more)
Volume 2 (1969-1978): "Ballerina on the Boat", "Seasons", "Armoire", "The Battle of Kerzhenets", "Butterfly", "Island", "Fox and Rabbit", "The Heron and the Crane", "Hedgehog in the Fog", "Crane's Feathers", "Firing Range" Contact (more)
Rob Saakyanc. The Last Hippy of the Pink City (2010)
He's been called a 'wonderful troublemaker', 'comet man' and 'the last hippy of the pink city'. Robert Sahakyants was a renowned Soviet and Armenian animator. He was a director, writer and artist who created animated films. Robert Sahakyants used his work to ... (more)
He's been called a 'wonderful troublemaker', 'comet man' and 'the last hippy of the pink city'. Robert Sahakyants was a renowned Soviet and Armenian animator. He was a director, writer and artist who created animated films. Robert Sahakyants used his work to ... (more)
Montage of still photos with lighting effects. (more)
Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story (2021)
Oleg Vidov — one of the Soviet Union's most beloved actors — was persecuted, blacklisted and pushed to the breaking point before escaping to the West and achieving the American dream. (more)
Oleg Vidov — one of the Soviet Union's most beloved actors — was persecuted, blacklisted and pushed to the breaking point before escaping to the West and achieving the American dream. (more)
Masters of Russian Animation - Volume 3 (2000)
Volume 3 (1979-1985): "Tale of Tales", "Hunt", "Cabaret", "Last Hunt", "There Was a Dog", "Travels of an Ant", "Lion and Bull", "Wolf and Calf", "Old Stair", "King's Sandwich", "About Sidorov Vova". (more)
Volume 3 (1979-1985): "Tale of Tales", "Hunt", "Cabaret", "Last Hunt", "There Was a Dog", "Travels of an Ant", "Lion and Bull", "Wolf and Calf", "Old Stair", "King's Sandwich", "About Sidorov Vova". (more)
Miracle Factory. Animation Director (2005)
The history of Russian animated films. (more)
The history of Russian animated films. (more)