The most Soviet fairy tales about ancient Russia

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

What do you think about which Soviet cartoons can we say that they personify Russian culture, Russian art? At the same time, are they very beautiful, painted in a classical and folk style? And are they based on the best works of Russian literature (which, in turn, are based on a folk tale)?

In such a list, I would first of all include such cartoons as "The Little Humpbacked Horse"according to Ershov, "The Tale of the Dead Princess" and "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" according to Pushkin, "Twelve months" according to Marshak, "Brave Bunny" on Mamin-Sibiryak … And also "Snow Maiden" based on the play by Ostrovsky and the opera by Rimsky-Korskakov, filled with ancient rituals, and of course, the adaptation of folk tales "Swan geese" and "In a certain kingdom" ("By the Pike's Command").

Of course, this is not all that can be mentioned. But it was these wonderful cartoons that I called for a reason, they are united by the fact that they were created by one wonderful director who bears a typical Russian name. Ivan, and the most common Russian surname is Ivanov!

Actually, the credits include not just Ivanov, but Ivanov-Vano (at first just Vano). "Vano" was his childhood nickname and he made him a creative pseudonym. And so he - Ivan Petrovich Ivanov!

Today he would have turned 120 years old. True, the date of birth in different sources does not coincide, they say that the eighth of February, then the ninth. But this is no longer important - what can one day mean against the background of one hundred and twenty years?

Ivan Petrovich was born in Moscow, in a large family of a shoemaker and a day laborer. The children in the family were drawn to art - one brother was fond of photography, the sisters were interested in theater and played in amateur performances. And Vano painted! And he also had his own theater - a puppet show.

After graduating from two classes of a parish school and the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, in 1924 he got into animation, and it became the work of his whole life!

By the way, a friend called him there, Vladimir Suteev is also a legend.

At first Ivanov-Vano worked as an animator, and then became a director. Animation in the USSR was then in its infancy, and the creators did their best. There was no celluloid at that time, cartoons were drawn on paper, re-layouts were used. And the shooting methods were also far from perfect.

The first works in which Ivan Petrovich took part were experimental and innovative - "Senka the African", "Skating rink", "Black and White", "The Adventures of Munchausen" …

In 1934 Ivanov-Vano together with his sisters Broomberg stripped off "King Durandai".

This work marked the beginning of the Russian folk theme in his work, and this theme became his calling card.

And also "King Durandai" highly appreciated Walt Disneyby purchasing this tape and showing it to your artists. Later he showed them The Little Humpbacked Horse.

The attitude of our animators towards Walt Disney in the 30s was special. His films made a huge impression, and many of his own accumulated work was left to copy the style of Disney, based on the tutorials that were developed for the artists in his studio. Even traditional beasts from folk tales became like American heroes.

Ivanov-Vano also did not avoid these tendencies. After "King Durandai" he made several films, focusing on Disney. And only starting with "Moidodyra" (1939), Ivan Petrovich abandoned American methods and became inspired by the work of Russian illustrators.

After returning from evacuation, Ivanov-Vano continued his search for his way with the animated films "Stolen Sun" and "Winter's Tale". And in 1947 the finest hour came - "The Little Humpbacked Horse" became a milestone in creativity not only for Ivanov-Vano, but for all Soviet animation!

The 50s were marked by the emergence of our cartoons to a new quality level, they were very highly appreciated even abroad. And if you can watch the works of the 30s now only from a historical point of view, then the films of the 50s are still watched with great interest.

In addition to the masterpieces mentioned at the beginning of the article, it is worth noting other works by Ivanov-Vano of that period - "Alien Voice", "Forest Concert" based on Mikhalkov's fables and "The Adventures of Pinocchio" (together with D. Babichenko).

Since 1960, Ivanov-Vano moved to the puppetry association, and began to shoot in a completely different technique, but did not abandon the Russian theme. From the works of that period - "Lefty", "How one man fed two generals", "Go there - I don't know where", "Seasons" (using folk toys), "Slaughter at Kerzhenets" (based on fresco painting) …

These works, of course, deserve respect, but they were not popular with the audience. And Ivan Petrovch returned to the classic drawing - the second option "The Little Humpbacked Horse" and "The Tale of Tsar Saltan".