Info
Thesis
"SOVIET ANIMATION CAN REVEAL MORE ABOUT RUSSIA THAN MEETS THE EYE, EXHIBITING BOTH A DISTINCT INFLUENCE FROM WESTERN ANIMATION AS WELL AS THE UNDERLYING POLITICS AND IDEOLOGIES OF RUSSIA."
Background
Animation found its way to Soviet Russia in the 1910s and 1920s, and increased in popularity in the mid-1930s
1920s- New Economic Policy was left abandoned, and the First Five-Year Plan was integrated. Extinction of the Left and Right Oppositions to Communism
1930s- Isolationism and the "Stalinist habitat"
1920s- New Economic Policy was left abandoned, and the First Five-Year Plan was integrated. Extinction of the Left and Right Oppositions to Communism
1930s- Isolationism and the "Stalinist habitat"
Socialist Realism
1932- Leadership committee of five men that were appointed by the Politburo, and supervised by Stalin, were called to oversee the realist theory
Socialist Realism was a government sanctioned idea that resulted in various reforms and regulations put on different art forms, including animation
Called an “engineered harmony between politics and art” and the
“logical culmination of Russia’s socially responsible and admirably 'critical' Golden Age[…] while simultaneously addressing the demands of the present and the desires of the future” (Davis Macfayden)
Socialist Realism was a government sanctioned idea that resulted in various reforms and regulations put on different art forms, including animation
Called an “engineered harmony between politics and art” and the
“logical culmination of Russia’s socially responsible and admirably 'critical' Golden Age[…] while simultaneously addressing the demands of the present and the desires of the future” (Davis Macfayden)
Background of Russian Animation
First Soviet animated film appeared in 1910, made by Vladislav Starevich
Soviet animator Alexandre Alexeieff invented the pinscreen technique in more artistically open-minded France
Mezrahobpomfilm was founded in response to the growing popularity of animated films
Soviet animator Alexandre Alexeieff invented the pinscreen technique in more artistically open-minded France
Mezrahobpomfilm was founded in response to the growing popularity of animated films
Soyuzmultfilm and Joseph Stalin
Despite the popularity of animated cinema in the 1920s, it didn't truly become a force until the 1930s with the foundation of the Soyuzmultfilm
studio in 1935 and a more prominent role of the Soviet government
Partly created in response to Walt Disney’s Studio, which was founded in 1923, and Mickey Mouse’s first appearance, in 1928. Partly created due to the 1935 film The New Gulliver, by film-maker Alexander Ptushko. This was successful due to the Western techniques utilized. Some say created because Joseph Stalin “personally insisted on the creation of the world’s best cartoon studio” Natalia Afanaseva
In all of this, we see the foundation of the studio and the resulting success of animation in the Soviet Union as being rooted in government influence
Partly created in response to Walt Disney’s Studio, which was founded in 1923, and Mickey Mouse’s first appearance, in 1928. Partly created due to the 1935 film The New Gulliver, by film-maker Alexander Ptushko. This was successful due to the Western techniques utilized. Some say created because Joseph Stalin “personally insisted on the creation of the world’s best cartoon studio” Natalia Afanaseva
In all of this, we see the foundation of the studio and the resulting success of animation in the Soviet Union as being rooted in government influence
Censorship
In the 1930s, many artists were not given permission to publish their works, and needed to find an artistic avenue through which they could earn a living: animation.
Animation was not free from this censorship, however
Tsekhanovskii’s “The Tale of the Priest and his Worker Balda”
Animation was not free from this censorship, however
Tsekhanovskii’s “The Tale of the Priest and his Worker Balda”
Western Characteristics and the Loss of Experimental Animation
Subject-matter: Began to base many of their films on well-known fairy tales. This was also a political move to promote nationalism.
All films were mandated to be created in the Socialist Realism style. No more avant-garde animated films, or experiments with new techniques. Instead, like Disney, they used real actors to produce drawings to turn into animations. Though these were critically acclaimed, they are now considered to have been a "dead-end art form"
Even when coming out of the government-prescribed Socialist Realism style of animation, the world of Russian animated films was still influenced by the government. By the end of the 1940s, the Disney-style of animation was “categorized as ‘cringing before the West’” (Dina Goder).
All films were mandated to be created in the Socialist Realism style. No more avant-garde animated films, or experiments with new techniques. Instead, like Disney, they used real actors to produce drawings to turn into animations. Though these were critically acclaimed, they are now considered to have been a "dead-end art form"
Even when coming out of the government-prescribed Socialist Realism style of animation, the world of Russian animated films was still influenced by the government. By the end of the 1940s, the Disney-style of animation was “categorized as ‘cringing before the West’” (Dina Goder).
Government Influence seen in specific films
“The Post” was a highly-acclaimed film during the early animation period, before the foundation of Soyuzmultfilm, coming out in 1929. This film was created by Mikhail Tsekhanovskii. This film was intended to act as a type of compliment and praise of the Soviet postal system. This was based on a verse by Samuil Marshack (1887-1964).
“The Snow Queen” was one of the most prominent animated films to come out of Soyuzmultfilm, and the USSR in general. Directed by Lev Atamanov and produced by Robert Farver, this film was released in 1957. The Snow Queen clearly resembles Maleficent. There is also the presence of the narrator, which seems to be reminiscent of Jiminy Cricket from “Pinocchio."
Beyond merely creating characters and themes similar to those seen in Disney, Soyuzmultfilm even tried to re-make films that Disney Studios had already made. Some of these include “Peter and the Wolf” (1958) and “Winnie the Pooh” (1969).
“The Snow Queen” was one of the most prominent animated films to come out of Soyuzmultfilm, and the USSR in general. Directed by Lev Atamanov and produced by Robert Farver, this film was released in 1957. The Snow Queen clearly resembles Maleficent. There is also the presence of the narrator, which seems to be reminiscent of Jiminy Cricket from “Pinocchio."
Beyond merely creating characters and themes similar to those seen in Disney, Soyuzmultfilm even tried to re-make films that Disney Studios had already made. Some of these include “Peter and the Wolf” (1958) and “Winnie the Pooh” (1969).