Wladyslaw Starewicz

This collection of vintage cartoons is not only a loopy primer on animation history; it is also an offbeat reflection of western "civilization" in the early 20th century. The racism in "Little Black Sambo," and the overt sexuality of Betty Boop are all-the-more shocking when you think that this is what grandma and grandpa were growing up watching! From the works of the world’s very first animator, Emile Cohl, to Walt Disney himself, Johnny Legend has compiled a twisted list of early animations that are guaranteed to surprise, delight and amaze.

In the night, at the top of a big clock, three little automatons come to life in turn: an agile monkey, a pretty dancer and an acrobatic jester, driven by clever mechanisms. Nina, the clockmaker's little girl, begins to dream. She is a little street singer. And a ballerina in love with a little tin soldier. And a princess in search of her beautiful knight lost in the enchanted forest. From burglary to castle attack, from mermaid to dragon, the adventure never stops... like the hands of a clock.

A small group of animals gathers around a frozen pond. The animals then play together on the ice and in the snow. Later, when the season changes, they look for new ways of passing the time.

A small group of animals gathers around a frozen pond. The animals then play together on the ice and in the snow. Later, when the season changes, they look for new ways of passing the time.

A bear, a rabbit and a fox decide to form a band and play for the animals of the forest.

A bear, a rabbit and a fox decide to form a band and play for the animals of the forest.

Jeannot, a young boy living in the countryside with his mother and grandfather, ventures into the forest at night to pick a fern flower before the cock crows.

Jeannot, a young boy living in the countryside with his mother and grandfather, ventures into the forest at night to pick a fern flower before the cock crows.

In the kingdom of animals, Master Fox is used to trick and fool everyone. So the King, the Lion, receives more and more complaints about him. He orders that Master Fox is arrested and brought to him.

In the kingdom of animals, Master Fox is used to trick and fool everyone. So the King, the Lion, receives more and more complaints about him. He orders that Master Fox is arrested and brought to him.

In the kingdom of animals, Master Fox is used to trick and fool everyone. So the King, the Lion, receives more and more complaints about him. He orders that Master Fox is arrested and brought to him.

The Mascot and his wife are on an island. When going out to fish, Mascot ends up being enchanted by a mermaid.

The Mascot serenades a lady dog. Another dog that listened and liked the song, wants to imprison Mascot so that he sings in his house.

While a child sleeps her puppet dog creates a magical circus for her.

A toy stuffed dog has just been sewn together when it hears a young child ask for an orange. The child's mother explains that they have no money, and so she cannot buy any oranges. The dog is then packed up along with a box full of other toys to be sold, but it soon winds up in the street. The dog picks up an orange from a curb side stand, and hopes to take it home to the child. But that night, before the dog can get back to the child's home, it must face a series of strange and frightening adventures.

A fable from La Fontaine.

Two animated fables by La Fontaine "The Old Lion" ("Le lion devenu vieux") and "The Lion and the Gnat" ("Le Lion et le Moucheron").

short Starewicz documentary about his process of animation

The old Lion King, oblivious to the fact that he has become the laughing stock of his Royal household, dreams of more heroic days. Meanwhile, his ministers have plans of their own. A short animation by Wladyslaw Starewicz, part of a series of two based on the fables of La Fontaine known as Deux fables de La Fontaine.

The first behind-the-scenes documentary in the film industry, from the making of a camera (Debrie) to studio shooting and directing, including animation techniques. Pierre Chenal meets André Rigal who executes, in his workshop, a series of freehand drawings. These sketches are then ground in a coffee grinder, from which a cartoon on film emerges. In Champigny, Alain Saint-Ogan and his host are working on Zig et Puce and developing Alfred the penguin's first steps. In Fontenay-sous-Bois, Ladislas Starewitch presents his future stars. Pierre Chenal described his film as follows: “I had designed to shoot a documentary in which I would show how a film is made in order, at the same time, to learn it myself. "

A clockmaker’s daughter daydreams of a magic world inside a clock.

A clockmaker’s daughter daydreams of a magic world inside a clock.

Directed by Wladyslaw Starewicz.

Mary and Eva are best friends, although they couldn't be more different. Armand, Mary's fiancee, falls in love with the seductive Eva, who is busy becoming a revue star. When Eva fails and loses her money, Armand tries to help her out.

Mary and Eva are best friends, although they couldn't be more different. Armand, Mary's fiancee, falls in love with the seductive Eva, who is busy becoming a revue star. When Eva fails and loses her money, Armand tries to help her out.

The Country Rat visits his friend the Town Rat, but finds that life in the great metropolis is rather too hectic (and dangerous - there's a live cat among all the puppet rodents!)

1925 french animated short by Starewicz

A little girl tries to help her mother with the aid of an agile monkey.

The misadventures of a traveling theatrical company, as the actors attempt to put on a show while romantic rivalries erupt backstage.

A partly-animated short film, a fairy-tale-like telling of why the nightingale only sings at night. A young girl who has caught a nightingale dreams about the songbird and its mate, and comes to realize that birds are not meant to be captive.

The frogs have a democracy, but they beseech Jupiter to send them a king. Jupiter can hardly believe this amphibian foolishness, so he sends them a tree as king. The frogs make obeisance to their new monarch, but they are dissatisfied and petition Jupiter again.

The frogs have a democracy, but they beseech Jupiter to send them a king. Jupiter can hardly believe this amphibian foolishness, so he sends them a tree as king. The frogs make obeisance to their new monarch, but they are dissatisfied and petition Jupiter again.

A drunken gardener is challenged to a poker match by agents of the Devil; replete with location shots in Hades of the Devil giving orders to his agents on Earth.

The film is a delightful tale of a spoiled wedding between child's toys which shows Starewicz's typical style of making amusing films appropriate for children without much sentimentality. As in many of his other films, his daughter Nina plays the role of the child.

1925 animated french short by Starewicz

The film tells the story of Judas and Satan wandering the world in search of a virgin who could become the mother of the new Evil.

When a young girl finds a beautiful dead lily in the woods, she asks her grandfather to tell her about it. The lily stands in splendour beside a stream, admired by the creatures of the woods. But an army of beetles, bent on conquering new territories, wants to cross the stream - and the lily is blocking their way. An unashamed allegory of the German rape of Belgium.

When a young girl finds a beautiful dead lily in the woods, she asks her grandfather to tell her about it. The lily stands in splendour beside a stream, admired by the creatures of the woods. But an army of beetles, bent on conquering new territories, wants to cross the stream - and the lily is blocking their way. An unashamed allegory of the German rape of Belgium.

Based on Gogol's story. It is Christmas Eve, and the town witches’ son, a blacksmith, seeks an honest marriage to his love who wishes for a pair of shoes fit for the Tsarina. A mischievous devil is trapped into providing service to the smith.

Based on Gogol's story. It is Christmas Eve, and the town witches’ son, a blacksmith, seeks an honest marriage to his love who wishes for a pair of shoes fit for the Tsarina. A mischievous devil is trapped into providing service to the smith.

Based on Gogol's story. It is Christmas Eve, and the town witches’ son, a blacksmith, seeks an honest marriage to his love who wishes for a pair of shoes fit for the Tsarina. A mischievous devil is trapped into providing service to the smith.

Based on the story by Pushkin. Pretty young Parasha is living with her widowed mother. Parasha diligently takes care of many household tasks, but she also enjoys flirting with the guards's officers who pass by her window, and she has one particular favourite. One day, Parasha's mother asks her to hire a cook, and to do so as cheaply as possible. Parasha and her beau soon see a way to use this situation to their own advantage.

An ant works to prepare for winter while a drunken grasshopper plays his violin and dances away his time. When the snow arrives, the grasshopper pleads with the ant for shelter and is turned away to die.

A Father Christmas ornament climbs down from a decorated tree, and goes to the forest. There he creates and decorates a Christmas tree for the forest creatures. He then invites all the insects, along with a friendly frog, to come and enjoy the gifts he has prepared, and to celebrate Christmas.

An insect-wedding animated in stop-motion.

A jilted husband takes his revenge by filming his wife and her lover and showing the result at the local cinema. This was one of Starewicz' first animated films, and stars a cast of animated beetles.

A jilted husband takes his revenge by filming his wife and her lover and showing the result at the local cinema. This was one of Starewicz' first animated films, and stars a cast of animated beetles.

A jilted husband takes his revenge by filming his wife and her lover and showing the result at the local cinema. This was one of Starewicz' first animated films, and stars a cast of animated beetles.

A jilted husband takes his revenge by filming his wife and her lover and showing the result at the local cinema. This was one of Starewicz' first animated films, and stars a cast of animated beetles.

Two insects fight over the hand of a beautiful lady.

Two insects fight over the hand of a beautiful lady.

The animated combat by night between stag beetles.

A reconstruction of mating rituals of stag beetles