The best foreign puppet cartoons. Were there good puppet cartoons in the USSR Puppet cartoons

The chickens on Mrs. Tweedy's farm are having a hard time.
For each of these unfortunate birds, any, even the finest morning, can be the last: in the blink of an eye, they can end up in soup or become stuffing for a pie.

Resigned domestic birds live in constant fear in terrible chicken coops, reminiscent of concentration camp barracks.

All attempts to escape from the terrible farm into the wild end in failure. But one day, the cheerful American rooster Rocky appears on the farm ...

Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

The annual giant vegetable contest is approaching, and "vegetables" are all over Wallace and Gromit's neighbors.

Two enterprising friends decided to make money on the fight against rodents, using their invention "Anti-Pesto".

But suddenly a huge mysterious animal began to terrorize the area, destroying vegetables that could qualify for the main prize of the competition.

In desperation, trying to save the event, its organizer, Lady Tottington, promises royal honors to whoever catches the beast and saves the holiday.

Coraline in Nightmareland (2009)

Who would have thought that one door could hold so many secrets?

Entering through this door, Coraline finds herself in a parallel world, where all life is just wonderful.

But she learns that in the old world her parents were in trouble and now the girl has to return to her old home.

Pirates! Gang of Losers (2012)

This is an exciting cartoon about a real pirate team, about their new journeys and adventures.

Their team flees and ends up in London, where they immediately meet an unusual scientist and his constantly cheerful and able to talk monkey.

But the chase is close, whether you can escape from the pirates, you can find out from this bright and funny cartoon.

Corpse Bride (2005)

The action takes place in a European village of the 19th century.

The main character - a young man Victor - is dragged by the forces of darkness into the underworld and married there to the mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride Victoria is waiting for her groom in the world of the living.

Despite the fact that living in the Kingdom of the Dead turns out to be much more interesting than his usual Victorian lifestyle, Victor understands that he will not exchange his only love for anything in any of the alternative worlds...

Family of Monsters (2014)

He was not lucky to be born in a luxurious castle. Together with a family of funny monsters, the young man settled right under the pavement.

Exquisite costumes were replaced by an ordinary box. But every night he could walk the dark streets in search of new adventures.

But one day he met a charming girl from high society - and the world around him changed forever.

Paranorman, or How to Train Your Zombies (2012)

Paranormal Norman is a cartoon about a boy named Norman.

He lived in his city, went to school regularly, played games. But with all this, he does not even suspect that a special task awaits him.

One night, while on the roof of his house, he met with a ghost, who told him that in the near future the Earth would be captured by alien creatures.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

The wily fox has long been a nuisance to local farmers by stealing their poultry.

Therefore, the owners decide to end this at any cost.

Isle of Dogs (2018)

The story of a 12-year-old boy, Atari Kobayashi, who is under the tutelage of the corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by the Decree of the latter, all domestic dogs of the city of Megasaki are expelled to a huge dump.

Atari travels alone in a miniature flying machine to a garbage island to find his faithful dog, Spots.

There on the island, along with a pack of new mongrel friends, he will begin an epic journey that will decide the future fate of the entire Prefecture.

Shaun the Sheep (2015)

"Thanks" to Shonu the lamb, the farmer acquires several llamas at the country fair.

Sean, of course, is happy with such an acquisition - after all, reckless llamas become his friends ...

The Little Prince (2015)

The world is impossible without fantasy and adventure. At least this is what the good-natured old aviator believes in, next door to whom a very pedantic mother recently settled with her diligent daughter.

The girl's life is subject to a strict curriculum, in which time for friends is provided only next summer.

However, this carefully crafted plan comes apart at the seams when a strange neighbor bursts into the girl's life with his incredible tales of the Little Prince and distant stars. It remains only to fix the plane, and go! Thus begins the big journey of the girl - full of dangers, magic, humor and true friendship.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Adored by the boy Victor, the dog Sparky dies in an accident. The boy, not wanting to put up with the loss of a friend, calls on science to help and ... brings the pet back to life!

It seems that everything is not so bad, but when Sparky escapes from Victor, his friends, parents, teachers and residents of the town learn that the return to the life of a pet can lead to unexpected and even terrible consequences!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The cartoon tells about the realm of Halloween, the realm of fears and nightmares, where the dead, freaks, monsters live, led by the king of horrors Jack Skellington.

Just before Christmas, Jack accidentally finds himself in the city of Christmas, where he learns that somewhere there is joy, goodness and fun.

He really wanted to experience this feeling - to give people happiness - and he kidnapped Santa Claus and took his place. The results were, however, the most deplorable, and no one, to put it mildly, liked his gifts. But he understood everything and corrected his mistake.

Kubo. Legend of the Samurai (2016)

Kubo is the heir to a great family, but when the spirits of the past returned, thirsting for revenge, only a strange couple of guardians dared to defend him.

And now for Kubo the only chance for salvation is to find the magical armor of his father, the legendary samurai.

Wild Ancestors (2018)

The Stone Age and even later civilizations are still wild ancestors, but how similar they were to us.

They also had too many relatives, and men fought for the woman they loved.

They also adored jewelry, played with a leather ball, and everyone aspired to be the first ...

Remembering the coolest failures of the Soviet child, she put Puppet cartoons in the first place - when the long-awaited cartoon (underlined in the program with a red pen) actually turned out to be "a wooden doll in the middle of artificial, devoid of sun, scenery." I can't help but agree with her. But were there really no good puppet cartoons in those days?

Were! And not only good, but even dispersed into quotes.

First of all, what comes to mind in this regard is a series of cartoons about the brownie Kuzya. “I’m not greedy, I’m homely”, “Nafanya! The chest was stolen! With fairy tales!”, “Oh, trouble, trouble, grief”, “From an early age I didn’t eat enough, slept without asking ... I didn’t get enough sleep, in general, I "," Where I want - I'm flying there! Where I want?! Where I'm flying ?!", and so on

Next, I want to recall a series of cartoons about the crocodile Gena and Cheburashka. Actually, Cheburashka generally became almost a symbol of Soviet animation. Well, and favorite quotes: "Whoever helps people is just wasting time. Ha ha! You can't become famous for good deeds!", "We built, built and finally built. Hooray!" will you take me?", "I'll show them how to offend Cheburasheks!"

You can say that the success of these cartoons was given by a good literary basis. But the "Adventures of the Dunno" and "The Wizard of the Emerald City" also had a good basis, but the puppet cartoons "didn't work"

The third series of puppet cartoons that even children liked is a cycle about the amusing relationships of four animals - the Monkey, the Elephant, the Parrot and the Boa constrictor. "I have a thought, and I think it!", "Let's! Let's ask me!", "I don't want to be, sorry, for example", "We won't name anyone, although it was a baby elephant"

Another series of puppet cartoons that did not cause disgust in childhood - about a woodsman named Uncle Au - "Ku-ku", "ku-ku" ... Cuckoo! I got bored ... I myself know without you that it's time to go to work ... "

You can also recall two cartoons about Devil No. 13 - "Love yourself, sneeze at everyone! And success awaits you in life!"

This is about cartoons. And there were also good single puppet cartoons - “The Wolf and the Calf” (“Children need cleanliness!

"Mitten" (here without quotes - there is not a single word in the cartoon),

"The kid who counted to ten" ("Well ... Now he counted you too! ..")

I may have missed something, but by and large, these are rather exceptions to the rule - we did not like puppet cartoons in childhood. But these examples show that the point is not that they are puppets, but the attitude of the creators towards these very puppets. If you set out to make a good cartoon - these examples say that it was possible. But, it seems that the overwhelming majority of puppeteers themselves played with dolls, for their own pleasure, not really thinking about the end result.

Sources

All videos taken from www.youtube.com

Nevertheless, secretly revives the genre of puppet horror, in which many masters of the screen worked enthusiastically, realizing their most intimate fantasies - from the erotomaniac Valerian Borovchik to the visionary Terry Gilliam. To us, shell-shocked by Soviet puppet animation, which frightened more than one generation of citizens to death, this topic is especially close. Apparently, there is something about dolls that attracts all sorts of strange types and damned geniuses. To explore the issue, we have collected ten of the most striking examples of puppet perversions in world cinema. The decadent puppet cartoon is back on horseback.

Guard Dog (Stille Nacht V: Dog Door, dir. Kuay Brothers, 2001)

Convinced decadent Kuai brothers are twin Americans who moved to the Old World in the late 60s and quickly became unsurpassed classics of the decadent puppet cartoon genre. There are no number of epigones of the brothers, but they themselves were inspired by the works of Starevich, Kafka, Bruno Schulz, Stravinsky, Borovchik, and later Shvankmayer, whom Western Europe discovered not at once. In popular culture, the brothers registered thanks to Peter Gabriel, for whom they filmed a video for the song Sledgehammer. A dog drooling to the infernal wheezing of Tom Waits is also a clip, although no television has dared to show it. Monstrous horror.

"Show half-wits" / Meet the Feebles / (1989) (dir. Peter Jackson, 1989)

When the new Middle Ages come and they begin to burn the classics, the top twenty martyrs will definitely include Jackson's "Show of the Fools", which, without any exception, can be put in our review almost completely. The only thing that reassures us is that manuscripts do not burn, and at least the immortal “Song of the Sodomite” will certainly be preserved for posterity. Classic.

Adventures of Mark Twain, The/ (1986) (dir. Will Vinton, 1986)

In 1986, director Will Winton decided to make an educational puppet cartoon based on the works of Mark Twain. A completely harmless story came out - an American classic flies on a comet through space in the company of teenagers, teaching them the mind. Everything was going well until Twain and the kids flew to the planet where Satan lives. The producers prudently decided not to get involved with Satan - they cut it out. This is such a children's film.

Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb, The/ (1993) (dir. David Borthwick, 1993)

In a family of London alcoholics, an underdeveloped embryo with a degenerate face is born - Boy-with-a-finger. After the brutal death of his parents in a fire, the midget leaves to wander, gets into a factory of genetically modified products and raises an uprising of mutants. The end of the tale came out sad: for ten years the director Borthwick was not taken anywhere. In 2005, he signed the sweet Magic Roundabout, The/ (2005), and one can only guess what Borthwick had in mind when he filmed this kind but unremarkable family-friendly fantasy.

Katakuri Family Happiness /Katakuri-ke no kofuku/ (2001) (dir. Takashi Miike, 2001)

For the complete happiness of puppet animation, one talented person was missing - Takashi Miike. Transferred to Japanese soil, Shvankmayer, Borovchik and the Kuai brothers, under his perspicacious leadership, gave birth to a monster - the initial part of the musical comedy Katakuri Family Happiness / Katakuri-ke no kofuku / (2001) about a family of murderers attacked by zombies. An ogre angel and a deadly teddy bear with iron claws have registered here. Click on "play" or not click - decide for yourself.

On March 21, a unique holiday was celebrated - the International Day of the Puppet Theatre. The idea of ​​its creation belongs to a prominent figure in the puppet theater Jivad Zolfagariho. In 2000, he brought up the idea of ​​celebrating the day of puppet theater at the international level, but the first celebration took place only in 2003. After all, it seems that offering something to celebrate is nowhere easier. Wherever there ... But no matter how stretched the implementation of the idea of ​​the International Day of the Puppet Theatre, this holiday still exists.

It is in his honor that our today's selection of cartoons is collected. The editors of Tlum.Ru present to your attention the top 10 Soviet puppet cartoons.

No. 10: The smallest gnome (1977)

Multi-part animated series about the gnome Vasya. He was so small that no one noticed him. Because of what the baby suffered a lot. The gnome's grandparents instruct: you need to do something good to be noticed. And Vasya goes in search of good deeds.

The cartoon mentions Snow White herself, and the famous Little Red Riding Hood is also shown. Vasya devotes one of the good deeds to this particular girl and her salvation, which becomes the next item on his list. In total, the animated series has 4 issues, and in each episode Vasya helps everyone. Based on the book "Little Dwarf Vasya" by Mikhail Lipskerov.

No. 9: Bunny-Knower (1976)

A typical confrontation between the Fox and the Hare. Once again trying to escape from the red cunning, the Hare meets a hunter in the forest and steals his gun. A real chaos begins: the cowardly Hare, having tasted the power, calls himself the most powerful animal in the forest. And to begin with, he settles in the Fox's house, where has this been seen?

Particularly noteworthy in the cartoon are songs that come in short inserts, but quickly talk about the character. The cartoon proves that courage cannot be so easily picked up, it must be brought up in oneself. And also - do not take someone else's good. Based on the play of the same name by Sergei Mikhalkov.

No. 8: Boatswain and Parrot (1982)

Excellent animated series, consisting of 5 issues. In the first episode, we are shown boatswain Roma, who gets his new parrot at night. And Roma predictably tries to get rid of the bird. From time to time giving it to new owners ... Roma gets the bird back. It's not as easy as it seems to get rid of a parrot. Returning home once again, Roma also sees Rita at home - a new parrot girlfriend. The boatswain resigns himself to his fate and the three of them live on.

No. 7: The Wizard of Oz (1973)

Multiseries cartoon. In 10 episodes they show the adventures of the girl Ellie, who got into the Magic Land. The whole cycle is dedicated to the journey of Ellie and her dog Totoshka, who meet both enemies and friends on their way. At the end, Ellie has to go back to Kansas. The animated series is accompanied by cheerful music and simple, but sincere songs. Based on the series of books "The Wizard of the Emerald City" by Alexander Volkov.

No. 6: The Kid Who Counted to Ten (1968)

Educational cartoon for the little ones. The snow-white kid learned to count to ten. And he began to count from himself, continuing to count with all his surroundings. Counting, he says, is not difficult at all. Who knew that the usual process of learning to count could end up with dubious reactions from other cattle. And an entertaining chase begins, the score on which does not end. This cartoon shows exactly: learning is light, and ignorance is darkness. It is an adaptation of a book by Norwegian writer Alf Preussen.

No. 5: Losharik (1971)

A circus cartoon about a juggler who dreamed of becoming a trainer. In one day, a real Losharik is formed from the balls. Together they become stars. The director of the circus decides that since the juggler was able to tame a strange animal like Losharik, he will be able to cope with a lion and a tiger. The only problem is that predators consider Losharik to be fake and refuse to perform with him. The sad little animal distributes its balloons to children who find themselves in the theater. The moral, in general, is elementary: everyone should be valued.

No. 4: The Wolf and the Calf (1984)

The wolf stole the calf, and he mistook him for a parent. The wolf is ashamed to eat a small child, and he begins to take care of him: cradle, feed and cherish. The wolf becomes a real father, who will bring both milk and hay. And together they and the Calf roar over "Mu-mu". Everyone thinks that the wolf raises the calf for slaughter, but this is not so ... The wolf fell in love with the calf as his own. That's all. Watching the most beautiful transformation of a calf is a pleasure. He voiced the Wolf himself.

Source: cartoons

No. 3: 38 Parrots (1976)

Animated series consisting of 10 episodes. The most amusing scenes from the communication of animals are familiar to many from childhood. In the opening episode, the company measures the boa constrictor. First in parrots, then in monkeys, and finally in elephants. Unobtrusive and short series are full of dialogues that, willy-nilly, are remembered for many years. The cartoon will teach you to do everything right with a capital letter. Recall that the animated series was filmed according to the script of Grigory Oster. Yes, yes, the same one who wrote "Bad Advice" and not only.

Puppet animation, thank the cinematic gods, lives and thrives. At least, judging by the new films that appear at the box office - in 2012 alone, Pirates! Gang of Losers" and "ParaNorman", with a difference of a couple of months, and in a couple of months the premiere of "Frankenweenie" by Tim Burton will take place.

This means that the form lives, breathes and develops - which cannot but rejoice. And to reinforce that joy, let's take a look at some of the recent creative use of puppet animation that has produced some great films.

ParaNorman, or How to Train Your Zombies

A new hello from the animation studio with the charming name Laika, who gave us "" Henry Selick. "ParaNorman", although it is not based on the books of the wonderful storyteller Neil Gaiman, is made in a similar vein. This is a wonderful scary tale in every sense about the meeting of a child with the other world, tender, touching, scary and wise in Miyazak's way (and sometimes just as bitter) in matters of the real alignment of the forces of good and evil in the relationship between the living and the dead. In other words, "ParaNorman" is a real modest diamond of this cinematic year, a film that you always want to carry in your pocket closer to your heart.

The beautiful English studio "Aardman" does not live alone with Wallace and Gromit - their last swim in the waters of full-length puppet animation, together with a company of cheerful pirates, turned out to be intoxicatingly funny, terribly hooligan and infectiously cheerful. Plus, "Pirates" once again confirmed the long-known truth - that English humor is a very peculiar and terribly beautiful thing.

The debut entry of Wes Anderson, clever and misanthropic, into puppet animation (based on the book by Roald Dahl) turned out to be almost the best film of his fifteen-year career. The vicissitudes of life as a cunning fox with the voice of George Clooney, who had to simultaneously solve the problems of a neighborhood with three of the worst farmers, delve into issues of family life and parenting, and deal with self-identity, gave Anderson a lot of opportunities to unfold his usual tragicomic drama (or dramatic comedy) , performed in an individual intonation - at the junction of a kind smile and almost imperceptible evil sarcasm. Well, "Mr. Fox" looked wonderful - bathed in an amazing amber-yellow light, from which one clearly wanted to settle in this beautiful puppet world forever.

The Australian response to Chamberlain is a wonderful full-length cartoon of a man named Adam Elliot, a work with a very special intonation, at the complex intersection of macabre absurdity and the most tender family melodrama. Mary and Max is Elliot's debut feature film; I would like to think that this author, unpredictable and not afraid of difficult topics, will surprise and delight us all more than once.

Panic in the village

Greetings from the Belgian animators, a movie about the adventures of a toy cowboy, an Indian and a horse, whose efforts make their entire toy village go crazy. It is distinguished by a pleasant degree of general madness of what is happening - the word "panic" in the title perfectly conveys the feverish intonation of this rather rudely executed, but despite this (or maybe because of this) irresistible work.