The Films of Yuri Norstein

The Overcoat

Invalid date •Russian

The life and death of titular councillor Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin, an impoverished government clerk and copyist in the Russian capital of St. Petersburg.

A Hedgehog Came Out of the Fog

September 2011 •Russian

Norstein conquered the world 36 years ago with the creation of the legendary Hedgehog in the Fog. It was recognized as the best cartoon of all times and peoples according to a survey of film critics and animators from different countries.

The Velveteen Rabbit

November 2023 •English

When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.

Little Bear: Little Goblin Bear

August 1999 •English

Similar to the DVD format, Little Goblin Bear is the VHS version of this story. With tales of "Goblin Night, Moonlight Serenade, How to Scare Ghosts and Thunder Monster"

Автомобиль с хвостиком

February 1973 •Russian

Alyonushka and the Soldier

February 1974 •Russian

Snake Gorynych kidnapped the girl Alyonushka. Only a soldier can save her, who, thanks to his ingenuity, led the villain.…

The Sifl and Olly Show

April 1997 •English

Sock puppets Sifl and Olly parody popular songs.

The Return from Olympus

February 1969 •Russian

Olympus. Here are all the most important gods: mighty Zeus, his treacherous wife Hera, handsome singer Apollo, ruler of the seas Poseidon, warrior Ares, goddess of beauty and love Aphrodite and wise Athena. Here is the illegitimate son of Zeus, Hercules - a demigod-half-man. Having missed the Earth, he begs for travel on it from Zeus before sunrise. He is accompanied by an eagle - a cunning and insinuating creature, the same one who once pecked Prometheus and from which Hercules saved him. On Earth, Hercules enters the temple dedicated to him and his twelve feats. There he remembers some of them.

Hercules and Admetus

February 1986 •Russian

Admetus, king of Feres, makes an agreement with the Fates to postpone the date of his death, in exchange for someone else taking his place, without knowing that the chosen one will be his beloved wife Alcestis. Desperate, Admetus asks Hercules for help in rescuing Alcestis from death... An animated short film based on the Greek myth of Admetus and Alcestis.

Olympians

February 1982 •Russian

This is a somewhat ironic, but very informative story about the origin, development and decline of the Greek Olympiad tradition, set out with the help of an off-screen commentary read by Z. Gerdt. Ancient history is described in great detail and exciting. In the graphic decision, artists were guided by the ancient Greek monuments, first of all - vase paintings, stylized for them and characters, and decorations, up to imitation cracks. In the film there are a lot of full-scale shots, and in particular it is interesting to frame the photographs of the bas-reliefs of the Pergamon altar shot by Yuriy Norshtein. The film ends with documentary shots of the opening of the Olympics-80 in Moscow.

Perseus

June 1973 •Russian

The cunning king Polidekt of the island of Serif sends the young hero Perseus to get the head of Gorgon Medusa, whose gaze turns people to stone. He is accompanied by the god of commerce and profits and the patron of thieves and athletes, Hermes, who pursues his personal interests. Perseus gets the head of Medusa, but uses it to save Andromeda, the daughter of King Kef.

Prometheus

February 1974 •Russian

The story of the titan Prometheus, who stole fire from Olympus for people and was severely punished for this by Zeus: Prometheus' friend the blacksmith Hephaestus was forced to chained him to the rock, and every day the eagle that flew from Olympus pecked the recovering liver of Prometheus. But the agony of Prometheus was not in vain - people preserved his sacred gift.

The Labyrinth

February 1971 •Russian

A cartoon version of the Greek myth of Labyrinth.

Colorful Ninja Iromaki

March 2016 •Japanese

Third-grader Himeno moves to a huge mansion in the country. However, she soon finds out it's a ninja house! The ninjas Akamaki, Aomaki, and Kiiromaki mistake Himeno for a princess and begin solving problems for her with their own unique skills. But that is not the full extent of their powers! When Aomaki and Kiiromaki combine, they form Midorimaki. Similarly, when Akamaki and Aomaki combine, they form Murasakimaki; and when Akamaki and Kiiromaki combine, they form Daidaimaki. Life with these colorful ninjas has only begun when they discover a large tornado heading for the mansion. What will happen to Himeno's family? Can the colorful ninjas protect Himeno?

The Charanpo Land Adventure

March 2017 •Japanese

At the far end of the Southern Seas, where none had dared to go, there exists an island called Charanpo Land. At the center of that island is a giant baobab tree, which produces many eggs each day. Inside the eggs are food, clothing, and other daily necessities. The inhabitants of the island live carefree lives, dependent upon the eggs. But lately, more and more of the eggs have been turning up empty, which makes the inhabitants uneasy. Then one day, with a thunderous crash, and an explosion of rainbow-colored light, the baobab tree produces an egg of curious appearance. The next morning, the village chief Poncho tells the inhabitants that they must find that egg. Now the tiger Kometora and a group of children must find the egg within the forest.

Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley

November 2009 •English

Big Chris leads a chorus of characters from various animated children's television shows in a medley of seven songs: 1. "Can You Feel It" 2. "Don't Stop" 3. "Jai Ho!" 4. "Tubthumping" 5. "Never Forget" 6. "Hey Jude" 7. "One Day Like This"

Genbanojō

April 2017 •Japanese

In a cone-shaped land named Kikyōgahara in Shin Province, there lives a girl named Hana. She is a gentle girl, who always thinks of her family, in particular her great-grandmother Chiyo, whom she affectionately calls "Granny." One day, a traveling entertainment troupe named the Natsugawa Genzaemon Troupe happens by, and the villagers welcome them warmly. Upon finishing their performance and receiving their acclaim, the troupe's leader spots Hana with some "oyaki," his favorite food, and transforms into a fox in his excitement. It turns out that the leader Genbanojō, and his companions O-Natsu and Shinzaemon, are all foxes who have taken on human forms. Genbanojō hastily negotiates with Hana, telling her that in exchange for keeping their secret, he will grant her one wish. She answers, "I want to let my Granny see the cherry blossoms."

Zunda Horizon

March 2017 •Japanese

Zunko Tohoku can make any mochi into delicious zunda mochi by shooting it with her Zunda Arrow. Along with Kiritan Tohoku, Itako Tohoku, Usagi Chūgoku, Metan Shikoku, and Sora Kyushu, she enjoys eating zunda mochi while being full of happiness. Chanko Ōedo conversely leads the Natto Factory along with her companions Tsurugi Chubu, Shinobi Kansai, Awamo Okinawa, and Meron Hokkaido. Even though zunda and natto use the same type of bean, the edamame used in zunda and the soy beans used in natto are harvested at different times, with edamame being harvested first. As a result, the members of the Natto Factory are afraid of a decrease in the quantity of soybeans harvested. Chanko sends Awamo Okinawa and Meron Hokkaido to Zunko's house to assassinate her, but a third power makes their appearance.

Red Ash: Gearworld

April 2017 •Japanese

In a futuristic world, the "Nanorace," people whose genes contain nanomachines that grant them special abilities, are controlled and suffer prejudice from the "Purerace" of normal human beings. Beck, a legendary hunter with the power of "Red Ash," aims to undergo the surgical procedure to become Purerace. Alongside the large yet timid mechanic Tyger, they use their parallel machine to fly to the old world, doing dangerous jobs. One day, they suddenly run into Call, a girl pursued by the duo of Safari and Stripe. Call, Beck, and Tyger together travel to the clockwork world. But Safari, Stripe, and their leader Deny, stubbornly pursue Call, and are finally in a position to make their attack on Beck and his friends.