Although Bruno Bozzetto is best known in America for Allegro Non Troppo, his animated feature spoofing Disney's Fantasia, his short films have been winning awards at international festivals for three decades. These more personal films use simple graphics, lively animation, and nonverbal soundtracks to present wry commentaries on the problems of a neurotic and wasteful society. In a live-action interview from his home in Bergamo, Italy, Bozzetto talks about his interest in using animation to make audiences laugh and think; these imaginative shorts fulfill both functions admirably. In "Self-Service," he uses silly-looking mosquitoes to satirize Prohibition and the madness of a petroleum-based economy. "Baby Story" offers a singularly absurd look at the facts of life, while the delightfully macabre "Dancing" gives new meaning to the old concept of the dance of death. "Grasshoppers" juxtaposes the rise and fall of human empires with the annual reappearance of grass and the insects that feed upon it. One image represents balance and harmony; the other, wanton cruelty and destruction. Bozzetto's early successes, "Tapum: A History of Weapons" and "Two Castles," aren't included on this tape, but it remains a delightful sampling of the talented filmmaker's work. This unrated video is suitable for ages 14 and older for adult themes, cartoon nudity, and violence. The collection contains: 1. [+]

Masters of Russian Animation Volume 1: Film Film Film by Fyodor Khitruk (20min) Girlfriend by Yelena Gavrilko (10 min) Hunt by Eduard Nazarov (10 min) Ballerina on the Boat by Lev Atamanov (17 min) Masters of Russian Animation Volume 2: Island by Fyodor Khitruk (9. 30 min) Singing Teacher by Anatoly Petrov. (3 min) Last Hunt by Valentine Karavayev (10 min) Old Stair by Alexander Gorlenko (7 min) Liberated Don Quixote by Vadim Kurchevsky (18 min) Masters of Russian Animation Volume 3: Contact by Vladimir Tarasov (10 min) Travels of an Ant by Eduard Nazarov (10 min) Cat & Company by Alexander Guriev (10 min) Tale of Tales by Yuri Norstein.

YURI NORSTEIN is universally considered the most remarkable director to emerge from the current generation of Russian animators. Although his body of completed work is less than 80 minutes in length, its impact has been so profound that he is regularly ranked one of the world's greatest contemporary directors. Most of his films were made by the same small team, his wife the artist Francesca Yarbusova, his cameraman the late Alexander Zhukovsky, and the late composer M. Meyerovich. All of the films included in this edition of the Norstein Collection were digitally re-mastered from new 35mm prints under the supervision of Zhukovsky, to whom it is dedicated. Films included in the video: TALE OF TALES, HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG, HERON AND CRANE, FOX AND RABBIT, BATTLE OF KERJENETS (co-directed with I. Ivanov-Vano) and 25th-First Day.

Following the artistic revolution created at Soyuzmultfilm by Fyodor Khitruk, a new school of Russian animation directors emerged. Among them was Khrjanovsky - an intellectual and connoisseur of world art, utterly ireverent of the animation industry's previous artistic and literary constraints. His films are rich in symbolism and characterized by artistic integrity and fresh dramatic structure. Khrjanovsky was the first animation director to work with Schnittke, one of contemporary Russia's most important composers. Schnittke supported himself for more than a decade writing scores for feature films. He also composed the music for more than half of Khrjanovsky's films. Some of their unique collaborations are represented here, as well as two films made by Khrjanovsky but scored by other composers, and “Ballerina on a Boat,” the masterful animated ballet Schnittke scored for the legendary Lev Atamanov. Includes: THERE LIVED KOZYAVIN (1966) Directorial debut of Khrjanovsky. Music by G. Lukianov. [+]