Do the influential know that they are changing the game? Do they know that they’re about to change the world? Walt Disney sure thought so when he released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). But what if there was more to the history of animated film?
11 years prior, the first surviving animated film was released. The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) was animated using cutup pieces of paper for the characters. Visually, the film is astonishing. It’s impossible to not recognize that craftsmanship that Lotte Reiniger put into every frame of film. You can see each intricate piece of paper that represents multiple parts of their body.
The one thing that’s really important to mention is the dated designs for some characters. The strange emphasis that the film places on the “african wizard” who fits the stereotypical design that they placed on minorities at the time. The film’s primary conflict is also caused by the main character kidnapping the love interest and then getting mad when she gets taken from them.
If you love animated films, I highly encourage you to check this out. It’s important to know the history of this medium and this one truly stands out for its time.
3.5/5