Yuri Borisovich Norshtein… This name is known to everyone who is at least a little familiar with Soviet animation. You will learn about the milestones of the biography and the main works of the famous animator from our article.
Norstein: a genius from the outback
In 2016, the outstanding animated film director celebrated his 75th birthday. Yuri Norstein was born in the village of Andreevka, Penza region, in the family of a teacher and a simple worker. He spent his childhood in Moscow, in Maryina Roshcha. Here the Norshtein family lived in a tiny room in an ordinary communal apartment.
At the same time, Yuri attends both regular and art schools, and in 1959 he enters animation courses at the Soyuzmultfilm film studio. Here he meets a galaxy of famous directors and animators. Yuri Norshtein himself chooses children's animation for himself. Between 1961 and 1973 he takes part in the creation of a number of cartoons ("Lefty", "Vacation of Boniface", "Mitten" and others).
Norshtein's debut as an independent director took place in the animated film "25th, the firstday" (1968), dedicated to the events of the October Revolution. Three years later, another landmark work by Yuri Borisovich, The Battle of Kerzhents, was published, which won several prestigious awards at once (in Zagreb, Tbilisi and New York).
Since the beginning of the 90s, Yuri Norshtein has been devoting a lot of time to teaching. He gives lectures and master classes, not only in Russia, but also abroad (in Italy, France, Poland, Japan and other countries). In his creative arsenal there are two books about the art of animation ("The Tale of Tales" and "Snow on the Grass").
Yuri Norstein: films and awards
"You have to die to truly make a movie"
Once the famous Japanese animator, winner of two Oscars Hayao Miyazaki was asked: "Which modern director do you admire?". And he named the name of the Soviet animator, the creator of "Hedgehog in the Fog." Yuri Borisovich Norshtein is the director of a dozen animated films. His most famous works:
- "Seasons".
- Heron and Crane.
- "Hedgehog in the Fog".
- "Tale of fairy tales".
- "Winter Days".
Besides this, as an animator, he took part in the creation of many other Soviet cartoons. Among them are the creations loved by all - "Cheburashka", "Boniface's Vacation", "38 Parrots" and others. Yuri Borisovich also created one of the screensavers for the program "Good night, kids!". True, to many it seemed rather strange and creepy.
Yuri Norshtein, no doubt,very talented. And his talent is confirmed by dozens of various awards and prizes. Among them are the State Prize of the USSR, the A. Tarkovsky Prize, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun. Most of all domestic and foreign awards were collected by two of his works - "The Tale of Tales" and "The Hedgehog in the Fog".
Yuri Norstein: quotes and public position
"Everything that can be explained lies beyond creativity"
This quote characterizes the work of Yuri Norshtein in the best possible way. This is exactly how he creates: intuitively, sensually. The famous director is sure that in animation it is not so much the quality of the picture that is important, but how much it truthfully conveys the feelings and emotions of its author.
Yuri Norshtein does not remain aloof from modern socio-political processes both in Russia and around the world. So, he rather sharply condemned the terrorist attack that occurred in the editorial office of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, and repeatedly spoke in support of members of the rock group Pussy Riot convicted of a scandalous trick in the temple. Norstein also approved the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
"Hedgehog in the Fog": a masterpiece of Soviet animation
"If I don't wipe the stars every night, they will surely grow dim…"
In 2003, at the Laputa International Film Festival in Tokyo, "Hedgehog in the Fog" was recognized as the best cartoon of all time. What is the secret of the genius of this creation of Norshtein? First of all, this cartoon is unique in many ways. He is naive, a little psychedelic, with a touch of light but sweetsad.
Children were attracted by this work with soft animation and warm, memorable characters. An adult viewer found here a certain philosophy, a lot of allegories and symbols. Some even believe that this is a cartoon about friendship, knowledge and the Russian cultural code. By the way, the amazing fog effect in this film was achieved by Norshtein very simply - using white paper and ordinary thin tracing paper.
The film "Hedgehog in the Fog" has already entered the history of animation. And not only domestic, but also worldwide. It is safe to say that more than one generation of children will grow up on these funny cartoon characters.
