Creepy early stop-motion puppetry, Russian-style

I like to watch Classic Arts Showcase, a channel which shows a variety of videos of classical music, ballet, and short art films. One of the latter pieces was a short movie for children by Ladislaw Starewicz, and it was weird and creepy. It reminded me of those disturbing Russian playground statues, a little.

So I looked him up on youtube, and found several bits by him. Erg! Even more strange.

Here’s one about Father Christmas from 1913, featuring bugs and frogs. Real, dead, animated bugs and frogs. Had I seen this as a kid, I’d have had nightmares for weeks.

Here’s an excerpt entitled The Devil’s Ball, from a longer film called The Mascot.

Ah, found the one I saw on Classic Arts Showcase: Winter Carousel. I think it’s the animals’ little human fingers that creeped me out.

Still, I like to watch them. Must be morbid fascination.

Those creepy things were NOT meant for children!!! Why does everyone assume stop-motion and cartoons are just kid stuff??

I know exactly what you are talking about. In the late 70’s-early 80’s there was a late-night syndicated show featuring music videos and weird stuff called ‘Night Flight’, and they showed clips of The Devil’s Ball. I would come home late at night and watch simultaneously mesmerized and terrified! :eek: It took me years to find out what that was and who made it. I contacted a site about ‘King Kong’ and asked if they knew, and an old man replied and told me all about The Devil’s Ball.

I actually ordered a video of this off of Amazon, and we watched it, and I agree it is extremely creepy, like a bizarre nightmare. But it is absolutely fascinating and a real work of art! :slight_smile: