Сказка сказок (Tale of Tales)

Year: 1979
Director: Yuriy Norshteyn
Country: Russia
Language: Russian (Although a lullaby is the only dialogue in the film)
Duration: 29 Minutes
Genre: Artistic Film
Plot: I honestly have trouble for the plot. It seems to be about three different sequences which are not only out of order but also is interspersed between each other.

This is the first film which I have given 5 stars to on my first watch. This means that this film actually has a chance to be my new #1 favorite film in the near future. It is from the same director that made Hedgehog in the Fog (Which makes Yuriy the only director to have 2 films that have 5 stars) but is a lot more artistic than Hedgehog in the Fog. Unlike that film, Tale of Tales has very little to no dialogue. The only dialogue is a lullaby which is repeat multiple times throughout the film. After viewing this film, I still do not understand most of it, but it doesn't mean that this film is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. Also, two international juries considered this film to be the greatest animated film of all time.

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Yozhik v tumane (Hedgehog in the Fog)

Year: 1975
Director: Yuriy Norshteyn
Country: Russia
Language: Russia (English Subs Hard Subbed)
Duration: 10 Minutes
Genre: Mystery/Drama
Plot: A little hedgehog, on the way to visit his friend the bear, gets lost in thick fog, where horses, dogs and even falling leaves take on a terrifying new aspect...

This short film was the first short film I have watched, and it remains as the best short film I have ever seen thus far. The animation style is captivating, and the music perfectly sets the mood for every minute of the film. This film has also became a landmark for animated films. Hayao Miyazaki, one of my all time favorite directors, stated that this film was a major influence for him. In fact, they have even created a statue for the main character in the film, which is located in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine.

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