Now in France, Starewitch creates his first feature film. It tells the comedic story of a troublesome fox in the court of a lion king. With gorgeous overall production value and distinctive animation style, this film was a clear influence on Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).
1933 - King Kong, animation by Willis O’Brien
The most famous stop motion character in history, the charming (and terrifying) Kong was a massive hit the world over, and served as a huge inspiration for thousands of animation and special effects artists.
1933 - The Mascot, Ladislas Starewitch
This is a charming story of a stop motion puppy that tries to cheer up a sick (live action) child by finding her a juicy orange. Along the way, the puppy meets the devil, a thief, a dancing girl, and a very creepy monkey. The “Devil’s Ball” party sequence is a must-see, as it’s a wonderful showcase of Starewitch’s brilliant character designs as well as his sophisticated animation skills.
1935 - The New Gulliver, by Alex Ptushko
In this Russian feature, you’ll find a remarkable number of charming toy-like puppets on display, as they make life difficult for the live action Gulliver.
.
