Our third volume of classic & rare Soviet animated gems from the vaults of Soyuzmultfilm studios is focused on the short films of legendary animator Yuri Norstein (b. 1941). This first-ever U.S. Blu-ray release of Norstein’s films features several rare shorts new to home video, all newly restored by Deaf Crocodile and co-presented with Seagull Films:

THE 25TH, THE FIRST DAY (25-E – PERVYY DEN) – 1968, 9 min., co-dir. Arkadiy Tyurin. Norstein’s first film is a visually striking tribute to the Bolshevik Revolution on October 25th.

SEASONS (VREMENA GODA) – 1969, 9 min. A man and woman ride through the forest while the seasons change around them in this lovely, elegiac short set to music by Tchaikovsky.

CHILDREN AND MATCHES (DETI I SPICHKI) – 1969, 5 min. Norstein’s rarely-seen educational short about the dangers of matches, from ancient times up to today.

THE BATTLE OF KERZHENETS (SECHA PRI KERZHENTSE) – 1971, 10 min., co-dir. Ivan Ivanov-Vano. Arguably Norstein’s first great animated film, inspired by the legend of the City of Kitezh which disappeared into a lake to avoid Mongol invaders.

THE FOX & THE HARE (LISA I ZAYATS) – 1973, 12 min. Norstein’s utterly charming short about a temperamental “house-filching fox” who boots a poor rabbit out of its home. The rabbit turns to a wolf, bear, bull and rooster for help, with surprising results.

THE HERON & THE CRANE (TSAPLYA I ZHURAVL) – 1974, 10 min. An awkward crane and a high-spirited heron go back and forth on marrying each other, in this heartbreaking short about romantic misunderstandings.

HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG (YOZHIK V TUMANE) – 1975, 11 min. The deceptively epic journey of the tiny hedgehog, filled with impossible marvels and dangers: a shimmering white horse and a crafty owl. A fluttering bat, a falling leaf and the ever-present curtain of fog. Widely considered one of the greatest animated films ever made.

A DAY BEFORE OUR ERA (ZA DEN DO’ NASHEY ERY) – 1977, 6 min. Co-dir. Fyodor Khitruk. This experimental collage of images of the French Revolution was apparently abandoned before it was finished, and remains one of Norstein’s rarest films.

THE TALE OF TALES (SKAZKA SKAZOK) – 1979, 29 min. Norstein’s longest film to date, TALE is a story about stories, a dream of many dreams. A giant bull and a little girl skip rope. Couples dance under a streetlight until the male partners disappear, headed off to war. And through it all, the Little Grey Wolf watches silently at the rondo of human loves and losses. Note: there is a very minor audio error in this short. Future printings of the standard edition will have this fixed. Those future printings will be noted as such. We will also post a free digital download of the fixed version.

For thoughts on Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 3, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

This collection of short films debuts on Blu-Ray domestically in the original aspect ratios with new 1080p masters derived from 2K scans of the Original Camera Negative conducted by Deaf Crocodile, with additional assistance from Michael Coronado. The only exception to this is Seasons, which was restored from a 35mm anamorphic print, which was the best available element. This third volume continues to show why the label is considered a savior of international animation to many. While there may be some fleeting source-related shortcomings, such as the aforementioned Seasons, these films look pretty amazing as they dazzle in their natural state. With a less considerate label, you may have had ugly DNR robbing the image of its authentic character, but Deaf Crocodile always preserves without trying to change the characteristics of the art. They have yet to make a misstep in this series.

There is a loving array of animation styles at play throughout this collection, and every artistic decision looks spectacularly rendered. Black levels are deep with no glaring issues with banding or compression. The deep colors featured in these works are a delight with complex hues unlocking their grandeur. The totality of the palette looks cohesive within each short and flows from moment to moment. You will not observe any unsightly aliasing, banding, or jagged edges. This release celebrates a filmmaker who has never received such a loving spotlight, and the viewers are the beneficiaries of such efforts. Deaf Crocodile is working on another level compared to most labels.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track for each work in the original Russian (with optional English and English SDH subtitles newly translated for this release), which holds up every bit as well as the video presentation. Each story utilizes unique environmental sound effects, such as winter winds and battle cries, that make an impression when necessary within the mix. The restoration efforts aid in the avoidance of popping, crackling, and signs of distortion here. The music complements the tone of each outing with an ideal presence and clear fidelity. Dialogue comes through pleasantly without sound effects or the score overshadowing vital information. The track handles every element harmoniously. The audio tracks are as strong as one could wish.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 3 arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes a 60-page bound book featuring essays by film historians Jenny Barker, John Adkins, and Walter Chaw. This provides great insight into the films, the filmmaker, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: Film scholar Michael Brooke delivers a deeply informative commentary track for every short on this disc. Throughout these tracks, he explores the career of Yuri Norstein, the influences on the utilized styles, artistic compromises that the filmmaker regretted, shorts that he disowned, how certain themes tie into the political landscape, the development of certain styles, and much more.

Nature, Texture, and Patience – The Films of Yuri Norstein: A 21-minute visual essay from film historian Evan Chester that explores the background and style of Yuri Norstein, influences on his work, how his work fits into the history of Russian animation, lessons learned from censorship issues, the evolution of his work, collaborations with wife Francheska Yarbusova, backgrounds of various folktales, and more.

Yuri Norstein – Making the Overcoat: A 113-minute documentary that looks at the unfinished film that has been in production for over 40 years. There are discussions of heartbreaking obstacles, such as the death of his friend and cinematographer, and there is also unhinged harassment from the director towards Norstein to get the film completed. A wild, messy documentary that I’m glad was included.

Final Thoughts

Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 3 is already a strong contender for one of the most rewarding releases of the year. Even if you are a hardcore fan of animation, you will likely only know a few of the most high-profile works from the great Yuri Norstein. That leaves numerous gems just waiting to be discovered, or at least rediscovered, in the best presentation that has ever been presented publicly. These films cover a pretty broad range of style and topics, but they all contain a strong creative vision that constantly reminds you that you are in the hands of a singular talent. If you love inventive and moving animation, do not miss your chance to have this in your collection. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports an exquisite A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features. We are on board for however many volumes that they want to release. Highly Recommended

Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 3 is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.