This is the second volume in a series of new restorations of classic & rare Soviet animated gems from the vaults of the legendary Soyuzmultfilm studios, focused on Soviet-Armenian director Lev Atamanov (1905-1981). Atamanov was a brilliantly creative artist whose lyrical storytelling and stunning imagery put him on par with masters such as Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki, who praised THE SNOW QUEEN as “my destiny and my favorite film.”

THE SNOW QUEEN (SNEZHNAYA KOROLEVA) – 1957, 65 min. Atamanov’s sublime and terrifyingly beautiful masterpiece, based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, follows a resourceful young girl, Gerda (voiced by Yanina Zheymo), as she embarks on an epic journey to save her friend Kay (Anna Komolova) from the frozen embraces of the magnificent Snow Queen (Mariya Babanova.) “Had I not one day seen ‘The Snow Queen’ during a film screening hosted by the company labor union, I honestly doubt that I would have continued working as an animator.” – Hayao Miyazaki

THE SCARLET FLOWER (ÁLENKIY TSVETÓTCHEK) – 1952, 42 min. Dir. Lev Atamanov. An almost impossibly lovely, bejeweled fantasy adventure, a mixture of Ptushko’s THE STONE FLOWER and SADKO with Cocteau’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST. A ship’s captain promises his youngest daughter Nastenka (voiced by Nina Krachkovskaya) a scarlet flower as a gift. But when he plucks it, the enraged beast who owns it demands a sacrifice – and Nastenka offers herself up as the monster’s prisoner on an enchanted isle.

THE KEY (KLYUCH) – 1961, 58 min. Atamanov’s delightfully quirky gem is one of his most surprising efforts, a surreal parable about the benefits of Magic vs. the value of Good Hard Work. THE KEY is told in a totally different visual style than Atamanov’s lush earlier works, closer to the mid-century modern look of UPA circa “Gerald McBoing Boing” and “Mr. Magoo.” All three films in Russian with English subtitles. Co-presented with Seagull Films.

For thoughts on Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 2, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The Snow Queen, The Scarlet Flower, and The Key debut on Blu-Ray domestically in their original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with new 1080p masters. The trio was scanned by the Gosfilmofond film archive with image restoration conducted by Deaf Crocodile. This second volume is every bit as astounding as the debut entry, and the label has once again conjured real magic to make this animation look as breathtaking as intended. With multiple future releases planned in this line, animation fans are going to be eating well for a while. The level of care put forth is unrivaled in terms of restoration and translating it to physical media.

There are a variety of styles at play throughout this collection, but every artistic flourish looks impeccably rendered. You will not spot any unsightly aliasing, banding, or jagged edges. The films have been restored to eradicate all dirt, scratches, and damage, but the natural texture of each work is preserved. Essentially, every stroke and artistic intention is carefully preserved and allowed to look crisp and natural. The entirety of the palette looks cohesive and flows from scene to scene. The deep colors featured in this transfer are stunning with these multifaceted hues tapping into their appropriate depth. Black levels are strong with no serious issues with banding or compression. This Blu-Ray is an A+ viewing experience that never disappoints. Deaf Crocodile will always be cherished by us.

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) which has been handled with the same degree of care as the video side of things. The dutiful restorations ensure there are no popping, crackles, or signs of distortion here. The score establishes the mood of each outing with a noble presence and clear fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without sound effects or the music overshadowing important information. These journeys deploy unique environmental sound effects, such as blowing wind and ocean waves, that thrive as needed within the mix. The track handles every noise in a balanced manner. The audio tracks provided are wonderful.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 2 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 historian Rolf Giesen and film critic Walter Chaw. This provides great insight into the films, the creative, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: Film historian Rolf Giesen delivers informative commentary tracks for all three features on this disc in which he touches on the history of Soviet animation, the background of director Lev Atamanov, the different styles of the animation, how certain themes evoke the era, and much more.

- The Scarlet Flower

- The Snow Queen

- The Key

Written with Ice Crystals – Master Soviet Animator Lev Atamanov and The Snow Queen: A 19-minute visual essay from film historian Evan Chester that explores the background and style of Lev Atamanov, thematic underpinnings of some of his work, differences from some of the source material, how “Soviet values” impacted certain narrative decisions, and more.

Innocence & Cynicism – The Snow Queen and Hayao Miyazaki: An 11-minute visual essay from animation expert John Adkins of Animation Obsessive explores the pivotal moment that Hayao Miyazaki watched The Snow Queen, what drove his love of the film, how it influenced his work, and more.

Final Thoughts

Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 2 is an exciting continuation of an invaluable series curated by one of the best labels in the business. While there is at least an outside chance American animation fans have seen The Snow Queen in some form, this particular set proves to be a treasure trove of discovery for those who love the art form. Lev Atamanov was a genius when it came to his work, and it is heartening to see it represented for everyone to recognize with the appropriate fervor. All three of these films are stunning works of art and extremely entertaining. It is an easy decision to add this to your collection if you are an animation fan. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports a 5-star A/V presentation and a terrific assortment of special features. We anxiously await the next volume in the series. Highly Recommended

Treasures of Soviet Animation: Volume 2 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.