Advent Animation 2014 – Dec 11: The Star of Bethlehem (Lotte Reiniger)
If you’ve taken an animation history class, you have probably seen at least some of Lotte Reiniger’s The Adventures of Prince Achmed. But usually the history lesson moves on quickly to Oskar Fischinger and the rest of the German Expressionists, perhaps with a mention that Reiniger made other fairy tale films in her signature silhouette style.
Actually, she made nearly 70 films.
All of them directed designed and animated herself. I think this “First Lady” of animation deserves a bit more screen time, so as a Throwback Thursday Special, here is her “Star of Bethlehem”. Reiniger originally made The Star of Bethlehem in 1921 in Germany, but remade the film in color in 1956 after emigrating to the UK (above is a 5 minute excerpt of the 12 minute film). This production features elaborate colored background made from translucent colored paper. This innocuous bedtime-story version of the biblical Christmas, with it’s soothing narration is a little “away in a manger” for modern audiences. If that’s the case, check out this gorgeous documentation of the artwork on the BFI website. And, just to blow your mind a bit, watch how Reiniger wields her scissors in this documentary about her technique. She is a cut-out ninja!
#AdventAnimation is a daily showcase of holiday themed animation. If you are working on something with a touch of holiday cheer that will be released sometime between 1 December and Christmas Eve, drop me a note and I will put it into consideration.