The tradition of Estonian animation dates back to the 1930s when the first experimental films were made. The only surviving short film from the era is ''
Kutsu-Juku seiklusi
The Adventures of Juku The Dog (1931) ( et, Kutsu-Juku seiklusi) is the first Estonian experimental animated short film, written and directed by Voldemar Päts, produced by Aleksaner Teppor and animation by cartoonist Elmar Jaanimägi. For the ...
'' (Adventures of Juku the dog) (1931). After the
Great Depression,
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, and Soviet Occupation interrupted its development, Estonian animation was reborn in 1958.
Elbert Tuganov founded a
puppet film division
Nukufilm in Tallinnfilm Studio. The first film was titled ''Peetrikese unenägu'' based on a Danish writer
Jens Sigsgaard's children story ''Palle alene i verden''.
Joonisfilm an 2D and 3D animation division of Tallinnfilm was founded by
Rein Raamat in 1971. Films like ''Põld'' (1978), nominee for Golden Palm at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
in 1979; ''Lend'' (1973), the winner of Special Jury Award at the
Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
World Festival of Animated Film Zagreb ( hr, Svjetski festival animiranog filma), also known as Animafest Zagreb, is a film festival entirely dedicated to animated film held annually in Zagreb, Croatia. Initiated by the International Animated Fi ...
; the ''Suur Tõll'' (1980), 2nd place at
Ottawa International Animation Festival
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is an annual animated film and media festival that takes place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The OIAF was founded in 1975, with the first festival held from August 10 to 15 in 1976. Initially organized by ...
in 1982 and ''Põrgu'' (Hell) (1983), the winner of FIPRESCI Prize and Special Jury Award at the
Annecy International Animated Film Festival
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival (french: Festival international du film d'animation d'Annecy, officially abbreviated in English as the Annecy Festival, or simply Annecy) was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of J ...
made Raamat the first internationally recognized Estonian animation director.
Since Estonia regained independence in 1991 Nukufilm and Joonisfilm continued to operate as private companies owned by the filmmakers. During the era internationally most successful Estonian animation director has been
Priit Pärn
Priit Pärn (born 26 August 1946 in Tallinn) is an Estonian cartoonist and animation director whose films have enjoyed success among critics as well as the public at various film festivals.
Pärn formerly worked as a plant ecologist; his car ...
the winner of Grand Prize at the
Ottawa International Animation Festival
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is an annual animated film and media festival that takes place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The OIAF was founded in 1975, with the first festival held from August 10 to 15 in 1976. Initially organized by ...
in 1998 for
Porgandite öö (Night of the Carrots).
''Crocodile'' by Kaspar Jancis was selected to be the Best European Anima film at
Cartoon d'or 2010. The other film of Jancis "Villa Antropoff" was awarded with the Special Mention at the
Scanorama Festival.
See also
*
References
Animation techniques
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