Yuri Borisovich Norshtein … This name is known to everyone who is even a little familiar with Soviet animation. You will learn about the milestones of the biography and the main works of the famous animator-animator from our article.
Norshtein: a genius from the outback
In 2016, the outstanding animated film director celebrated his 75th birthday. Yuri Norshtein was born in the village of Andreevka in the Penza region, in the family of a teacher and a simple worker. He spent his childhood in Moscow, in Maryina Grove. Here the Norshtein family lived in a tiny little room of an ordinary communal apartment.
At the same time, Yuri attended both an ordinary and an art school, and in 1959 he entered the animator courses at the Soyuzmultfilm film studio. Here he meets a galaxy of famous directors and animators. Yuri Norshtein himself chooses for himself children's animation. In the period from 1961 to 1973. he takes part in the creation of a number of cartoons (“Lefty”, “Vacation Boniface”, “Mittens” and others).
Norshtein's debut as an independent director took place in the animated film "25th, first day" (1968), dedicated to the events of the October Revolution. Three years later, another significant work of Yuri Borisovich is published - “The Battle of Kerzhenets”, which won several prestigious prizes at once (in Zagreb, Tbilisi and New York).
Since the beginning of the 90s, Yuri Norstein has devoted a lot of time to teaching. He holds lectures and master classes, not only in Russia, but also abroad (in Italy, France, Poland, Japan and other countries). In his creative arsenal - two books on the art of animation ("Tale of Tales" and "Snow on the Grass").
Yuri Norshtein: films and awards
“To truly make a movie, you have to die there.”
Once the famous Japanese animator, the owner of two Oscars, Hayao Miyazaki was asked: "What kind of modern director do you admire?" And he called the name of the Soviet animator, the creator of "Hedgehog in the Fog." Yuri Borisovich Norshtein is the director of a dozen animated films. His most famous works:
- "Seasons".
- "Heron and crane."
- "Hedgehog in the fog."
- "Tale of Tales."
- "Winter days."
In addition, as an animator, he took part in the creation of many other Soviet cartoons. Among them are beloved creations by all - “Cheburashka”, “Vacations Boniface”, “38 parrots” and others. Yuri Borisovich also created one of the screensavers for the program "Good night, kids!". True, to many she seemed rather strange and creepy.
Yuri Norshtein is undoubtedly very talented. And his talent is confirmed by dozens of various awards and prizes. Among them are the USSR State Prize, the A. Tarkovsky Prize, and the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun. Most of the domestic and foreign awards were collected by two of his works - “Tale of Tales” and “Hedgehog in the Fog”.
Yuri Norshtein: quotes and public position
“Everything that is explainable lies beyond creativity”
It is this quote that best describes the work of Yuri Norshtein. That's exactly what he does: intuitively, sensually. The famous director is sure that in the animation it is not so much the quality of the picture that matters, but how much it truly conveys the feelings and emotions of its author.
Yuri Norshtein does not remain aloof from modern socio-political processes both in Russia and around the world. So, he sharply condemned the terrorist attack that occurred in the editorial office of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, and repeatedly supported the convicts of the rock band Pussy Riot who were convicted of scandalous behavior in the church. Norstein also approved the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
