I saw this cute little animated comedy short film on the video "Animation Celebration Video Collection Volume 3". A friendly moose encounters an insect in the forest. The moose offers the bug a ride on his antlers. The insect then invites other creatures that he meets to share in his good fortune. Eventually the moose has an entire menagerie living on top of his head, including a flock of woodpeckers and a full-grown bear! When the moose wants to cross a stream to the other side, the squatters become indignant. They even have a referendum on the matter. When the vote is tallied (the moose is the only dissenter, of course) the creatures declare that their "democratic" election gives them the right to prevent the moose from taking their "home" where they don't want to go. But the moose has the last laugh!
3 Reviews
"We will always
always be with you"
ackstasis30 May 2009
'Dobro pozhalovat / Welcome! (1986)' is an (unauthorised) adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1948 story "Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose." This ten-minute animated short film features stunning paint-on-glass animation, and, not surprisingly, involved the talents of the two Soviet animators best known for the technique – Alexei Karaev {'The Lodgers of an Old House (1987)'} as director, and future Oscar-winner Aleksandr Petrov {'The Old Man and the Sea (1999)'} as art director. The latter would make his co- directing debut two years later with the Mickey Mouse tribute 'Marafon (1988),' and his solo debut the following year with the Oscar-nominated 'Korova (1989).' The paint-on-glass films with which Petrov made his name utilised an animation style that might be described as romantic realism. 'Welcome!' takes inspiration from its source material, developing the inherent zaniness of Dr. Seuss' tale to produce character animation that is slightly goofy; the moose, for example, has a long, thin legs and a head slightly too big for his body, with large, sad eyes that accentuate his emotions.
In the film, a kind-hearted moose on the prowl for vegetation is talked into allowing an insect to hitchhike on his antlers. The bug invites a spider to share the ride with him. A wood-pecker soon joins them. Having already opened up his antlers to one free-loader, the poor moose can't bring himself to refuse any additional requests, and soon he's carting about an menagerie. When, in his search for more food, the moose decides to cross a lake, his passengers choose to exercise their democratic rights, claiming that they should have a say as to the movements of their new "home." Thus, the moose loses his autonomy. I don't want to overstate the political undertones of a children's work, but Theodor Seuss Geisel (penname "Dr. Seuss") was, in his early cartoon career, a passionate opponent of Hitler's fascist regime, and this story suggests to me how dictatorship can arise through seemingly democratic means, and without citizens realising until it's too late. Perhaps Alexei Karaev was consciously reapplying these themes to the history of the Soviet Union.
In the film, a kind-hearted moose on the prowl for vegetation is talked into allowing an insect to hitchhike on his antlers. The bug invites a spider to share the ride with him. A wood-pecker soon joins them. Having already opened up his antlers to one free-loader, the poor moose can't bring himself to refuse any additional requests, and soon he's carting about an menagerie. When, in his search for more food, the moose decides to cross a lake, his passengers choose to exercise their democratic rights, claiming that they should have a say as to the movements of their new "home." Thus, the moose loses his autonomy. I don't want to overstate the political undertones of a children's work, but Theodor Seuss Geisel (penname "Dr. Seuss") was, in his early cartoon career, a passionate opponent of Hitler's fascist regime, and this story suggests to me how dictatorship can arise through seemingly democratic means, and without citizens realising until it's too late. Perhaps Alexei Karaev was consciously reapplying these themes to the history of the Soviet Union.
Welcome is excellent Russian animated version of a Dr. Seuss story
tavm6 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Based on Dr. Seuss' Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, this Russian painted-on-glass-cell animated short has plenty of charm in its own way that is uniquely different from the American source. A moose accepts an insect's begging for a ride on his antlers. The insect then invites some animal friends to come along. A whole menagerie forms ending with a bear before they all come to a river...I'll stop there and just say that the sweeping movements of the paints makes the whole thing fascinating to watch. The entire thing looks like watercolors come to life. I was glad when I saw this on YouTube as linked from Cartoon Brew that the Russian language was kept intact with English subtitles the only translation used. Well worth seeing for animation fans. Directed by Alexei Karayev.
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