framptonhollis This classic film has been said to be the earliest available feature length animated film, and for such old animation, it's really incredible. Perhaps this movie came out in 1926, but its animation is superior in quality to much animation that was produced decades later. In this adventure epic, creatures transform into other creatures, there are battles with monsters and demons, evil is conquered, love is found, and magical horses are flown on. It's a whimsical and highly entertaining feast for the eyes that also has a very eerie and at times straight up scary feel to it. Since its so old, it feels like I'm watching the creations of a ghost. All of those involved with this movie are long dead, but we can now still witness this unique little mark they left. It's really beautiful in an odd sort of way.There is one unfortunate flaw: the characters really aren't memorable. Its very cliché and traditional and the overall plot is barely present. Story and character wise this movie is quite weak, but it is filled with such fantastic visuals and is such an important and fascinating historical artifact that I must give it a high recommendation to all.

hayashimegumi Watching The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) is exactly like watching cutouts coming to life. It resembles a magical play and it certainly is not your ordinary animated feature. Aside from being the one of the first made and oldest surviving in the world, it is also one of the very few movies that are exceedingly detailed and exquisite from start to end. Highly inventive and creative in storytelling, each frame are painstakingly crafted and put together by hand resulting beautiful scenes in the animated feature. Even if the casts are merely silhouettes of the cutouts, we are able to feel the character's emotions as the magnificent music sets the mood and the body movements of the cutouts are straightforward, making the animation vivid.What I loved most about this animated feature is that it is truly artistic. Lotte Reiniger is a German but she is able to produce beautiful Arabian and Chinese cutout sets. If she is not a genius, I don't know what she would be! Some stuffs may not be historically accurate or make sense but well it's 1926 so it's actually pretty decent especially they do not have as much resources as we have today to refer or learn from! Hence, it is really amazing to able to watch what a woman's creativity and cutouts can do!So, can I call Lotte Reiniger the Mother of Animation? Actually why not? Lotte Reiniger rightfully is the Mother of Animation!! She invented her own technique and pioneered the earliest form of stop motion animation into a feature film. She is one of the first female film directors and certainly is the first female animated feature film director! Also, even though over 88 years has passed, her The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) is still so enchanting and mesmerizing; it will not fail to capture the hearts of all animation fans! (Though I must mention and clarify that it would be given that the animation fan do not anti-fairy tales and don't mind the cultural depictions or societal elements)Seriously, I never thought the animation or the output would be that great, how could she possibly achieve this kind of animation that is so exquisitely animated, in 1926?! I watched this in disbelief and certainly am lost for words for a while because it is the third oldest animated feature and it is also so much more interesting, pleasant, beautiful, insert all the praise words here, in comparison to some of the decades much newer films!Therefore, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) is truly a wonder of animation and if you are blessed to watch this, I am sure you will appreciate the art of animation more. I do not know how else I could express my respect and admiration other than highly recommending this to you. It is truly one indisputable great movie. (I'll be mad if you say it's not great!)

Armand a magic film. and the masterpiece of Lotte Reiniger. a kind of embroidery who resurrect not only the childhood memories but a form of delicate humanity. a film like a spell. music, animation, the small pieces of black paper and the romanticism in precise manner to introduce you in the story spirit. an Arabian fairy tale. fascinating for the hard and high work. for the beauty. and for the real gift who represents its root. the story of Prince Achmed and Aladdin has the each ingredient of cinema from period - passion for exoticism, the difficulties of love story, the brave heroes, the splendid maids. but something is unique in its case. it is not easy to define it. but it is the motif for who, after almost a century, the film is not seems be old. maybe, the universal message. or the admirable/amazing art. in fact, maybe, only the magic of an extraordinary work.

rdjeffers Friday, January 25, 8:00 p.m., Northwest Film ForumCelestial Patience and Running with Scissors: Weimar animator Lotte Reiniger.Her friend Jean Renoir claimed that premiere German animator Lotte Reiniger was "… born with magic hands." From childhood, Reiniger possessed an unusual talent for fashioning detailed shapes with paper and scissors. As a young woman, she worked with Paul Wegener, Fritz Lang and legendary stage director Max Reinhardt. Animation was, as Reiniger described, "… still walking in its infant shoes." With a small group of dedicated artists and technicians, Reinger began producing short stop action films in 1919, followed by three years devoted to her masterpiece, considered the oldest surviving animated feature, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926). Reiniger's delicate and magical telling of The Arabian Nights was considered by the German theater establishment as wholly unworthy of exhibition. After nine months in Paris and a successful world tour, Berlin relented. Reiniger endured, and went on to delight audiences with her beautiful and unique artform for half a century.