The Mascot (part 1) - Ladislas Starewicz (Puppet Love)

The best stop-motion film ever made, IMHO. Actually, one of the best short films ever made!

Starewicz had become a master animator by 1933, incorporating techniques never used before and rarely since (such as moving the puppets during the actual exposure to create blurring for fast movement). His use of rear-screen projection is also surprisingly effective.

But more important than these technical details is the great humor of his writing and his sensitivity to character. Each of the dozens of puppets in this film is imbued with a convincing personality; none more so than the title character, known as Fétiche in France and Duffy in England and the U.S. I think the scene of him hanging in a car's rear window is one of the funniest and most poignant scenes you'll find in any film. The character was so successful Starewicz starred him in four more films - if anyone has them, please contact me!

We have CGI now, but all Starewicz had was an imagination that wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Whatever he wanted to see on the screen, he created. And he wanted to see some truly bizarre stuff - every imaginable piece of scrap is called up for service: old shoes, chicken bones, utensils, broken glasses, dolls, monkeys, rats...nothing was off limits.

A sweet, funny, and also eerie film that should be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in animation. Or film, for that matter.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• stop
• motion
• animation
• Wladyslaw
• Starevich
• Starevitch
• Starewich
• Starewitch
• short
• film
• Fétiche
• Mascotte
• Devil's
• Ball
• yt:quality=high

[geetarRamblin]

CORRECTION...... Le Roman de Renard IS the BEST STOP MOTION of all times. PERIOD. This does come in 2nd though.

[marknyc9]

The Mascot is the best! No contest! =)

[kohiaboy]

i find it some what creepy and disturbing

[marknyc9]

Starewicz would be pleased!

[JeremiahClayton]

It's from 1934. I have this on dvd.

[marknyc9]

This came from the DVD, which says 1933. But IMDB says 1934. Not sure who's right.

[m1a2t3e4o5]

This is the original "Toy Story" ;-)

[vibsno]

This is a really cool film!! I've seen clips of it before. Thanks for uploading

[marknyc9]

@Sly1984montreal

I agree that the middle section is disturbing - and the contrast with the cuteness of the first part is wonderful.

Starewicz truly was a genius.

[EnigmaticUnseen]

Nice ripe juicy orangeeeeeeez.

Thank you for uploading.

[CardiohallPictures]

Cute Video, my new favorite short film ;)

But why the hell does that toy have a real knife?

[Barryland]

AMAZING! This is Toy Story 70 years early!

[timspencer1]

Want to see one of the best stop motion films ever made..? From 1933...

[SilentWarrior85]

The dog is so cute!

[FearlessHQ]

wow, poor dog

[BobHershey]

It's hard to decide whether this or Le Roman De Renart is the best of Starewich's work...both are such technical masterpieces.

I guess this one would win out just for sheer unbridled surrealistic imagery!

[beavoru2]

I like the Dog :3

[zenthra]

strangely unsettling to watch.. way ahead of its time though