I saw Lotte Reiniger's "Hansel and Gretel" as a boy, perhaps 8 yrs old, and remember being really impressed with it. It was like a piece of artwork magically moving. The animation style was unique to me then, and to this day I have still never seen anything quite like it. Black silhouette characters (all painstakingly scissor-cut by creator Reiniger) move against lovely backgrounds reminiscent of the style of the classic fairy-tale illustrator Arthur Rackham. It was thoroughly enchanting. 

This was a short film by the creator of the earlier "Adventures of Prince Achmed," which was arguably the first full-length animated film (1929). I have no idea whether "Hansel and Gretel" is available in DVD or VHS, but I'd love to see it again.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A silhouette animation based on the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale "Hansel & Gretel".

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Hänsel and Gretel

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