Russian animation, Soyuzmultfilm, animation based on fairy/folk tales, ingredients that have me sold even when it is just one of them, all of them and my interest is even bigger. If you haven't any of Soyuzmultfilm's work yet and are a fan of animation and ones not from the UK or US, you are in for a treat. While preferring her adaptations of folklore and fairytales (as well as adaptations of literary classics), Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya's Greek mythology animations are all must watches.

One of the best of the five is 1971's 'The Labyrinth'. A must for fans of animation and of Soviet animation. A must for those familiar with the myth and who is interested in seeing it in a non-English language. A must for those not familiar with the story of the labyrinth, but who is vaguely familiar with other mythological characters and stories and interested in learning more. Despite being in a different language, 'The Labyrinth' is still accessible which is so good about Soyuzmultfilm's output in general.

'The Labyrinth' is wonderful in every area. The animation is of exceptionally high quality. The attention to detail in the backgrounds and landscapes are enough to take the breath away and one can see much ambition in the design of the labyrinth and the way it's used. The music is playful, lush in orchestration and atmospheric, its use, tone and placement always ideal and not in any way discordant with the action.

Even though not in English (which may alienate some but what goes on in the imagery and in the story is more than enough to speak), the writing is so poetic and flows very well, listening to it is also a pleasure.

Story is as thrilling and imaginative as it should be, treating the story and characters with respect, with plenty of recognisable parts, while with enough of its own touches to set it apart without being too much of a departure. It's still unmistakably Soyuzmultfilm, which is a good thing as they were a very versatile studio and easy to recognise from the visual styles adopted for instance. The fantasy element has a lot of charming imagination and the adventure enthralls and excites, hardly surprising seeing as Russian cinema and animation excelled at these genres individually and together frequently.

Characterisation is without issue and the labyrinth is like a character of its own. The voice acting is fine and none of it sounds ill fitting.

In summary, wonderful. 10/10.

Russian cinema is distinguished by its epic scale, philosophical depth, and innovative visual language. It often explores history, ideology, and the human psyche, with a tradition of psychological realism and artistic experimentation. Russian cinema contributed revolutionary theories of editing and later a spiritual approach to film language. It remains known for combining formal experimentation with profound explorations of endurance and belief.

Nikolay Grinko, Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy, and Anatoliy Solonitsyn in Stalker (1979)

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

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.

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The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (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.

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A cartoon version of the Greek myth of Labyrinth.

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The Labirynth

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