In the early 70s, the wonderful Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya made and directed five animations for Soyuzmultfilm (a favourite studio of mine) based on Greek myths. 1973's 'Perseus' is the fourth and penultimate one. All five are wonderful and about equal in quality, fine representations of how gifted Snezhko-Blotskaya was. All her solo director work is very well made, inventive and exciting, was also surprised at how daring her Greek mythology animated adaptations are.

'Perseus' is one of the most daring and is fascinating for any fans of Russian animation and Greek mythology. It is a wonderful representation of both and perfectly shows why Snezhko-Blotskaya deserved to be highly regarded. Proof too that Greek mythology can lend itself well to animation, while the real tales were more gruesome it still doesn't shy away, and a million times better than the abysmal Dingo Pictures animation which is best not be spoken of.

Soyuzmultfilm's animations were nearly always visually striking and in some cases stylistically unique. The animation is really beautiful, the luscious colours, elegantly drawn backgrounds and mostly fluid character designs are like a nice mix of Golden Age Disney, very early Looney Tunes and Fleischer. The character design for the gorgon is suitably creepy without being enough to traumatise.

The music fits really beautifully, very Russian in tone and manages to be rousing and understated when called for. 'Perseus' is well written, it would help if familiar with the Russian language (though that is not essential as the animation is so good at telling the story) but it flows well, is poetic as is the case with the Russian language and very pleasing to listen to.

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.

As for the characters, Perseus is likeable and heroic and the gorgon is genuinely creepy. What really does stand out is the remarkably risque design and characterisation of Andromeda. Voice work is dynamic but not too theatrical.

Overall, 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.

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

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.

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

A cartoon version of the Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda (1973)

The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda

Perses

Photos10

Top Cast6

User reviews1

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed