The Grasshopper and the Ant | Стрекоза и муравей | 1913 | Stop-Motion | Animation | Short Film

Title: The Grasshopper and the Ant Original Title: Стрекоза и муравей (Strekoza i Muravey) Release Year: 1913 Director: Ladislas Starevich (Władysław Starewicz) Country: Russian Empire Runtime: Approx. 10 minutes Language: Silent (with Russian intertitles) Genres: Stop-Motion Animation, Fable, Short Film, Family --- Overview: The Grasshopper and the Ant is a stop-motion adaptation of Ivan Krylov’s Russian version of Aesop’s classic fable, directed by Ladislas Starevich, one of the earliest pioneers in puppet animation. Using real insect specimens reanimated through painstaking stop-motion, the film delivers a moral tale about work ethic vs. frivolity — with a visual style both charming and eerie. Building on the techniques of his earlier films, Starevich imbues the grasshopper with grace and vanity, and the ant with stoic diligence, offering a visually expressive and humorous interpretation of the well-known story. --- Plot Summary: The film opens in a lush miniature world populated by insects. The Grasshopper, a stylish and carefree violinist, spends the sunny summer dancing, playing music, and lounging. Meanwhile, the Ant is seen toiling, gathering food, and preparing for winter. As the seasons change, the once-sunny world turns cold. Snow falls, and food vanishes. The Grasshopper, now cold and starving, seeks help from the Ant. True to the fable, the Ant refuses, reminding her that “you sang all summer—now dance through the winter.” The story ends on a moralistic note emphasizing preparation and responsibility. --- Animation Techniques & Style: Starevich once again uses dried insect bodies—mostly grasshoppers and beetles—jointed with wire to allow fluid, expressive motion. The animation employs highly detailed sets resembling miniature woodland and household environments. The film demonstrates an evolution in Starevich’s craft, with smoother movements and even more expressive insect “acting.” --- Historical Context & Legacy: Adapted from Ivan Krylov’s 1808 fable, itself derived from Aesop’s original tale, this version was tailored for Russian audiences. This film further solidified Starevich’s reputation as the foremost innovator of early stop-motion animation. It helped cement fable-based storytelling as a viable vehicle for animated shorts. It has been screened in animation retrospectives and is often studied in the context of moral education through cinema. --- Preservation Status: Public domain, with several restored and subtitled versions available online. Included in many early animation compilations and museum archives. Some versions include added musical scores to enhance silent viewing. --- Trivia: Starevich was inspired by entomology, working as a museum director before moving into filmmaking. The film reflects traditional Russian values, emphasizing hard work, thrift, and self-reliance. In contrast to his darker works (The Cameraman’s Revenge), this film is lighter in tone, though it still retains a moralistic severity. Though silent, the character expressions and “body language” of the insects are clear enough to convey emotion without dialogue. --- Hashtags: #GrasshopperAndAnt #LadislasStarevich #StopMotionLegend #SilentFilm #1913Animation #RussianCinema #AesopsFables #PuppetAnimation #InsectCinema #EarlyAnimation #AnimationHistory #FableFilm #KrylovFable #PublicDomainFilm #MoralTales