A Peacock's Tail

Plot

A Peacock's Tail is a Soviet animated fairy tale that follows the story of a proud peacock who boasts about his magnificent tail feathers. The peacock becomes so vain about his beautiful plumage that he refuses to associate with other birds, believing himself superior to all creatures. When a fierce storm approaches, the peacock's heavy tail becomes a burden, preventing him from seeking shelter while the other birds escape to safety. Humble and injured after the storm, the peacock learns a valuable lesson about pride and the importance of friendship and community. The film concludes with the peacock realizing that true beauty comes from character and relationships rather than mere appearance, as he is helped by the very birds he once scorned.

Historical Background

Produced in 1946, 'A Peacock's Tail' emerged during the immediate post-World War II reconstruction period in the Soviet Union. The film was created during Stalin's era, when cultural production was heavily regulated but also state-supported as part of the reconstruction effort. Animation was seen as an important tool for educating children and instilling Soviet values. The film's emphasis on community over individualism reflected the collectivist ideology promoted during this period. The post-war years saw a resurgence in children's literature and animation as the state invested in cultural institutions to restore normalcy and educate the next generation. This film was part of a broader effort to create high-quality Soviet alternatives to Western animation, particularly Disney films which, while admired, were ideologically problematic.

Making Of

The production of 'A Peacock's Tail' took place during a critical period in Soviet animation history. Directors Vladimir Polkovnikov and Leonid Amalrik formed a creative partnership that would influence Soviet animation for decades. The studio, Soyuzmultfilm, was rebuilding after wartime disruption, and this film represented a return to full-scale animated production. The voice actors, particularly Leonid Pirogov and Georgiy Vitsin, brought theatrical experience to their performances, helping establish the tradition of strong voice acting in Soviet animation. The animation team spent considerable time studying real peacocks to accurately capture their movements and feather displays, while also anthropomorphizing the character to convey human emotions. The film's visual style combined traditional Russian folk art influences with modern animation techniques.

Visual Style

The animation in 'A Peacock's Tail' showcases the sophisticated cel animation techniques developed at Soyuzmultfilm during the 1940s. The visual style emphasizes rich, vibrant colors, particularly in the peacock's feather displays, which were animated with careful attention to detail and movement. The cinematography uses dynamic camera movements and angles to create dramatic tension, especially during the storm sequence. The animators employed multi-layered backgrounds to create depth and perspective, a technique that was relatively advanced for the time. The color palette shifts throughout the film to reflect emotional states, with bright, saturated colors during the peacock's prideful moments and more muted tones during his humiliation. The animation of natural elements, particularly the storm and wind effects, demonstrates technical skill and artistic innovation.

Innovations

The film represented several technical achievements for Soviet animation in 1946. The animation of the peacock's tail required innovative techniques to create realistic feather movement and iridescence. The storm sequence featured complex multi-layered animation with moving elements at different depths, creating a sense of three-dimensional space. The color separation process was particularly sophisticated for its time, allowing for the vibrant blues and greens of the peacock's plumage. The film also demonstrated advanced lip-sync techniques for the characters, making the voice performances more believable. The production team developed new methods for creating weather effects, particularly wind and rain, that would influence subsequent Soviet animated films.

Music

The musical score for 'A Peacock's Tail' was composed in the tradition of Soviet film music, combining classical influences with folk elements. The soundtrack features orchestral arrangements that enhance the emotional narrative arc of the story. Music during the peacock's proud moments is grand and sweeping, while the storm sequence uses dramatic, percussive elements to create tension. The score incorporates motifs that recur throughout the film to represent different characters and themes. The voice performances by Leonid Pirogov, Yuliya Yulskaya, and Georgiy Vitsin were carefully synchronized with the animation, a technique that required multiple recording sessions to achieve the desired effect. Sound design was particularly important for the storm sequence, with various audio effects created manually in the studio.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where the peacock proudly displays his magnificent tail to the other birds, showing off each feather with elaborate movements
• The dramatic storm sequence where the peacock struggles against the wind, his beautiful tail becoming a dangerous burden that traps him
• The emotional climax where the injured peacock is helped by the birds he previously scorned, leading to his moment of realization and redemption
• The final scene showing the peacock humbled but wiser, flying with his new friends as the sun breaks through the clouds

What Critics Said

Contemporary Soviet critics praised 'A Peacock's Tail' for its beautiful animation and strong moral message. Reviews in Soviet film journals highlighted the film's successful adaptation of Chukovsky's beloved tale and its effective use of animation to convey complex emotions. Critics particularly noted the technical achievement in animating the peacock's elaborate tail feathers and the dramatic storm sequence. The film was recognized for maintaining high artistic standards during a period of material scarcity. Western critics who later discovered the film through retrospectives of Soviet animation have praised its visual sophistication and emotional depth, considering it a fine example of mid-century animation artistry that stands comparison with contemporary work from other countries.

What Audiences Thought

The film was warmly received by Soviet audiences, particularly children and families, upon its release in 1946. The story's clear moral lesson and engaging characters made it popular in schools and children's theaters. The peacock character became recognizable to generations of Soviet children, and the film was frequently rebroadcast on Soviet television. Parents appreciated the educational value of the story while children enjoyed the colorful animation and dramatic storytelling. The film's enduring popularity led to its inclusion in various Soviet animation retrospectives and children's film compilations throughout the decades. Even today, Russian audiences often recall the film fondly as part of their childhood cultural experience.

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