Biografia autore
Mikhail Tsekhanovskii (1889-1965) was a prominent Russian and Soviet animation director, screenwriter, book illustrator, sculptor, and educator. He initially trained as an engineer but soon shifted his focus to the arts, studying in Saint Petersburg. In the 1920s and 1930s, he became a central figure in the Soviet animation industry, contributing to its development both as a director and screenwriter. Tsekhanovskii was particularly noted for his ambitious collaborations, such as the animated adaptation of Aleksandr Pushkin’s The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda, scored by Dmitrii Shostakovich. Although unfinished, the project remains a landmark in Soviet animation for its innovative use of music and visual narrative. As an illustrator and designer, he brought avant-garde influences into his work, often blending folklore with modernist aesthetics. Tsekhanovskii taught and mentored young artists, influencing the next generation of Soviet animators. His theoretical and practical work laid a strong foundation for Soviet animation as both an artistic and educational field, establishing its place in the broader history of world cinema.