What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow Puppets, Shadow Theatres and Shadow Films
Former library copy - has barcode, due date folder, property stamps, Dust Jacket Present, Binding is decent, Limited Chipping or Tears to Edges, Limited Markings or Creasing, dust jacket cover is black with pink curtain, actress silhouette with mirror.
- GenresNonfictionFilmArt
126 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Lotte Reiniger
12Ìýbooks6ÌýfollowersCharlotte "Lotte" Reiniger was a German film director and the foremost pioneer of silhouette animation. Her best known films are The Adventures of Prince Achmed, from 1926—thought to be one of the oldest surviving feature-length animated films—and Papageno (1935). Reiniger is also noted for having devised a predecessor to the first multiplane camera; she made more than 40 films, all using her invention.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 12, 2013
Lotte Reiniger explains her love for the art of silhouette puppetry and how to make your own stages and puppets. She also talks about her career and how this art evolved in different cultures.
March 22, 2022
I am so glad I was able to get this book via an interlibrary loan! It was fantastic seeing how Lotte Reiniger crafted her masterpieces including the oldest surviving feature length animated film The Adventures of Prince Achmed. I expected more of her theory for storytelling, but this book is far better than that in some ways because it is an in depth behind the scenes look at and guide for aspiring shadow puppeteers and silhouette animators as taught by the master of the trade. While occasionally dry, mainly when Lotte gives instructions on how to build stages and at home animation studios for silhouette stop motion animation, Lotte's masterful blend of story telling and humor comes through on several occasions. I loved reading this treasure trove on shadow puppets and stop motion animation as told by the master of the craft herself. For all of the advances in modern technology, I have yet to see a modern silhouette stop motion animated film which rivals her body of work.
August 4, 2022
This was such a fascinating book! Lotte Reiniger seems like she was a very interesting person and I would have loved to have had a conversation with her. Her voice and writing style were quite enjoyable and there even were some pretty funny moments. My favorite segments were when she talked about shadow theater in other cultures and her experiences in early animation. I'll definitely have to try some of her shadow puppet techniques, and possibly build the smaller theater.
I would love to own a copy of this book (I borrowed it from a library), but unfortunately all copies for sale online seem to be >$200 (or thousands of) dollars.
I would love to own a copy of this book (I borrowed it from a library), but unfortunately all copies for sale online seem to be >$200 (or thousands of) dollars.
July 16, 2024
Fascinating. Lotte Reiniger wrote this book to share with others how to use her silhouette style puppets for small theatres or animation. While this is now slightly dated, the advice given here is still useful, first as an insight into how early animations were made, and second as a project for modern artists. Substitute a digital camera, practice your paper-cutting, and give it a go! (Seriously, my kids made LEGO stop-motion pictures with my phone camera)
I first learned of Lotte Reiniger through three children's picture books, so check those out, too -- Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets: The Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film by Brooke Hartman, Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson, Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation by C.E. Winters.
I first learned of Lotte Reiniger through three children's picture books, so check those out, too -- Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets: The Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film by Brooke Hartman, Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson, Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation by C.E. Winters.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.