A 2008 documentary about pioneer Argentine animator Quirino Cristiani (1896-1984) has just been released on DVD. Cristiani made the first silent animated feature, El Apóstol (The Apostle) in 1917, pre-dating Snow White by 20 years, and the first sound animated feature Peludopolis in 1931, beating Disney by six years. Quirino Cristiani – The Mystery of the First Animated Movies was directed by English/Italian filmmaker Gabriele Zucchelli, and is now available through this website. Here’s the trailer:

(Thanks, Giannalberto Bendazzi)

Jerry Beck

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