Urwaldmärchen (Jungle Fairy Tale)

East Germany, 1977, 15 minutes, color
Director: Katja Georgi
Screenplay: Katja Georgi
Director of Photography: Peter Pohler
Puppets: Williraid Hofmann
Animation: Eberhardt Klotzsche
Based on the Brasilian fairy tale, claymation
VHS-PAL, no subtitles - renting information

Synopsis:

Miguelito, the son of a farmer, befriends a fierce-looking but meek dragon and takes him under his wing. He persuades the dragon, despite its fear and low self-esteem, to help him accomplish a great task. The princess has lost the Bird of Happiness, and Miguelito promises that he will find it again. In order to do that, he and his dragon friend must face the wicket witch. On his own, Miguelito is not strong enough, and on its own, the dragon is not brave enough. But together they can do anything.

Urwaldmärchen is told with beautiful puppets in a wonderful jungle setting. Also on this volume is the tale Vom faulen Töpfer und dem fleißigen Wäscher.

DEFA-Puppentrickfilm: Märchen aus aller Welt
Volume I: Das Birnenmädchen, Es waren einmal drei Schwestern
Volume II: Die Schöne und das Tier, Die schwarze Burg
Volume III: Urwaldmärchen, Vom faulen Töpfer und dem fleißigen Wäscher

Vom faulen Topfer und dem fleißigen Wäscher (The Lazy Potter and the Diligent Launderer)

East Germany, 1965, 13 minutes, color
Director: Kurt Weiler
Screenplay: Klaus Eidam, Klaus Richter
Director of Photography: Erich Günther
Music: Gerhard Rosenfeld
Puppets: Achim Freyer
Puppet Animation: Walter Später, Werner Hammer, Arnim Rüdiger, Hans Claus
Based on the Burmese fairy tale, hand puppets
VHS-PAL, no subtitles - renting information

Synopsis:

There was once a lazy potter, who was green with jealousy over his successful neighbor, the hardworking launderer. Rather than work harder himself, the lazy potter tries to ruin his neighbor’s reputation. He tells the king that the launderer can wash a grey elephant white, and expects that the washer’s inability to do so will ruin him. But the clever washer explains that, in order to wash an elephant, he needs a pot big enough to wash an elephant in….

This tale, acted out with hand puppets against a beautiful set, is the second on the third volume. Also on this tape is Urwaldmärchen.

DEFA-Puppentrickfilm: Märchen aus aller Welt
Volume I: Das Birnenmädchen, Es waren einmal drei Schwestern
Volume II: Die Schöne und das Tier, Die schwarze Burg
Volume III: Urwaldmärchen, Vom faulen Töpfer und dem fleißigen Wäscher