Directing

Elbert Tuganov

Born February 22, 1920 · Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR [now Azerbaijan]

Died March 22, 2007 · aged 87

Elbert Tuganov (February 22, 1922 – March 22, 2007) was an Azerbaijani-Estonian animator and film director. He is known as "the father of Estonian animation". Tuganov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan to an Estonian mother and an Ossetian father. In 1946 he joined with Tallinnfilm. In 1958 he created the first Estonian animated film Peetrikese unenägu.

Known For

Yachts at Sea

Yachts at Sea · 1955

After the war, young yachtsmen from the coastal town deal with daily work, training and competitions without knowing about the downside. Suddenly, mysterious events start to happen, testing the vigilance, ideological and moral beliefs of the local people.

Ott in Space

Ott in Space · 1962

The naughty boy Ott, who spends his school hours lazing and fighting, gets into a launching spaceship and flies into space. This is how exciting and even dangerous adventures begin, during which Ott experiences a long-known truth: you can't go through life without school wisdom. Estonian/Soviet animation short from 1961.

Two Stories

Two Stories · 1962

Two well-known children's stories made into animation. The duck who fell asleep while driving the train and the girl who couldn't stop whining.

New Friends

New Friends · 1973

The sloppy boy is careless with his belongings: hat, mittens and shoes. They leave him and find new friends.

Animal Acupuncturists

Animal Acupuncturists · 1964

Animal Acupuncturists

The cat was protecting the chickens from a bully puppy, fell from a woodpile and broke his paw. The cockerel went alone into the forest to call the squirrel doctor for help.

Sisters

Sisters · 1974

Two sisters squabble and fight with each other over the course of their lives.

North Dragon

North Dragon · 1959

MovieAnimationFantasy

Soviet Estonian animation about a brave young man seeking a magic ring.

The Birth of the Genre

The Birth of the Genre · 1967

The Birth of the Genre

MovieAnimationDocumentary

The film summarizes the origin and development of animated film at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries

Filmography

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Yachts at Sea

Yachts at Sea · 1955

After the war, young yachtsmen from the coastal town deal with daily work, training and competitions without knowing about the downside. Suddenly, mysterious events start to happen, testing the vigilance, ideological and moral beliefs of the local people.

Assistant Camera

Ott in Space

Ott in Space · 1962

The naughty boy Ott, who spends his school hours lazing and fighting, gets into a launching spaceship and flies into space. This is how exciting and even dangerous adventures begin, during which Ott experiences a long-known truth: you can't go through life without school wisdom. Estonian/Soviet animation short from 1961.

Director

Two Stories

Two Stories · 1962

Two well-known children's stories made into animation. The duck who fell asleep while driving the train and the girl who couldn't stop whining.

Director

New Friends

New Friends · 1973

The sloppy boy is careless with his belongings: hat, mittens and shoes. They leave him and find new friends.

Director

Animal Acupuncturists

Animal Acupuncturists · 1964

Animal Acupuncturists

The cat was protecting the chickens from a bully puppy, fell from a woodpile and broke his paw. The cockerel went alone into the forest to call the squirrel doctor for help.

Director

Sisters

Sisters · 1974

Two sisters squabble and fight with each other over the course of their lives.

Director

North Dragon

North Dragon · 1959

MovieAnimationFantasy

Soviet Estonian animation about a brave young man seeking a magic ring.

Director

The Birth of the Genre

The Birth of the Genre · 1967

The Birth of the Genre

MovieAnimationDocumentary

The film summarizes the origin and development of animated film at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries

Director

Nippet

A modern fairy tale tells the story of an inseparable character living in a children's fantasy world, the mischievous animal Nippet.

Director

Victim

A humorous and journalistic stop-motion puppet film about a victim of excessive smoking.

Director

Bloody John

Bloody John · 1974

The famous chief of the corsairs Bloody John brings the lovely Isabella back as war booty from yet another foray. The avaricious Isabella shortly seizes power in the gang. Bloody John is reduced to a weak-willed, henpecked subordinate of the female robber. The desperate John escapes and seeks shelter in his dear childhood home in Saaremaa, where he starts earning a living again by honest means.

Director

Just Like That!

Just Like That! · 1963

Just Like That!

An animated satire about a boss who thinks only he knows what is what and what is best.

Director

Inspiration

Inspiration · 1975

MovieAnimationDocumentary

The Estonian Jubilee Song Festival is shown as a source of creativity that influences the creation of a painting. The documentary material is linked to the animation.

Director

Guguta

A film based on Spiridon Vangeli's "The Adventures of Gugutse". It is about a boy Gugutse and his magic hat, which everyone could hide under in the frost.

Writer

Fairy Tale in the Woods

Fairy Tale in the Woods · 1960

Fairy Tale in the Woods

An animation based on Estonian fairy tale "Nukitsamees"

Director

Jonn

Three selfish fishermen are in danger because of their great envy. And although fate has mercy on them, the men do not learn from it, but everything repeats itself. Estonian/Soviet animation short from 1966.

Director

Drivers

Drivers · 1972

If we are not careful, one day the cars will take over all existence on Earth. The conflict between drivers and pedestrians is seen from the driver's point of view. The film depicts a humorous opposition to Tuganov's earlier film "Pedestrians".

Director

Apple Pie

Apple Pie · 1982

The story of a foal who, through inevitability, ends up in an unfamiliar environment—the city—but ultimately discovers his calling and profession.

Director

Pedestrians

Pedestrians · 1971

This film is an humorous view on the conflict of pedestrians with all growing car traffic.

Director

Little Peter’s Dream

Little Peter’s Dream · 1958

Little Peter’s Dream

One morning little Peter finds that he's all alone in the world

Director

Mouse Hunt

Mouse Hunt · 1965

A band of mice steals grains from cats.

Director

Athomic

Athomic · 1970

MovieAnimationScience Fiction

A Scientist-physicist created a living atom that here ran on will. Without control he brings many destructions, though follows kind intentions. But a scientist eventually compels him to work on a benefit to the people.

Director

Captain of Koppeniki

Captain of Koppeniki · 1978

Captain of Koppeniki

Director

Fips the Monkey

Fips the Monkey · 1968

Fips the Monkey

Estonian/Soviet animation short. Monkey boy Fips is trapped and brought to town. Among humans, Fips experiences both good and bad. But he never forgets his real home - the jungle - and one day he escapes back there.

Director