Rudolf Thomas

Thumbelina is born in a calyx. A bumblebee opens the flower and the little one goes on a journey of discovery. She has to hide from a nubile frog in a nut and lands on a water lily leaf. A fish bites through the stem of the leaf. Thumbelina swims down the stream until she is called to dance by a cockchafer. The dance fails and the beetle pushes her off the leaf into the depths. She falls into a spider's web and onto a dandelion. She sails away with an umbrella of seeds and lands on her calyx again. The autumn storm breaks the flower. Thumbelina finds shelter with a field mouse. There she cares for a sick swallow. The mouse wants to marry Thumbelina off to the mole, but the little girl manages to escape with the help of the swallow. They both fly off to the sunny south.

Farmer Wurzel is unhappy because his work is not bringing him the prosperity he had hoped for. Nor can he expect his daughter to marry rich, unfortunately she loves the poor fishmonger Kaspar. In order to make a lot of money, the farmer would even get involved with the devil...

This short animation collage uncovers the financial backing of the Chilean Junta bosses by the US. Screened at the 1976 Oberhausen Int. Film Festival.

One morning, the little mouse crawls out of its hole and decides to have a look around. He hops over hill and dale, marvels at grasses and flowers, overcomes holes and hills, experiences a thunderstorm and an adventurous trip on the water and finally returns tired to his hiding place at home. She proudly believes she has seen the whole wide world.

This silhouette-animated short exposes the Pinochet government through comparisons to Hitler's Nazi regime.

The devil's grandmother sends her grandson to visit the Punch and Judy family. The devil hypocritically promises to behave in an exemplary manner, but does the opposite. He secretly eats the pudding, smashes the bowl, lies through his teeth and flees when he is caught by the policeman. Punch and the policeman pursue him and catch him with great difficulty. The adventure ends with a clear defeat for the devil and the devil's grandmother's anger at her clumsy grandson, who has once again been caught out.

The devil is bored in hell and organizes an unbearable concert that even disturbs his grandmother. She sends him to earth to fetch Gretel to relieve his boredom.

When Martin returns from war, he finds that nothing is the way it once was. He watches a few remaining villagers leave offerings in the town square for a giant monster, and he sees that whoever has nothing left for the monster is turned into stone. To make matters worse, Martin finds out that his fiancee, Maria, is being held captive in the monster's Black Fortress.

Real part: A puppet animation film studio. The director, cameraman, animators and lighting technicians set up a scene in which a streetcar car with passengers appears. The recording begins, the animator moves the puppets phase by phase. Trick part: An old woman gets on the streetcar at a stop and can't find a seat. Fritzchen deliberately looks away so that he doesn't have to get up. All the puppets look at him indignantly. Real part: The scene is over. It's closing time and the dolls are put in a cupboard. The staff leave the studio. Trick part: The puppet cupboard comes to life. Fritzchen apologizes to the old woman and blames the animator and director for his behaviour. He calls on the puppets to shoot the scene again. This happens, and now he does offer his seat to the little mother. Real part : The doorman notices a glow of light in the studio, opens the door, but sees nothing unusual. The dolls have returned to their cupboard. Shaking his head, the doorman returns to his box.

A long time ago, there lived a tailor in Selva who was highly regarded for his good work. However, he was a crook who often cheated his customers. This is what happened to Hans, a carver, whose wedding suit turned out to be too small because the mayor's son was dressed in the fabric he had taken. Then Rübezahl intervened. The magic power of the mountain spirit caused all the cloth, which the tailor had wrongly acquired, to dissolve into nothing. Some people, including dignitaries, stood there in their underwear and the tailor felt the wrath of those who had been cheated. Hans received a new suit and shoes from Rübezahl and was now able to marry his Marie.

Around 1500, a gentleman enters the barber's shop of a small town. He throws a purse and his dagger on the table and demands in a harsh tone that his beard be shorn. The gentleman promises to pay the master in gold for a perfect shave, but if his skin is even scratched, he will have to pay for it with his life...

The little dog Nero looks around inquisitively in a world that is still somewhat foreign to him. He doesn't really know who or what he is and wants to have everything he admires in others. Only when the fox intrudes does Nero come to his senses.

An elegant crowd attends a meeting but, while they listen to the speech, all they really care about is the buffet.

Rooster, cat, dog and donkey become homeless in old age for various reasons, wander and sing together. This gruesomely funny singing may not be enough to become Bremen's town musicians, but it is enough to drive away evil robbers and spend a peaceful old age in their house.

A fisherman once caught a talking golden fish. He gave him his freedom and was allowed to make a wish in return. He asked for a boat, but this was not enough for his wife, who demanded a house. Driven by his wife's greed, the fisherman demanded more and more until he had lost all the wealth he had gained.