The Mapuche tribe asks their Gods for help in difficult situations, including illness and drought. When the Spanish conquerers on their horses invade their country, the indigenous people think that they are aliens. The Spaniards capture and enslave many of the Mapuche tribe. Lautaro, a young captured native, realizes that these aliens are human beings without any divine power. He learns to use their weapons and organizes a resistance movement against the intruders.
Cartoon based on letters and drawings of children of Soviet Union and German Democratic Republic.
A joint production by animators of the USSR and the GDR based on children's drawings from the time of the Revolution and drawings by children of the 1970s.
Kunz, the poor day laborer who is richly blessed with children, discovers the secret of the cave in the Simeliberg while collecting wood. Robbers keep their looted treasures there. Kunz takes some of it from time to time so that he can put a little more on the table for his family. Kunz's rich, stingy and suspicious neighbor discovers the secret of the treasure cave. His greed blinds him so much that he runs into his misfortune.
Animated short film based on the Andersen tale. A king envies his son for the carefree way he spends his days and wants to find him a wife. She must not only be beautiful, but also particularly sensitive, which she must prove with the pea test in bed. The first, a hard-working peasant girl, is sent home immediately, the second leaves of her own accord because she finds the prince too boring, the third passes the test and marries the prince. Now he becomes king, and the old man retires to feed swans from now on.
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.
A little duckling is left behind and meets other animals of the forest. Together they try to find out what the duckling is best at: digging, climbing or jumping?
The invention of the chariot seems too daring for the Neanderthal experts. In collective consultation, they decide to reinvent the dugout canoe that has been known for ages. For this reason, the Neanderthals had to hump their way through life for quite a while.
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.
Two men sit on an island watching the sunset. When a storm gathers, they decide to build a boat. While one man is mindful of the coming danger and urges speed, the other wastes his time on decorative details. Dammbeck’s last film made in the GDR before he left for West Germany is based on a Chinese fable, with music by internationally known jazz musician Günter “Baby” Sommer.
When Luitpold Leuwenhaupt sees a faboulous goose in the local pet shop, he can't resist buying it for christmas. But the three kids become friends with the goose, calling her 'Auguste'. So, is there any way left for Luitpold to make a fine christmas feast out of Auguste?
Faustus wants to invent a fire that is stronger than all previous flames. Then death approaches him. In order to prolong his life, he makes a pact with Mephistopheles. When he has found the fire, he burns the contract and is ready to die. Death shows him life in the form of Margaret, with whom Faust falls in love. In order to regain his youth, he sells the flame to Mephisto. Faust enjoys the idyll of love while the Black Knight, Mephisto's servant, subdues the land with fire. When Faust refuses to enter the service of evil, his wife, child and home are destroyed by the flame. Faust makes another pact with Mephisto and invents a fire that blows up knights and devils. This time, Death orders him to discover the fire of life.
Caliph Harun al-Rashid was turned into a stork by a power-greedy rival. Only with the help of his wise vizier and a beautiful princess is he able to escape the spell. Based on a fairy tale by Wilhelm Hauff.
East German stop-motion animation version of the famous fairy tale, notable for its Beast appearing as an elephant.
Peter lives happily with his cat until one day a mouse appears. Peter tries to teach the animal how to catch mice. But it is playful and interested in everything but lessons.
Puppet animated film based on a fairytale by the Brothers Grimm.
A poor woodcutter lived in the forest with his daughters Katrin and Else. Else was quarrelsome and lazy, Katrin was hard-working and good to people and animals. That is why the bear, the hare, the squirrel and the raven wanted to lead her to the forest house so that she could rescue the prince, who had been enchanted into an ancient man. Unfortunately, through unfortunate circumstances, the quarrelsome Else ended up in the forest house. Because she was lazy and unkind to the man and his animals, she was unable to redeem him and was punished. Only when the animals managed to escort Katrin into the forest house could everything be brought to a good end.
A short animation film on Martin Luther and the origins of the Reformation, one told with wry humor and paper cut-outs.
A farmer and his wife had a girl in addition to their seven sons. An evil old woman turned the boys into ravens because she had not been invited to the christening. When the girl turned seven, she learned of the sad fate of her brothers and set out to redeem them. Her journey to the end of the world, to the sun, moon and stars, was adventurous and full of danger. But the girl persevered, found her brothers in the glass mountain, was able to rescue them and return with them to her parents' house.
Before going to bed, Jana plays a lullaby on her violin for the little star. In the girl's imagination, the star dances happily and falls from the sky. The star has to be back in its place before sunrise otherwise it will become blind. Jana is not able to help with the star's return. The birds are also not successful. However, a cosmonaut brings the star home.
