Russian animation, Soyuzmultfilm, animation based on fairy/folk tales, ingredients that have me sold even when it is just one of them, all of them and my interest is even bigger. If you haven't any of Soyuzmultfilm's work yet and are a fan of animation and ones not from the UK or US, you are in for a treat. While preferring her adaptations of folklore and fairytales (as well as adaptations of literary classics), Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya's Greek mythology animations are all must watches.
The last of them 'Prometheus' is no exception and for similar reasons to the other four adaptations (which include the stories of Hercules, the argonauts and Perseus). It is hard to say which is the best of the five, all are equally fantastic and among the best of a generally very good period for Soyuzmultfilm (they were at their best in the 50s and 60s though) but 'Prometheus' is a wonderful solo director swansong for Snezhko-Blotskaya and testament of her immense talent.
'Prometheus' animation is of exceptionally high quality. The attention to detail in the backgrounds and landscapes are enough to take the breath away and one can see much ambition and Prometheus' character design is another daring one for Soyuzmultfilm (not quite as much as Andromeda's for 'Perseus' but still). The music is playful, lush in orchestration and atmospheric, its use, tone and placement always ideal and not in any way discordant with the action.
Even though not in English (which may alienate some but what goes on in the imagery and in the story is more than enough to speak), the writing is so poetic and flows very well, listening to it is also a pleasure.
Story is as thrilling and imaginative as it should be, treating the story and characters with respect, with plenty of recognisable parts, while with enough of its own touches to set it apart without being too much of a departure. It's still unmistakably Soyuzmultfilm, which is a good thing as they were a very versatile studio and easy to recognise from the visual styles adopted for instance. The fantasy element has a lot of charming imagination and the adventure enthralls and excites, hardly surprising seeing as Russian cinema and animation excelled at these genres individually and together frequently.
Characters are well written, with Prometheus being as memorable and dominant as ought, and are strongly and fittingly voiced.
Overall, wonderful. 10/10.
