Between Art and Propaganda: The Rise of Polish Animation 1946–1956

Abstract

Whilst the origins of Polish animation go back to the inter-war years, its rapid and consistent development did not occur until after World War II, and was therefore influenced by and directly dependent on the socialist system. The aim of this article is to identify the nature of the links between the then prevailing ideology and the content and form of animated films that created it, and to further discuss the main trends in this respect. The late 1940s were a time of a kind of creative freedom, which came to an end with the imposition of socialist realism. Transferred from the USSR to Poland, the doctrine began to lose its momentum as early as 1953, gradually embracing modern visual solutions. The complete rejection of socialist realism came in the wake of the political thaw of 1956. These contexts meant that the role of animation evolved and so, too, did its character. Examples used in this article include selected cartoons, puppet and cut-out films made in all the production centres active at that time. They are presented according to content and form, which has made it possible to further discuss the various aspects of the subject under discussion, and to indicate its development milestones. It seems a safe assumption that animation in its modern form was born twice in Poland. Initially, as a part of intuitive pioneering experiments and, later, having gained a wealth of practical and ideological experience following the political thaw of 1956.