Elbert Tuganov

Elbert Tuganov (22 February 1922 – 22 March 2007) was an Estonian animator and film director. In 1958, he directed the first Estonian animated puppet film, "Petrike's Dream". He directed nine of the first local puppet films, which is why he is considered the founder of the genre in Estonia.

Life

Elbert Tuganov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, to an Estonian mother and an Ossetian father. His family were representatives of the Muslim high nobility of Ossetia, from whom two generals of the Tsarist army, Aslambek Tuganov (1804—1875) and Hambi Tuganov (1838—1917), descended. Elbert's father was a sculptor.

In 1927 his parents sent him to live in Berlin, Germany, where Elbert's aunt lived and worked as an actress. He lived in Berlin for all his school years, and graduated from the Gymnasium there in 1939.

While at school, he started earning money early on as a freelance stagehand and selling cigarettes in nightclubs. His main interest as a child was filmmaking, but he was also involved in local Russian white emigrant scouting organisations. At the 1936 Summer Olympics, he worked as a guide and interpreter for foreign athletes, as he spoke Estonian, Russian, English and German.

Between 1937 and 1939, Tuganov worked in three cartoon studios in Berlin, initially doing all the necessary work but later specialising as a colourist.

Animated films

In total he created 38 animated films.

• Peetrikese unenägu (1958)
• Põhjakonn (1959)
• Metsamuinasjutt (1960)
• Ott kosmoses (1961)
• Mina ja Murri (1961)
• Kaks lugu (1962)
• Peaaegu uskumatu lugu (1962)
• Just nii (1963)
• Hiirejaht (1965)
• Park (1966)
• Jonn (1966)
• Žanri sünd (1967)
• Ahvipoeg Fips (1968)
• Hammasratas (1968)
• Aatomik (1970)
• Aatomik ja Jõmmid (1970)
• Jalakäijad (1971)
• Suveniir (1977)
• Köpenicki kapten (1978)
• Kaupmees ja ahvid (1979)
• Giufa (1979)
• Ohver (1980)
• Õunkimmel (1981)