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Winters, C. E.

Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation

40 pp. | Greenwillow | January, 2023 | Trade ISBN 978-0-06-306739-4 $18.99
(1) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Schu. With a refrain of "snip, snip, snip!" the story introduces readers to German film pioneer Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981). Lotte's adolescence coincided with the dawn of cinema, a time when movies "were silent but filled with magical sights." She utilized her Scherenschnitte ("scissor cuts") skills to create her own paper-cut puppet shows, eventually seeking the guidance and partnership of cinema professionals. Success with early stop-motion experimentation, along with acclaim for a groundbreaking four-minute animated film, led to a wealthy patron. Reiniger, assisted by her husband and a small crew, worked for nearly three years to complete a sixty-five-minute animated movie titled The Adventures of Prince Achmed, which mesmerized audiences. Schu's exquisite digital illustrations possess a strong sense of illumination and depth, often suggesting a tactile quality, as if constructed from paper. Visually, much of the book is shadowy and dark, particularly around the perimeter of pages, simulating the experience of watching a shadow puppet play; however, bursts of radiant color spotlight (literally and figuratively) key areas of interest. A helpful author's note identifies the Chinese origins of paper cutting and Reiniger's specific contributions to filmmaking (some of which are often incorrectly accredited to Walt Disney). Additional back matter includes a timeline, a bibliography, and a glossary. See also Robinson's Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie (rev. 3/22).
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

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