Anatoly Petrov

Anatoly Alexeyevich Petrov (; 15 September 1937 — 3 March 2010) was a Soviet and Russian animation director, animator, artist and educator at VGIK known as the founder of the long-running anthology series Happy Merry-Go-Round and developer of the animation technique he called photographics (also known as graphical painting). A member of ASIFA, he was named Meritorious Artist of the RSFSR in 1989. Start of career Anatoly Petrov was born in Moscow. At the age of twelve he came into possession of a photographic plates folding camera, became engaged in photography and organized a home darkroom. From 1954 to 1956 he studied at the art school, and from 1956 to 1959 — at the animation courses under Soyuzmultfilm led by Fyodor Khitruk where he met his future wife and regular collaborator Galina Barinova. While still a student he was distinguished for his artistic skills and the ability to work in various styles. Upon graduation Petrov and Barinova joined Soyuzmultfilm, simultaneously studying at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute (1959—1964). Very soon Petrov was noticed by the leading directors and became one of the most wanted animators at the studio. In just several years Lev Atamanov, when asked whether he would hire Fyodor Khitruk or Anatoly Petrov, answered "Petrov, because he is a universal artist who is capable of everything". By the mid-1960s he was already teaching his own students; he developed a unique programme and spent over 40 years as an educator, both at Soyuzmultfilm and VGIK animation courses. Around the same time he was sent to Zagreb Film (Yugoslavia) for retraining as an animation director. Upon return in 1967 Petrov directed his first experimental short Hippopotamus (also known as The Singing Teacher) which was released as part of the Kaleidoscope-68 almanac in 1968. Drawn with pencil, it featured detailed three-dimensional characters with lifelike movements in an absurdist tale. From then on he started promoting his original ideas, always working as animator on his films.