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Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina told the tale of a tiny girl grown from seed to be a companion to an old woman, Reiniger has her Thumbelina born spontaneously and magically from a flower, beholden to none but herself.

Story loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Bottle Imp".

Each portrayed painter produced an experimental animated short film to be featured in this film. A short film by Herbert Seggelke.

Two boys put together a colorful film from pictures they have painted themselves that recounts the fantastic story of an adventurous journey. From their hometown, they go out to the open sea, to the depths of the ocean, to the jungle, to the USA, and finally to the moon in a rocket, and from there back home again.

A vain emperor is constantly preoccupied with his appearance. Three swindlers promise to make him extraordinary clothes that can only be seen by people who are honest and clever. The emperor provides the three fashion designers with expensive material and expects to make a grand entrance in his new costumes.

The residents in heaven are worried because Santa does not know what to do. All of the children would like a sputnik that beeps for Christmas. Nobody in Santa's crew knows what a sputnik is. So he has to go to earth and find out about it.

This film has set itself the task of showing how an animated film is made.

Kasperle Larifari travels to a distant island in search of a magic flower.

The wealthy man Tobias Knopp becomes ever more lonely and quirky over the years. He had let himself go, his girth increased significantly, and his hair fell out. Over that, he waited too long for the right woman and stayed a bachelor involuntarily. But now, he wants to try again one more time and wants to get married after all. But first of all, the right woman for this has to be found, and thus Knopp embarks on a journey to look for a wife all through the German lands. During that, he visits his friends who are already married for a long time and gets all kinds of advice from them on how to get to know a woman and to conquer her heart. On his journey, Knopp then learns much about the different facets of married life. After countless adventures, he, however, doesn’t find an adequate partner and returns home frustrated. But perhaps, his housekeeper might be able to help out?

The cartoon is one of the Marshall Plan's most popular films. A clash between a shoemaker and a hat maker illustrates the contrasts between protectionism and free trade. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2003.

Stop-motion animated Christmas short in which an entire toy department comes to life.

In his first cinematic work, the painter Franz Schömbs intersperses the ever-recurring process from the nightbreak to the dawn. A short film by Franz Schömbs.

In ancient times, an old sorceress lived in a mysterious castle who turned any girl who approached a man into a bird. One day, Jorine falls under the spell, is turned into a nightingale and locked in a cage. Her friend Joringel dreams that he can free her with the help of a miracle flower. After much trouble and danger, he finds the flower and frees Jorine and the other enchanted girls.

Zoo animals embark on a journey by train

Animated film by Haro Senft.

In the film, glass shards, screws, wires, and other elements from a toolbox are used to create an original play.

Once upon a time there was a goat mother who imprinted her seven little goats on her mind not to open the door for anyone until she was there. But as soon as she had left the house, the evil wolf came and tried to move the seven with cunning and treachery to open the door.

Animated short film from 1951 directed by Hans Fischerkoesen , made for the advertising of a Trumpf Schokolade product.

The fire spirit uses the rainman's sleep to steal his magic rod and his magic water. He dries up all the water and causes great hardship for people and animals. When the fire spirit tampers with the count's well, he is overpowered and imprisoned. For his release, he promises the Count the bottle of magic water. Two children who are looking for water overhear the conversation. They learn that the rainman can only be awakened with the magic rod and the magic water. Andreas uses a trick to get hold of the water. Lies receives the rod in exchange from the vain wife of the fire spirit. The children search for the rainman. The fire spirit puts them in danger several times and tries to stop them from getting any further. Nevertheless, they find the rainman's cave and awaken him. Now the trouble is over, the fire spirit is defeated. It rains again.

The people, among them an astonishing number of workers, react with visible anger to the sudden lack of matches – and threaten to go to the barricades. The problem is solved, of course. But does it mean the population’s anger is placated? Puppet animation director Johannes Hempel created this satire based on a draft by Wolfgang Kohlhaase – at the same time as the uprising of 17 June 1953.

The only German 3D film with a double-strip format from the 1950s, with the appearance of the “Hummelfiguren” created by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel.

A German Film Award winning short animation.

Gustaf the puppet plays the piano. An amateur film