Johnny Corncob

Marcell Jankovics's 1973 Hungarian animation, adapted from Sándor Petőfi's epic poem, is among Hungary's first animated features. After losing the girl he loves, the shepherd Jancsi takes to the road and meets war, giants, witches and finally the water of life. Its value is in the design: using folk art motifs, thick lines and flat fields of colour, Jankovics builds a visual language entirely unlike Disney's. Transitions between scenes are made by transformation of shape rather than by cutting. The story keeps the rhythm of an epic, unlike the usual pace of animation. The violence is stylised but may be harsh for small children. Who it's for: viewers interested in the history of animation and the Eastern European visual tradition. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a naturally flowing story, or families looking for something light for young children.