Inessa Kovalevskaya

Inessa Alekseyevna Kovalevskaya (; born 1 March 1933) is a Soviet and Russian animation director at Soyuzmultfilm known for her musical animated films and The Bremen Town Musicians in particular. She is a member of ASIFA. She was named the Merited Art Worker of the Russian Federation in 2002.

Early life Inessa Kovalevskaya was born in Moscow to Lyudmila Petrovna Kovalevskaya (1912—1989) and Aleksey Ivanovich Kovalevsky (1901—1950). Her father was a decorated major general, historian, director of the V.I. Lenin Political-Military Academy (1943—1948) and the Academy of Social Sciences under the CPSU Central Committee (1948—1950). According to one version, he committed suicide, according to another — fell victim of repressions.

As a result, Inessa wasn't accepted into the Moscow State University despite passing entrance exams. She managed to enter the Moscow Region State University with the help of her father's compatriot, where she studied for two years, simultaneously visiting art and drama courses. She spent another two years studying for a theatre director at the Moscow Art Theatre School and in 1954 entered the Lunacharsky State Institute for Theatre Arts to study for a theatre historian. She graduated in 1958 and joined the State Committee for Cinematography to work as an editor (a censor) of the Moldovan film and animation industry up until 1961. She had studied music since childhood and dreamed of directing musical films. Her diploma short Automaton (1965) featured stop motion animation, but she switched to traditional animation which allowed for more diversity when choosing music genres.

This was not, however, tolerated by some members of the artistic council responsible for post-production. According to Entin, Natalya Sats felt angry that so many records of The Bremen Town Musicians were sold "while Tikhon Khrennikov sold only 3 million, which could only indicate the upcoming end of our country". The film was still approved and released to overwhelming success, turning into a cultural phenomenon, launching careers of its creators and basically introducing the genre of musicals to the Soviet screen.

The State Committee for Cinematography even wanted to send it to the animation festival in Berlin, but changed its mind at the last minute. Kovalevskaya wrote in her memoirs that it had nothing to do with censorship: one of the leading animators used his influence to abort the nomination in favor of his own work. As a result, the film wasn't presented at any festival and Kovalevskaya started experiencing problems at the studio. When she was approached by the same team and offered to direct a sequel, she refused. It was eventually directed by Vasily Livanov in 1973 who co-wrote both screenplays.

Kovalevskaya also created screenplays to many of her cartoons as well as various radio shows. She wrote a number of fairy tale books and the book of memoirs The First National Musical "The Bremen Town Musicians". True Story.

Selected filmography

Automaton (1965) — director Four from the Same Yard (1967) - director The Bremen Town Musicians (1969) — director Katerok (or Little Motorboat) (1970) — director Songs of the Years of Fire (1971) - director, screenwriter The Russian Melodies (1972) - director The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda (1973) — director, screenwriter How the Lion Cub and the Turtle Sang a Song (1974) — director At Port (1975) — director Children's Album (1976) — director, screenwriter The Master Craftsman (1978) — director, screenwriter Kamarinskaya (1980) — director, screenwriter Chuchello-Meowchello (1982) — director Pictures at an Exhibition (1984) — director, screenwriter Dances of the Dolls (1985) — director, screenwriter Adventures of Kuzya the Grasshopper (1990-1991) — director, screenwriter The Gnomes and the Mountain King (1993) — director, screenwriter Dora-Dora-pomidora (2001) — director, screenwriter