Noureddin Zarrinkelk
Iranian animator, author and illustrator
About Noureddin Zarrinkelk
Born 1936. Noureddin Zarrinkelk is an Iranian animator, film director, screenwriter, illustrator, calligrapher and painter.
Noureddin Zarrinkelk (Persian: ÙÙ۱ۧÙŰŻÛÙ ŰČ۱ÛÙâÚ©ÙÚ©; b. 9 April 1937, in Mashhad), also spelled Zarrin-Kelk, also known as Noori or Nouri, is an Iranian animator, concept artist, editor, graphic designer, illustrator, layout artist, photographer, script writer, educator, and sculptor.
Biography Zarrinkelk studied pharmacy at Tehran University, where he earned a PharmD. Later, from 1969 to 1972, he studied animation film at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) under Raoul Servais.
He established the first school of animation in Iran, which later merged with the prestigious Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University. He continued to serve as a professor of animation and graphic arts well into his retirement.
Since 1971, Zarrinkelk has been a jury member at various international animation festivals and illustration biennials. In 2003, his peers elected him as the president of ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d'Animation).
Zarrinkelk is recognized as the father of animation in Iran.
Influence The art of animation as practised in modern day Iran started in 1950s. Iran's animation owes largely to Noureddin Zarrinkelk. Zarrinkelk played a crucial role in founding the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) in Tehran in collaboration with the father of Iranian graphics Morteza Momayez and fellow artists Farshid Mesghali, Ali Akbar Sadeghi and Arabik Baghdasarian, among others.
Education Puppet Film; âJiri Trnkaâ Studios; Prag 1975 Animation Film; âRoyal Academy Of Fine Artsâ Belgium 1969-1972 Miniature (Persian Traditional Painting) School; Tehran 1950âs PhD Pharmacy; Tehran University 1955-1962
Films In the U.N.; Writer, Designer & Director (Under Production) Pood; Writer, Designer & Director 2000 Identity (For UNICEF); Writer, Designer & Director 1999 Moscow; (Mouse & Cow) Writer, Designer & Director 1998 Sinbad; (Full length animated feature) Stylist, Director 1987-1991 (Hollywood) Super Powers; Writer, Designer & Director 1982 A Way To Neighbor; Writer, Designer & Director 1978 Amir Hamza the Lover and the Dancing Zebra; Writer, Designer & Director 1977 The Mad, Mad, Mad World; Writer, Designer & Director 1975 Atal-Matal; Writer, Designer & Director 1974 Association Of Ideas; Writer, Designer & Director 1973 Philipo and a Train from Hong Kong; Director 1971 (Belgium) A Playground for Baboush; Writer, Designer & Director 1971 (Belgium) Duty, First; Designer & Director 1970 (Belgium)
Publications Rumiâs Stories, Illustrations (under Publication) Prince Arsalan, Illustrations 2005 Mullah Nasruddin, Illustrations 2005 The Elephant and the Ant, Text & illustration 2005 In the U.N.; Text & Illustration 2005 From the waters; Text & Illustration 1996 Multi-Job Factory; Text & Illustration 1988 A-B-Zoo; Text & Illustration 1986 Medical Publications (700 Title); Design & Illustration 1984-1985 If I were God; Text & Illustration 1983 When I was a Kid; Text (Illustrations by Zarrinkelk Junior) 1981 Story of the Silk Worm; Text & Illustrations 1979 Cyrus the King; Illustrations 1977 Albino and the Princess; Illustrations 1976 Folk Tales From Asia; Issue 1-3 Illustrations 1975 New Yearâs Day and the Kites; Illustrations 1974 Story of the Carpet Flowers; Illustrations 1973 Albini and the Sphinx; Illustrations 1972 The Crows; Illustrations 1968 Hero âAmir-Hamzehâ; Illustrations 1967 The Myth of the Sphinx; Illustrations 1965 Iran, Crossroad of Caravans; Illustrations 1964 Text Book For Schools (Grade 1 to 4); Illustrations 1960-1970 Various Newspapers; Graphics, Illustrations, Caricatures 1950-1960
Other activities President of ASIFA international Association of Animated Film since November 2003 Member of the board of directors of ASIFA* International, 1988â2000 Founder and President of ASIFA* Iran since 1986 Founder and Teacher of Animation, Post Graduate School, âFarabiâ Art University, Tehran 1977-1996 Founder and Teacher of the first Animation School, Tehran 1974-1977 Member of ASIFA International since 1971 Jury Member of various international animation festival and illustration Biennales since 1975
Awards Permanent resident, Association International du Film dâAnimation. Hans Christian Andersen Life Achievement for children books Jewell of the Century, Annecy International Film Festival, France 2000, for âThe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ Collection Tokyo Museum of Illustration, Japan 2000, for âMullah Nasruddinâ Juryâs special award Tehran International Biennial, Iran 1999, for âMullah Nasruddinâ Juryâs special award Tehran International Film Festival, Iran 1989, for âSupper Powersâ Special Mention, Bologna Book Exhibition, Italy 1987, for âA-B-Zooâ Diploma Of Honor, Hans Christian Andersen Jury For Lifetime Achievement 1984 Diploma of Honor, Giffoni International Film Festival, Italy for âPrince Hamzehâ 1978 Diploma Of Honor, Paris International Short Film Festival for âthe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ 1977 First Prize for Subject, Oberhausen International Film Festival 1977, for âthe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ 1977 Plate of Honour, âCairo International Film Festivalâ Egypt for âthe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ 1977 Silver Prize, Espinho International Film Festival, Portugal, for âthe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ 1977 Diploma of Honor, Chicago International Film Festival 1976 First Prize for Subject, Saloniki Film Festival, Greece, for âthe Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ 1977 Diploma of Honor, San Francisco International Film Festival, for Association of Ideas 1975 Best Book of the year, âIBBY Iranâ, for âWhen I was a kidâ 1975 Prix Clothide Coupie, Belgium National Film Festival 1973, for âDuty, Firstâ Prize for Schools, Annecy International Film Festival, France, 1969, for âDuty, Firstâ Golden Apple, Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, Slovakia 1971, for âThe Crowsâ Best Book of the year, âUNESCO Internationalâ, Tokyo, Japan 1970, for âThe Crowsâ Best Book of the year, âUNESCO Iranâ, for âThe Crowsâ 1970 Plate of Honor, IBBY Iran, for âMyth of the Sphinxâ 1969
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Important facts
People in Noureddin Zarrinkelk's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Noureddin Zarrinkelk?
Iranian animator, author and illustrator
When was Noureddin Zarrinkelk born?
Noureddin Zarrinkelk was born on 6 April 1936 in Mashhad.
What is Noureddin Zarrinkelk's occupation?
Noureddin Zarrinkelk is an animator, film director, screenwriter, illustrator, calligrapher and painter.
What nationality is Noureddin Zarrinkelk?
Noureddin Zarrinkelk is Iranian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Noureddin Zarrinkelk
· DBpedia: Noureddin Zarrinkelk
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Noureddin Zarrinkelk. https://biography.guide/noureddin-zarrinkelk/
MLA: "Noureddin Zarrinkelk." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/noureddin-zarrinkelk/.
Chicago: "Noureddin Zarrinkelk." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/noureddin-zarrinkelk/.
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