Lullabies of the World: Animated Music Videos Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Traditions
The "Lullabies of the World" project, also known as "Kolubelnyye mira" in Russian, is a Russian animated project that started in 2005. Its aim is to create animated music videos featuring lullabies from various countries around the world, performed in their original languages. The project is directed by Yelizaveta Skvotsova and produced at Metronome Studio. Each lullaby is performed in its original language and the plot of the movie is based on the story told in the lullaby, with visual images reflecting the lifestyle and traditions of the respective nation.
Currently, there are 60 completed lullabies in the project, which has received high critical acclaim in Russia and won awards at film festivals. The films are made using mixed techniques, combining stop-motion animation and computer-generated 2D animation. Many of them are executed in a naive style reminiscent of children's drawings. Each film serves as a "presentation" of a particular nation, showcasing its country, art, crafts, and way of life, making the "Lullabies of the World" not only beautiful but also educational in a sense.
The creators of the series aim to visually reflect the "local flavor" in the films, drawing inspiration from cultural patterns of different regions, such as Greek, African, and Indian musical motifs, which influence the choice of visual elements, drawing style of figures, and ornaments. Interestingly, the project's creators deliberately chose not to translate foreign-language songs into Russian, as the visuals convey the plot, mood, charm, and intonation without the need for translation.
Currently, the "Lullabies of the World" animated films are available on Youtube, and some enthusiasts, like Rudi Gabriel Bedy, provide English titles and annotations for these charming films.
Here are some of the wonderful lullabies from around the world:
1. Japan
Two constellations love each other, but they may meet only one day a year.
2. Datooga people of Tanzania.
A cheerful African song about a growing calf and its mother.
3. Hungary
A Biblical story of Christmas retold with Hungarian motifs
4. Sri Lanka
A charming story of a sea turtle's journey.
5. Argentina
A plush toy fox runs away from a sleeping boy and sees what forest animals do at night.
We've gathered 50 different national songs including lyrics adapted especially for beginners. They include classic sheet music, letter-coded notation, and online audio tracks. You will enjoy folk music, children's songs, hymns, popular melodies, and dances.
Music brings us together. We can better understand people from all corners of the world, in all their incredible diversity. In many ways, music is a universal language, crossing borders and opening up a whole new world to our minds.
