The Chopin Shorts: KIDS (12' 02")
Hamster Heaven
Pl.ink!
Fat Hamster
Papa's boy
Especially programmed to appeal to young children, but accessible to all.
The Chopin Shorts: ART (12' 34")
Chopin's Drawings
Scarecrow
Little Postman
The most awarded and acclaimed of the chopin shorts, demonstrating artistry. Recommended for 7+
The Chopin Shorts: FANTASY (11' 36")
Fantasia suo duo
Spirits of the Piano
The Night Island
Fantastical visions suitable for all ages.
The Chopin Shorts: MIXING WORLDS (12' 02")
Lexdysia
Chopin to Infinity
Paper Piano
Combining animation and live action, suitable for all ages
The Chopin Shorts: 3D COLLECTION (15' 42")
Scarecrow
Little Postman
Papa's Boy
Spirits of the Piano
Fat Hamster
Includes three winners of Best 3D short film prizes, which feature in 'Best of the World 3D' collection.
Magic Piano (30')
These feature animations have a Universal rating with film censors, but some young children may find scenes from Scarecrow and Little Postman a little scary.
Founded in 2001 by producer Hugh Welchman, BreakThru Films is a prize-winning film and animation production company with offices and studios in London, Lodz and Gdynia, Poland. BreakThru Films established its reputation with its slate of prize-winning shorts (over 20 international awards & nominations including two BAFTA nominations, Official Selection at Cannes, Canal+ Prize, Chicago, and TCM prize).
In 2005/6 BreakThru produced the stop-motion puppet animation film “Peter & the Wolf”, specifically for distribution in concert venues with live orchestras. Peter & the Wolf premiered at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with Philharmonia Orchestra accompanying the film live. Peter & the Wolf has been screened with live orchestra over 300 times since 2006, including at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic. The film was an overwhelming critical success, picking up the Rose D’Or, the Annecy Cristal and the Oscar® for best short animation in 2008.
After the Oscar, BreakThru was invited to come up with an idea for a film to celebrate Chopin’s 200th Anniversary, resulting in “The Flying Machine” (starring Heather Graham and Lang Lang, Official Selection TIFF, Best feature film at LA 3D Film Festival); “The Magic Piano” (Shortlisted for Best Short Animation Academy Award) and “The Chopin Shorts” (a collection of short films all set to Chopin’s etudes, played by Lang Lang, and including Little Postman, winner of Best 3D short at the LA 3D film festival).
In 2017, BreakThru Films released "Loving Vincent", the world’s first fully painted feature film, completed in the painting style of Vincent van Gogh. It was then shown for the first time at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June 2017. The film went on to receive numerous awards as well as Oscar®, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
Reviews by children age 9-11 from St Teresa’s School, who watched The Magic Piano as part of their music lessons:
I was amazed at how the different pieces of Chopin fitted in with the different scenes of the Magic Piano. When we watched the movie, I enjoyed the storyline and how it's sort of a quest to find her father. It had a lot of emotion when she had to leave her Dad and how her emotions change throughout the whole movie.
-Isabelle
I loved the film. I think it was absolutely great. I loved the way the the producers matched the film I thought it was very creative. My other favorite part was at the end because it was very dramatic and even gave me a shock.
-Keren