Rare sketches from Georgia’s first animation film found

A rare sketch from the country’s first animation film has been discovered and donated to Tbilisi’s Art Palace for future safekeeping.

The simple sketch for the 1935 film Argonauts (Argonavtebi) – a black-and-white animation based on the ancient Greek legend about a group of travellers visiting Georgia’s historical Black Sea region Kolkheti – was thought to be missing or destroyed until it was discovered this week.

The drawing was discovered alongside a second sketch that were both bought by chairman of the Art Palace Trustees Council Archil Gelovani, who then donated one of the two pieces to the Art Palace.

The rare sketch will now be included in the Art Palace’s unique collection.

The two sketches for the film were previously thought to be missing or destroyed. Photo from the Art Palace/Facebook.

Created by well-known late Georgian painter Lado Gudiashvili, the sketches were an important finding for historians of Georgian animation.

Argonauts premiered in Tbilisi cinemas in 1935 and was Georgia’s first fully animated production with sound.

Directed by Vladimer Mujiri, the pioneer of Georgian animated cinema, Argonauts was illustrated by Gudiashvili and featured themes on ancient Georgian history.