Chernabog begins boisterously and ends with the silent sound of bells. He stretches out his wings with sharp movements, wrought with tension, heavy and simultaneously light. He’s surprisingly agile as Tytla contrasts sudden, decisive action with more languorous ones- so the demon partakes in his evils with eager, careful delight. His fingers dance, stirring up chaos with unexpected grace and elegance. Tytla communicates such weight to his expression that you feel like he would shatter the earth if he fell. His movements are theatrical- broad, sweeping gestures – without being overwrought. And the slowness of his timing contrasts wonderfully with the fast action of the spirits he brings to life.
All of this is enhanced by a powerful design. Chernabog feels carved out of the night, as silly as that sounds, due to the deep blue-blacks used for the shadows, and brighter highlights that sharpen his form. His design is just close enough to convention to be immediately recognisable as ‘demonic’, whilst having enough nuance to it to make him iconic.
Chernabog’s animation elevates the Night on Bald Mountain to the most impressive short in Fantasia. How Tytla managed to animate a character that complex, both heavy and light in form and action, is beyond me. Animation’s complexities reveal themselves in performances like this.
Catch a Falling Star 