An animated adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's classic short story about an office worker (Cillian Murphy) who saves all his money to buy a new coat in time for Christmas, only to have fate take a ghostly hand.

Based on Nikolai Gogol's story with the location changed from Russia to Italy and the time changed to the present (1952), the story is about a poor city-hall clerk (Renato Rascel) whose only desire is for a new overcoat. The town Mayor (Giulio Stival) is planning a reception for some visiting VIP's in honor of a new, wasteful piece of construction. The clerk bungles his assignment and is fired. But he stumbles onto some bribery concerning the architects and, to keep him quiet, he's given his job back plus a bonus. He buys his long-cherished overcoat, and it makes him so presentable he wins newly-found respect from everybody. But his coat is stolen and the bitter weather causes him to contact a fever and he dies. His funeral upsets the Mayor's reception when he returns as a ghost. Written by Les Adams {[email protected]}

"Shinel" (The Overcoat) was a film directed by the great but communist duet of Herr Grigori Kozintsev und Herr Leonard Trauberg. It was based in the eponymous book written by the Russian Herr Nikolai Gogol. It must said that Herr Kozintsev und Herr Trauberg were inspired by another Gogol oeuvre, "Nevsky Prospect" for the prologue of the film. It shows the anodyne youthful of the poor clerk Akaky Akakiyevich Bashmachkin, the main character of the film. The film extends this and goes deeply into the reason why Herr Akakiyevich needs and spend his savings on an elegant overcoat. 　　"Shinel" it is a film about appearances and the importance to wear a uniform or rich clothes (well, concerning this the aristocracy are great experts thanks to centuries of impeccable tailoring…). It has many Expressionist references, not only in the way these Russian directors filmed and resolved the story. Especially remarkable are the different camera angles and the editing of this film; it's not German style at all, but it is superb camera work. There are instances that are deeply sarcastic and ironic; the sets and the actors performances are notable. 　　The film it is for many moments, a satire, with exaggerated and deliberate performances. It's even experimental in many aspects. The movie mixes up different European film styles. It shows different social conditions such as middle-class dullness and the extravagant and false bourgeoisie. Here's an ordinary vanity fair that goes bizarre with remarkable scenery. "Shinel" was photographed masterly by another communist pair, Herr Yevgeni Mikhajlov und Herr Andrei Moskvin, who manages in particular to emphasize the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded that poor clerk.

1979年，在制作完《故事中的故事》之后，Yuriy Norshteyn开始构思自己的下一个动画。这部名叫《外套》的动画将是一部约60分钟的动画电影，它改编自俄国著名作家果戈理的同名小说。影片的进展非常缓慢，到了1986年，动画只完成了10分钟，后来Norshteyn在家乡成立了自己的工作室继续这部动画的制作。动画制作一直困难重重，虽然资金一直很紧张，但Norshteyn还是拒绝了俄国文化部的资助，并表示：一个人不能接受那些从不关心他的人的钱。1999年，Norshteyn的亲密战友，摄影师Aleksandr Zhukovskiy 去世，这给了Norshteyn沉重的打击，其后由Zhukovskiy的学生担当影片的摄影。2005年Norshteyn接受采访时表示，影片已经完成拍摄了25分钟（实际制作则更长）。Norshteyn追求完美的作风为他赢得了“金蜗牛”的称号，他拒绝了很多国外的机会，因为他觉得舒适的环境会消磨他的意志。如果Norshteyn在2012年任不无法完成这部动画，那么这部动画将超过Richard Williams的《小偷与鞋匠》，成为世界上制作周期最长的动画。

Одинокий маленький человек делается заложником мечты о вещи, способной, по его мнению, полностью изменить его жалкое существование. Но сможет ли новая шинель сделать его счастливым.

1935年，听闻父亲方玉龙的死讯，方云天告别了日本的留学生涯，回到中国上海，准备接管由父亲方玉龙的拜把兄弟高信义暂时托管的家族事业。方云天偶遇沈如画，两人在互相斗气逗乐中互生好感。在沈如画的父亲沈富贵的安排下，两人成亲，这让高文轩大受打击。方云天的旧日恋人，日本女孩川岛云子，随同父亲来到上海寻找方云天，当她得知方云天已经成亲，伤心欲绝。方云天与高文轩兄弟反目，争霸上海滩。川岛云子的父亲来到中国，利用女儿与方云天等人展开一幕幕惊心动魄的谍战较量。最后，在危难时局下，方云天带着沈如画参加了抗战。

1935年，听闻父亲方玉龙的死讯，方云天告别了日本的留学生涯，回到中国上海，准备接管由父亲方玉龙的拜把兄弟高信义暂时托管的家族事业。方云天偶遇沈如画，两人在互相斗气逗乐中互生好感。在沈如画的父亲沈富贵的安排下，两人成亲，这让高文轩大受打击。方云天的旧日恋人，日本女孩川岛云子，随同父亲来到上海寻找方云天，当她得知方云天已经成亲，伤心欲绝。方云天与高文轩兄弟反目，争霸上海滩。川岛云子的父亲来到中国，利用女儿与方云天等人展开一幕幕惊心动魄的谍战较量。最后，在危难时局下，方云天带着沈如画参加了抗战。