Noureddin Zarrinkelk, known internationally as “the father of Iranian animation,” has joined the Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture as its first artist-in-residence.
The History of a Zarrinkelk’s Trailblazing Art
From a familial lineage of painters and calligraphers, Zarrinkelk forged an artistic path of his own. At age 16, Zarrinkelk began drawing caricatures for magazines.
After earning a Ph.D. in pharmacology at Tehran University, he worked as an illustrator and then at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults where he noticed animation’s potential to capture and transform its audiences.
Zarrinkelk has since written and directed 13 films. His style is playful yet pointed and often relies on simplicity to tell a story. A recurring theme is power. His film "Super Powers" depicted the power and interconnectedness of war with only + and – symbols. Made during the Iraq-Iran war, the film won the national Fajr award in 1987.
A screenshot from his film, "Super Powers"
His 1975 animated film, “The Mad, Mad, Mad World” perfectly encapsulates his mix of surrealism, playfulness and serious political commentary. Professor John A. Lent, founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of International Journal of Comic Art, describes the film as follows:
“Noureddin shows what he calls the ‘primordial-eternal conflict of power and aggression on the earth which is viewed through the geographical maps.’ Thus, we watch Italy portrayed as boot kicking Ceres Island, Scandinavia as a dragon swallowing Denmark, South America as a huge whale struggling on the hook of North America, Siberia and Alaska as birds attacking each other with their beaks, etc. We would never have thought of these territories as animals if Noureddin had not designed them as such.”
Zarrinkelk advanced Iranian animation by founding the country’s first animation school in 1974 and Iran’s branch of the international film animators group, Association Internationale du Film d’Animation or “ASIFA,” in 1987.
In addition to being an animator (both of film and puppets), Zarrinkelk is also an illustrator, painter, and graphic designer. He has illustrated over 20 books and several of them have received international praise, including the book, “The Crows,” which won “Best Book” by UNESCO Asia and UNESCO Iran.
Illustration from "The Crows" by Noureddin Zarrinkelk
For the UCI Community: A Glimpse into the History of Iranian Animation
“I am very excited to have this eminent Iranian artist at the Jordan Center for the coming academic year. We will have a showing of his major works and Mr. Zarrinkelk has agreed to have several workshops on animation and its history in Iran,” said Touraj Daryaee, interim director of the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture.
Zarrinklelk will be in residence at UC Irvine’s Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture through spring 2016.
To learn more about the Samuel Jordan Center, please click here.
To visit Zarrinkelk's website, please click here.
The History of a Zarrinkelk’s Trailblazing Art
From a familial lineage of painters and calligraphers, Zarrinkelk forged an artistic path of his own. At age 16, Zarrinkelk began drawing caricatures for magazines.
After earning a Ph.D. in pharmacology at Tehran University, he worked as an illustrator and then at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults where he noticed animation’s potential to capture and transform its audiences.
Zarrinkelk has since written and directed 13 films. His style is playful yet pointed and often relies on simplicity to tell a story. A recurring theme is power. His film "Super Powers" depicted the power and interconnectedness of war with only + and – symbols. Made during the Iraq-Iran war, the film won the national Fajr award in 1987.
A screenshot from his film, "Super Powers"
His 1975 animated film, “The Mad, Mad, Mad World” perfectly encapsulates his mix of surrealism, playfulness and serious political commentary. Professor John A. Lent, founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of International Journal of Comic Art, describes the film as follows:
“Noureddin shows what he calls the ‘primordial-eternal conflict of power and aggression on the earth which is viewed through the geographical maps.’ Thus, we watch Italy portrayed as boot kicking Ceres Island, Scandinavia as a dragon swallowing Denmark, South America as a huge whale struggling on the hook of North America, Siberia and Alaska as birds attacking each other with their beaks, etc. We would never have thought of these territories as animals if Noureddin had not designed them as such.”
Zarrinkelk advanced Iranian animation by founding the country’s first animation school in 1974 and Iran’s branch of the international film animators group, Association Internationale du Film d’Animation or “ASIFA,” in 1987.
In addition to being an animator (both of film and puppets), Zarrinkelk is also an illustrator, painter, and graphic designer. He has illustrated over 20 books and several of them have received international praise, including the book, “The Crows,” which won “Best Book” by UNESCO Asia and UNESCO Iran.
Illustration from "The Crows" by Noureddin Zarrinkelk
For the UCI Community: A Glimpse into the History of Iranian Animation
“I am very excited to have this eminent Iranian artist at the Jordan Center for the coming academic year. We will have a showing of his major works and Mr. Zarrinkelk has agreed to have several workshops on animation and its history in Iran,” said Touraj Daryaee, interim director of the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture.
Zarrinklelk will be in residence at UC Irvine’s Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture through spring 2016.
To learn more about the Samuel Jordan Center, please click here.
To visit Zarrinkelk's website, please click here.
Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies
Persian Studies