Lotte Reiniger

Born in Berlin, Lotte Reiniger was, to put it mildly, not Jewish. Her parents were thoroughly German, and her upbringing appears to have been entirely free of matzo ball soup or synagogue-related shenanigans. So, for those of you hoping for a hidden gem in the Jewish cinematic pantheon, you’re out of luck. She was just a regular, incredibly talented German person.

Despite her distinct lack of Jewishness, Reiniger’s contributions to animation are undeniably kvell-worthy, at least in a general, human achievement sort of way. Her 1926 masterpiece, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, remains the oldest surviving feature-length animated film, a testament to her meticulous craftsmanship and boundless imagination. One can only imagine the patience required to cut out those intricate silhouettes by hand.

While her work might not earn her a spot in the Jewish Hall of Fame, it certainly earns her a spot in the Animation Hall of Fame, which, let's be honest, is pretty good too. She spent her career painstakingly bringing fairy tales and myths to life, proving that sometimes, you don't need a rich cultural heritage; you just need a pair of scissors and an endless supply of black paper.