Madama Butterfly

Prior to Madama Butterfly, my exposure to stop motion animation was limited to cheesy Christmas movies. I am amazed at how the creators managed to put so much thought and emotion into such a "primitive" video format

Although, the characters do not speak are able to express the anguish and despair of Madama Butterfly through visual cues.

As she waits for her sailor to return, the sun and moon continually rise, symbolizing how much time has passed. When her child is born and as she matures, she is still connected to ther mother by umbilical, symbolizing the bond that the have with each other.

When the sailor returns and takes her child away, the umbilical chord rips and her hair greys.

I believe the most powerful scene is when the main character begins to disassemble herself. If she cannot be with her daughter and her one and only love, then she feels that she is nothing.