← Back
An Optical Poem
First-Time Viewing

An Optical Poem

Release Date:March 5, 1938
Running Time:7 min
Genres:Animation, Music
Spoiler-Safe Overview

This page avoids major plot turns, twists, and ending details. It’s designed to help first-time viewers decide if this movie is right for them.What counts as a spoiler can vary by viewer.

Synopsis

A dance of shapes. A title card tells us this is an experiment in conveying the mental images of music in a visual form. Liszt's "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" is the music. The shapes, all two-dimensional, are circles primarily, with some squares and rectangles, and a few triangles. The shapes move rhythmically to the music: receding from view or moving across the screen. Red circles on a blue background; light blue squares; white rectangles. Then, a red background of many circles with a few in the foreground. Red gives way to blue then to white. Shapes reappear as Liszt's themes re-occur. Then, with a few staccato notes and images, it's over.

Movies like this
Based on shared genres, era, runtime, and key creators—without using plot details.
Where to watch
US
Free / Ads
Kanopy
Kanopy
View full provider list
Availability data provided by JustWatch (via TMDB).
Want more control?
Create an account to track what you’ve seen, save a watchlist, and set poster visibility.
Create account