North Dragon

North Dragon (Põhjakonn, 1959) is a Soviet Estonian puppet fairy tale you can watch online on iFILM. Eighteen minutes, directed by Elbert Tuganov — the founder of Estonian animation, working at the Tallinnfilm studio in its earliest days.

The story is pure folklore: a brave young man sets off after a magic ring and, in the end, rids his homeland of a fearsome dragon. Trials, wonders, and courage outweighing fear — the old shape of the tale, told without fuss. The real draw is the early Baltic puppet craft, with its textured figures and slow, almost ritual movement. A small treasure for anyone collecting rare Soviet animation made outside the Soyuzmultfilm mainstream. Stream North Dragon (1959) online on iFILM.