An Optical Poem (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1938, An Optical Poem is an animation and music film directed by Oskar Fischinger, running about 7 minutes.
What it’s about. 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.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, An Optical Poem has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch An Optical Poem page.
If you liked it. Fans of An Optical Poem tend to enjoy Spirited Away, Your Name., Grave of the Fireflies and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch An Optical Poem (1938)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for An Optical Poem change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is An Optical Poem worth watching?
- An Optical Poem holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy animation and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- When was An Optical Poem released?
- An Optical Poem was released in 1938, with a runtime of about 7 minutes.