While dead bug puppets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the pioneers of animation, Ladislas Starevich produced some of the most surreal and groundbreaking images in early film. Born in Moscow to Polish parents, Starevich started making documentaries when he was appointed Director of the Museum of Natural History in Lithuania.

His fifth film was supposed to be the combat of stag beetles, but the nocturnal insects kept shutting down when the lights went on. His solution, inspired by the work of Émile Cohl, “Father of the Animated Cartoon,” was to simply stage a mock battle with beetle corpses instead. After that, he developed theatrical narratives and story arcs for his “actors,” creating the unnerving, dreamy film you can watch below.

Although creepy bug theater will always be my favorite in his oeuvre, Starevich went on the make amazing live action films, and some other beauties with more traditional puppets. It ain’t Disney, but the dark humor and jarring storytelling is so innovative, especially when you consider that he did it with nothing but dead bugs, miniatures, some wire, and what must have been infinite patience.