[TOMT][Short Film][1980s-1990s] Dark Eastern European claymation short about a pianist and a genius mouse and a cat
Hi everyone,
I am looking for a specific stop-motion animated short film (around 30 minutes long) that I watched in Mexico on the public cultural channel "Canal 11" (Once Niños) back in the 90s or early 2000s.
Due to the broadcast history of the channel, it is highly likely to be an Eastern European (possibly Czech or Soviet/Russian) or European independent production from the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Here are the key details:
- Medium/Style: 100% stop-motion made with real modeling clay (claymation). The art style was dark, melancholy, and lo-fi, with visible fingerprints on the clay.
- Characters: A human pianist/composer, his pet cat, and a small mouse.
- Plot: The pianist lives in a dimly lit apartment, suffering from a severe creative block. He discovers that a small mouse living in his walls is a musical genius. The mouse comes out to jump on the piano keys and correct his music sheets. They secretly team up to compose a masterpiece. Meanwhile, the pianist's cat is obsessed with catching the mouse, and the pianist spends the short protecting his little friend.
- The Tragic Ending: After completing the composition, the pianist drops his guard or falls asleep. In the shadows, a metallic spring mousetrap with cheese is left on the floor. The mouse approaches it. The pianist opens his eyes in pure horror at the very last second. The screen abruptly cuts to black, and all you hear is the brutal, dry metallic "CLACK!" of the trap snapping shut, followed by complete silence before the credits.
I have tried searching for common terms like "The Composer and the Mouse" or "The Concert," but I haven't been able to find the exact video file or its original title in its native language.
Does anyone remember this short, know the original European title, or have a link to where it might be archived (YouTube, Internet Archive, etc.)? Any leads would be greatly appreciated!
Posted Jun 7, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC