Lotte Reiniger was born in 1899 in Berlin, Germany and was among the first women to achieve a successful career in animation and film direction. In her youth, Reiniger was captivated by silhouette puppetry and adapted the laborious technique for use in her full-length films. Her most notable film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, 1926, is the oldest surviving animated feature and is based on tales from The Arabian Nights.

After producing nearly seventy films throughout her career, Reiniger passed away in 1981.