In regards to the previous reviewer who gave "Historia Naturae, Suita" a four out of ten, I would argue that in the case of this film one should not compare it to Jan Svankmajer's later, more complex work but instead look at it on its own and on how well-crafted it is. When seen alongside the rest of the large output of films by the great Czech animator, it is true this early 1967 effort is rather simplistic in visuals and concept. There is little of the stop-motion Svankmajer was known for, and it is made to be more a music video than a humorous animation. That doesn't mean it's worse though, just outside his standard and still good for what it is.
In the film, Svankmajer goes through the different catagories of animals - such as mammals, reptiles, and other species - by presenting a series of drawings, live-action clips, diagrams, and other things in rapid succession to be in time with the Suite of the title. Like "A Game with Stones" of the same year, the short explores entirely the relationship between sound and image, and comes across as a music video of sorts in how the images are made to match up perfectly with the beat. To make it so effective with his combination of imagery and his superb editing skills, Svankmajer must have taken a great deal of time on the project, and the result is a wonderful payoff. The music is the highlight, but it's the wonderful array of visuals that pull it off and the film becomes an eye-catching, arresting short as a result. Well made for what it is.
