Carl Koch (director)

Carl Koch (12 July 1892 – 1 December 1963) was a German film director, art director, and production designer. He is best known for his collaborations with his wife, Lotte Reiniger, on silhouette animation films, most notably The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), often considered the oldest surviving animated feature film.

Koch began his career in the 1920s, working on expressionist films as a designer. His involvement in The Adventures of Prince Achmed spanned several years and was crucial to its realization, handling much of the production aspects while Reiniger focused on the animation. He often worked behind the scenes, securing funding and managing the logistics of their productions.

Later in his career, Koch directed live-action films, including La Petite Marchande d'Allumettes (1928) with Jean Renoir and Das Dreimäderlhaus (1936). After World War II, he continued to work in film, though his profile remained lower than that of some of his contemporaries. His contribution to early animation and his production work on significant films secure his place in film history.