Hermína Týrlová’s Czech Christmas Treasures

In today’s post, we step into the enchanting world of Hermína Týrlová’s Christmas-themed animated film shorts, where every frame is a tapestry of creativity and whimsy. As a prominent Czech animator, screenwriter, and film director, Týrlová’s masterful storytelling and innovative use of materials come to life in these beautifully crafted tales. Through her unique techniques,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Holidays, Movies

October 22, 2023

Jirí Trnka’s ‘The Devil’s Mill’

Jirí Trnka, a luminary in the world of stop-motion animation, left an indelible mark with his 1949 short film, ‘The Devil’s Mill’ (Certuv mlýn). Spanning a concise 21 minutes, this hauntingly atmospheric piece unfolds a fable set in a mysterious, moonlit night where a barrel organ grinder encounters the devil. Trnka’s genius shines through as...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

December 21, 2022

Two Little Frosts or Dva mrazíci

In the enchanting short film “Two Little Frosts” (Dva mrazíci), the chilly embrace of winter takes on a mischievous and comedic form through the antics of two frost spirits. Renowned comedian Vlasta Burian lends his voice to one of these spirited characters, while the other comes to life through the vocal talents of Jan Werich—a...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

November 11, 2022

The Works of Jan Svankmajer

Czech surrealist filmmaker Jan Svankmajer has been producing work since the 1960s. He is best known for his imaginative and frequently macabre films. With his distinct style, he merges live-action video with animation, stop-motion, and other visual storytelling techniques. Jan Svankmajer was born in 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in a family with...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 21, 2022

The Czech Who Invented Stylized Special Effects

What do Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, and the Brothers Quay all have in common? The answer is stylized special effects. Stylized special effects tell their story through the use of exaggerated or simplified shapes, motions, and colors. The story is represented in a non-naturalistic conventional form as opposed to a realistic...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 16, 2022

The Legend of the Golem of Prague

Today we are revisiting the Golem of Prague. We’ve written about this before in our post The Legend of The Golem but our friend Barbara S. Weitz shared the following information which we’ve decided to share here with you because it’s so interesting. We hope you enjoy it. Who is the Golem? The Golem is...

Books, History, Movies

March 22, 2022

A Drop Too Much – O Skleničku Víc

In the enchanting realm of puppet animation, where strings dance to narratives both whimsical and profound, Jirí Trnka’s “A Drop Too Much” (1954) emerges as a poignant cautionary tale, transcending its strings to deliver a sobering message. Clocking in at a mere 14 minutes, this short film delicately balances artistry, storytelling, and a socially conscious...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 11, 2021

Czech Animation – The Cybernetic Grandma

In Jirí Trnka’s visionary 1962 Czechoslovakian stop-motion puppet cartoon, “The Cybernetic Grandma” (Kybernetická babička), a compelling sci-fi narrative unfolds, offering a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of machines and robots attempting to replace the irreplaceable bonds of human relationships. Trnka’s artistic vision delicately balances poetic fragility with dramatic warnings as it explores a dystopian...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

April 9, 2021

Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose

Jirí Trnka’s cinematic brilliance takes a playful turn in “Archandel Gabriel a paní Husa” (1965), a joyful puppet film that draws inspiration from Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. Set against the backdrop of medieval Venice, this 28-minute whimsical creation weaves a tale of love, humor, and the intervention of none other than Archangel Gabriel. The provided excerpt...

Movies

October 18, 2019

Vodník: An Animation Based on The Traditional Czech Fairytale

Arguably one of the most famous characters in Czech fairytales and legends, Vodník, also known as hastrman, is a mythical water goblin who lurks in dark ponds and lakes, luring beautiful young women to their deaths. This mysterious water sprite, who is often portrayed as a hideous green man dressed in dripping coattails and riding...

Art and Design, CULTURE

March 24, 2018

Czech Animation Master Jiří Trnka Documentary

Today we are sharing a short twelve minute documentary which will educate you on the famous Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. A man who some believe was better than Walt Disney at telling a tale and a man who is known as one of the Czech Republic’s greatest animators, puppeteers, illustrators and story...

Bohemians, Childrens Books, Movies, PEOPLE

January 18, 2018

Waldemar Matuška’s Krysař and the Pied Piper Film

In today’s post, I am sharing the song Krysař (the Pied Piper) by Waldemar Matuška. Click to play the video and read the lyrics I have translated for you below. After that, I’m sharing information about a Czech film of the same name by Jiří Barta. Krysař, which means “The rat catcher”. First, the lyrics in Czech Měl...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, Music

November 5, 2017

The Last Trick by Czech Filmmaker, Jan Švankmajer

The Last Trick (Czech: Poslední trik pana Schwarcewalldea a pana Edgara) is a 1964 Czechoslovak animated short film by Jan Švankmajer. It was Švankmajer’s first film. Jan Svankmajer’s debut film extends the madcap spirit of his Prague-based Theatre of Masks. The play depicts two mime-like magicians (with heads made out of papier-mâché and clockwork machinery,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

Špalíček-1947-Jiri-Trnka-The-Czech-Year-TresBohemes

June 10, 2017

Jiří Trnka and the Czech Year (aka Špalíček)

Puppet animation is a traditional Czech art form, of which Jiří Trnka became the undisputed master. Most of his movies were intended for adults and many were adaptations of literary works. Špalíček (The Czech Year), also called A Treasury of Fairy-Tales, is a 1947 stop-motion-animated feature film from Czechoslovakia. It was a defining moment for Trnka...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 7, 2017

Czech Film Director Karel Zeman and The Karel Zeman Museum

Karel Zeman was a much loved film director who was born in the Czech village of Ostroměř. Besides his work directing films, Zeman was also a production designer, artist, and animator. Because of his amazing skills at animating, many of the films he made combined real footage with his own animation, ending up in what the viewers...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

May 22, 2017

Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne

My son who is currently in Prague went to see The Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne the other night and said it was amazing. Immediately, I looked into it and did a little bit of research, and indeed it looks like a show not to be missed. The show takes the audience into a world in which...

ENTERTAINMENT, Theater