Jirí Trnka: Puppet Master

Czech artist Jiri Trnka (1912-1969) is the internationally revered master of puppet animation. Creator of magical worlds, his films are triumphant experiments in the expressive possibilities of the art form. Often borrowing from Czechoslovak folklore, while inventing new and novel techniques in stop-motion cinematography, his work elevated the puppet film into a vehicle for epic drama and fantastical storytelling. This set brings together two of Trnka's most beloved features: his breathtaking collection of Bohemian myths, Old Czech Legends (1953), and his debut, The Czech Year (1947), a hymn to the Czech lands and the shifting seasons. These two groundbreaking animations fuse innovative camera techniques, spellbinding design, and expressive puppetry. Each film is an enchanting example of Trnka's art, that helped turn post-war Czechoslovakia into a powerhouse of animation.

Special Features

Booklet, Documentaries: 'The Puppets of Jirí Trnka'; 'A Beginner's Guide to Jirí Trnka'; 'A Beginner's Guide to Czech Animation', Animated short film from Jirí Trnka: 'The Hand' (1965); Animated short film by Jirí Brdecka (co-writer of 'Old Czech Legends'): 'Badly Painted Hen' (1963)

Audio Languages: Czech

Duration: 165 minutes

Number of Discs: 2

Subtitle Languages: English

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