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Czech artist Jiří Trnka (1912–1969) is the internationally revered master of puppet animation, often dubbed 'the European Walt Disney'. Painter, illustrator, designer, and author of fantastic tales, Trnka came from a family of toymakers and the era of marionette theatre, and in his films created magical worlds with his sets, costumes and puppets. Often borrowing from Czechoslovak folklore while inventing novel techniques in stop-motion cinematography, many of his films use allegory to produce political satire, often evoking the ire of State censors.
This collection brings together two of Trnka's most beloved and intricate works - Old Czech Legends (Staré pověsti české, 1953) and The Czech Year (Špalíček, 1947), two epic animation spectacles combining elaborate camera work, design, and puppetry with magical storytelling and a cast of delightfully fanciful creations...