About

'Revered as the pioneer of a remarkable new genre of animation that utilized puppets, Trnka conveyed the drama and psychology of his characters through his figures’ body language, expressive lighting, and camera movement… His substantial body of work as an animation director, rivaled only by Walt Disney Studios in output, brought him international acclaim and inspired filmmakers around the globe.' - The Cinematheque

Selected shorts include:

Kybernetická babička (Cybernetic Grandma) 1962 (29 mins)
'Trnka took a turn into Space Age sci-fi surrealism with this dark, dystopian satire on automatization in which a child traverses a forbidding technological wasteland to meet (surprise!) her uncanny new robotic grandmother.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

Ruka (The Hand) 1965 (18 mins)
'Trnka’s final work is a powerful, deeply personal allegory about the plight of the artist toiling under the restrictions of a totalitarian government. The story of a simple sculptor who is menaced by a giant, disembodied hand that forces him to bend to its will, it was banned by the Communist censors for two decades—but has since taken its place as an acknowledged masterpiece of animation.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

Ages 15+