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:

Zvírátka a petrovstí (The Animals and the Robbers) 1946 (9 mins)
'A rooster, a cat, and a goat meet a trio of ignoble characters deep in a night-shrouded forest in this hand-illustrated, Cannes prize-winning folktale, which showcases Trnka’s gift for evoking light and shadow.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

Arie prerie (Song of the Prairie) 1945 (23 mins)
'One of Trnka’s most delightfully silly efforts is a slapstick spoof of John Ford’s Stagecoach and Hollywood singing-cowboy Westerns based on a popular novel by Jiri Brdecka.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

Dárek (The Gift) 1946 (15 mins)
'Trnka reached new heights of modernist abstraction with this innovative, surrealist mini-masterwork, which critic Jean-Pierre Coursodon praised as the Citizen Kane of animation.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

- The Cinematheque Selected shorts include: Zvírátka a petrovstí (The Animals and the Robbers) 1946 (9 mins) 'A rooster, a cat, and a goat meet a trio of ignoble characters deep in a night-shrouded forest in this hand-illustrated, Cannes prize-winning folktale, which showcases Trnka’s gift for evoking light and shadow.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center Arie prerie (Song of the Prairie) 1945 (23 mins) 'One of Trnka’s most delightfully silly efforts is a slapstick spoof of John Ford’s Stagecoach and Hollywood singing-cowboy Westerns based on a popular novel by Jiri Brdecka.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center Dárek (The Gift) 1946 (15 mins) 'Trnka reached new heights of modernist abstraction with this innovative, surrealist mini-masterwork, which critic Jean-Pierre Coursodon praised as the Citizen Kane of animation.' - Film Society of Lincoln Center

Ages 12+