Jiří Trnka:
Puppet Master

Old Czech Legends
(Staré pověsti české)
The Czech Year (Špalíček)

Czech artist Jiří Trnka (1912–1969) is the internationally revered master of puppet animation. 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 breathtaking sets, costumes and puppetry.

Often borrowing from Czechoslovak folklore while inventing new techniques in stop-motion cinematography, many of his films use allegory to make pointed political satire, frequently evoking the ire of State censors. This collection brings together two of Trnka's most beloved and intricate works - epic animation spectacles combining elaborate camera work, design, and puppetry with magical storytelling and a cast of delightfully fanciful creations.

“Trnka - the name is the sum of childhood and poetry” Jean Cocteau

ON BLU-RAY JULY 2026