The Weird and Wonderful World of Czech Animation

It is widely speculated that the particular Czech genius for stop-motion animation springs from a local tradition of puppet theater that reaches back for centuries. Whatever its origins, from the postwar golden age right down to the present day, there has been abundant evidence on offer of this particular exceptionalism. In The Weird and Wonderful World of Czech Animation, we take a broad view of this tradition of national excellence that encompasses the handcrafted, lyrical classics by Hermína Týrlová, “The Mother of Czech animation”; the fantastic world-building of Karel Zeman; the surrealism-tinged, oft-disturbing efforts of Jiří Barta and Jan Švankmajer; and the contemporary output of Daria Kashcheeva, whose short Daughter was nominated for a 2020 Academy Award, and who will be joining us at Metrograph to present a program of her work and other recent Czech animated shorts of note.

In Collaboration with the Czech Center NY.