Karel Zeman
Karel Zeman was a brilliant pioneer of special effects in film. Despite his artistic talent, his parents insisted he study business. At the age of 17, he went to Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, where he studied advertising design. In 1943, the film director Elmar Klos offered him a job at the Bata Film Studios. Zeman often had to struggle against difficult conditions in the technically ill-equipped Kudlov Studios. Many of the workers with whom he started had no particular experience of filming. They, like Zeman himself, had to learn everything on the job. Journey to the Beginning of Time, released in 1955, became Zeman's breakthrough film, his first to combine live action, animation and puppetry. Four years later, Invention for Destruction saw him shoot to world-wide success. Zeman continued to develop his highly successful use of special effects in The Fabulous Baron Munchausen and the two Jules Verne adaptations that followed. In the 70's, Zeman returned to making strictly animated films. In the late 70's Zeman was threatened with the loss of his sight, but he overcame the disease and continued working. In the final stages of his life he suffered from heart problems.
The Treasure of Bird Island
(Animation)
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
(Set Decoration)
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat
(Writer)
Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
(Director)
Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
(Screenplay)
Journey to the Beginning of Time
(Screenplay)
Journey to the Beginning of Time
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
(Screenplay)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
(Director)
On the Comet
(Director)
Sindbad
(Scenario Writer)
A Thousand and One Nights
(Director)
A Thousand and One Nights
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
(Story)
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
(Animation)
The Treasure of Bird Island
(Director)
The Stolen Airship
(Director)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Director)
The Tale of John and Mary
(Writer)
The Tale of John and Mary
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
(Story)
The Jester's Tale
(Director)
The Jester's Tale
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
(Story)
Inspiration
(Director)
The Stolen Airship
(Art Direction)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Production Design)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Special Effects)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Screenstory)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Screenplay)
On the Comet
(Art Direction)
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
(Director)
La magie Karel Zeman
(Director)
Karel Zeman for Children
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
(Director)
Laterna magika II
(Writer)
Laterna magika II
(Director)
A Christmas Dream
(Director)
A Thousand and One Nights
(Art Direction)
Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
(Art Direction)
A Christmas Dream
(Animation)
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
(Director)
The Tale of John and Mary
(Art Direction)
The Tale of John and Mary
(Animation)
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
(Director)
Inspiration
(Writer)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
(Screenplay)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
(Story)
King Lavra
(Director)
King Lavra
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
(Animatronics Designer)
Mr. Prokouk, Detective
(Idea)
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
(Animation)
The Treasure of Bird Island
(Screenplay)
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
(Screenplay)
Cukr
(Special Effects)
A Christmas Dream
(Art Designer)
On the Comet
(Screenplay)
The Stolen Airship
(Screenplay)
Strakonický dudák
(Special Effects)
Black diamond
(Screenplay)
Black diamond
(Story)
King Lavra
(Adaptation)
Journey to the Beginning of Time
(Story)
Journey to the Beginning of Time
(Art Designer)
Journey to the Beginning of Time
(Special Effects)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
(Art Designer)
The Jester's Tale
(Story)
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
(Art Designer)
The Hamster
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
(Director)
Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
(Writer)
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
(Director)
110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
(Director of Photography)