Karel Zeman

Known for DirectingBorn 1910-11-03Died 1989-04-05Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Laterna magika II

Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer

Film Adventurer Karel Zeman

The Jester's Tale

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen

The Tale of John and Mary

The Treasure of Bird Island

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne

Journey to the Beginning of Time

The Stolen Airship

Strakonický dudák

Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover

Mr. Prokouk in Temptation

Cukr

The Hamster

Inspiration

Karel Zeman for Children

A Thousand and One Nights

Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor

On the Comet

King Lavra

Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk

Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker

A Christmas Dream

Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck

Mr. Prokouk, Detective

La magie Karel Zeman

Sindbad

Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat

Black diamond

110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery

One Hundred and Ten Years of the Pilsen Brewery