Karel Zeman
Karel Zeman
Karel Zeman was a Czech film director, artist, production designer and animator, best known for directing fantasy films combining live-action footage with animation. Because of his creative use of special effects and animation in his films, he has often been called the "Czech Méliès." Born in Ostromer in what was then Austria-Hungary, Zeman studied and worked in advertising in France until 1936, where he first worked with animation for a soap advertisement. On returning to what was now a German-occupied Czechoslovakia, Zman met animator Elmar Klos, leading to his first animation job at Zlín’s studio where he worked alongside Hermína Týrlová. Zeman went on to create satirical childrens cartoons and other family-friendly pieces before beginning on his most well known feature film work in 1955. His work influenced prominent filmmakers such as Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, and Wes Anderson among others.
