Zdeněk Miler
Zdeněk Miler ( born February 21, 1921 in Kladno, Czechoslovakia, † 30 November, 2011 Nová Ves pod Pleší near Dobříš ) was a Czech artist and character animator.
- 2.1 The Little Mole
- 2.2 Other Movies
Life
Zdeněk Miler started in 1936 to study at the government school in graphic Smíchov and then studied from 1939 to 1942 Photography and at the School of Applied Arts in Prague. In 1942 he began his work in the animation studio of Bata Group in Zlín. There he learned the most important technical skills and specialized in animated films. After the Second World War he joined the animated company Bratři v triku and worked as an illustrator, writer and director. Later he became its director. From 1957 Miler drew the movies with the little mole that made him internationally known. He illustrated 40 children's books, which sold more than five million copies.
On October 28, 2006 Miler Czech Medal of Merit was presented as a tribute to his life's work by the President Václav Klaus. From his earnings he allowed himself a small house in a residential area of Prague. After he had to stop in 2002 with the drawing, he lived the last years as the Ancient of days in a retirement home in Nova Ves pod Pleší.
The Little Mole
Miler developed about 70 films. In about 50 of them playing his most famous character, the Little Mole, the main role. The idea came to him when in 1956 he was commissioned to film a story for children. Since he did not like the script and he was heavily influenced by Walt Disney films, he looked for an animal that could take over the leading figure in the film. Later he said that he tripped while walking over a molehill and it thus came the idea to use the Mole as his character.
1957, was the first film How the mole got his pants (James krtek ke kalhotkám přišel ), which won a Silver Lion in Venice. Initially, the mole has even spoken. But since Miler wanted his mole was understood everywhere in the world, he later gave him only a short exclamation, to express his feelings. He used the voices of his daughters. These were also the ones who saw the films first. Thus Miler could see whether his stories got even with the kids.
How much Zdeněk Miler identified with the mole, can be read in a quote: " It took me a long time to realize it, but when I draw Krtek, then I draw myself "
From the start, the mole in Czechoslovakia was a great success and today the mole in over 80 countries can be seen. In the German program with the mouse since 1972 appear regularly follow the mole.