Karel Zeman

Karel Zeman

Known for: Directing

Born: November 2, 1910 in Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic] - Died: April 4, 1989

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.

Known for

Showing 24 of 33 titles

Karel Zeman for Children

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6.5
MOVIE

Karel Zeman for Children

Self

1979 Documentary
Inspiration

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6.9
MOVIE

Inspiration

Glass Blower

1949 Animation
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman

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7.7
MOVIE

Film Adventurer Karel Zeman

Self (archive footage)

2015 Documentary
Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat

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0.0
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat

Writer

1959 Animation
The Treasure of Bird Island

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6.8
MOVIE

The Treasure of Bird Island

Animation

1953 Animation
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

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7.3
MOVIE

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Director

1978 Animation
Journey to the Beginning of Time

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7.2
MOVIE

Journey to the Beginning of Time

Screenplay

1955 Adventure
Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor

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6.0
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor

Screenplay

1949 Comedy
Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker

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5.4
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker

Screenplay

1947 Animation
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen

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7.4
MOVIE

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen

Director

1962 Animation
On the Comet

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6.1
MOVIE

On the Comet

Director

1970 Adventure
Sindbad

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0.0
MOVIE

Sindbad

Scenario Writer

2001 Animation
A Thousand and One Nights

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6.1
MOVIE

A Thousand and One Nights

Director

1974 Animation
Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer

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0.0
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer

Director

1947 Animation
The Stolen Airship

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6.9
MOVIE

The Stolen Airship

Director

1967 Adventure
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne

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7.2
MOVIE

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne

Director

1958 Adventure
The Tale of John and Mary

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7.0
MOVIE

The Tale of John and Mary

Writer

1980 Animation
The Jester's Tale

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7.4
MOVIE

The Jester's Tale

Director

1964 Adventure
Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck

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4.8
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck

Director

1946 Animation
La magie Karel Zeman

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0.0
MOVIE

La magie Karel Zeman

Director

2015 Animation
Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk

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5.6
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk

Director

1947 Animation
Laterna magika II

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0.0
MOVIE

Laterna magika II

Director

1959 Documentary
A Christmas Dream

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5.7
MOVIE

A Christmas Dream

Director

1945 Animation
Mr. Prokouk in Temptation

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7.0
MOVIE

Mr. Prokouk in Temptation

Director

1946 Comedy