Biography
Per Johan Axel Åhlin (7 August 1931 – 1 May 2023) was a Swedish artist and director of animated films. He is known for his collaborations with the comedy duo Hasse & Tage and for his own projects such as the animated short film and television film Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton and the feature film Voyage to Melonia. Åhlin started his career as an artist for the Hasse & Tage production Svenska bilder from 1964. After that he worked on several other Hasse & Tage films, including the largely animated Out of an Old Man's Head from 1968, and The Adventures of Picasso from 1978, where he provided and animated Picasso's paintings. In 1970 he started his own animation studio, PennFilm Studio AB situated in Hököpinge, and directed many feature-length films and several shorts, including Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton which is shown on television every Christmas Eve in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. In 1975 at the 11th Guldbagge Awards, Åhlin won a special achievement award for Dunderklumpen!. In 1990 at the 25th Guldbagge Awards he won the Creative Achievement award. Although eventually best known for his work on children's film, Åhlin was always more interested in films for adult audiences. He has commented on the difficulties of making animated films with adult themes: "I don't know whether the problem lies in the audience or the marketing. But think like this: if you draw like Picasso, Doré or Sergel, then those are images that have no connection to film. If they then would be animated and suddenly started to move – would they become children's film then? I can't understand this!" Åhlin died on 1 May 2023, at age 91.
Directed 22
2010s
- 2013
That Boy Emil
Director
- 2012
Little Anna and the Tall Uncle
Director
2000s
- 2009
Lilla Spöket Laban: Bullar och Bång
Director
- 2008
Lilla Spöket Laban: Världens snällaste spöke
Director
- 2007
Lilla Spöket Laban: Spökdags
Director
- 2006
Laban the Little Ghost
Director
Lilla Spöket Laban
Director
- 2003
Raska på Alfons Åberg
Director
- 2000
The Dog Hotel
Director
Var är Bus-Alfons?
Director
1990s
- 1999
Alfons och pappa Åberg
Director
- 1998
Alfons & Milla
Director
- 1994
Kalas, Alfons Åberg!
Director
- 1993
1980s
- 1989
The Journey to Melonia
Director
- 1984
Blommig falukorv
Director
- 1982
Vem spökar Alfons Åberg?
Director
- 1980
God Natt Alfons Åberg
Director
1970s
- 1979
- 1975
Christopher's Christmas Mission
Director
- 1974
1960s
- 1968
Out of an Old Man's Head
Director
Visual effects 8
2000s
- 2000
The Dog Hotel
Animation
1980s
- 1989
The Journey to Melonia
Animation
- 1981
1970s
- 1979
Father to Be
Animation
- 1978
The Adventures of Picasso
Animation
- 1975
Christopher's Christmas Mission
Animation
- 1974
1960s
- 1968
Out of an Old Man's Head
Animation Director
Art department 6
2010s
- 2019
Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton
Production Design
- 2012
Little Anna and the Tall Uncle
Art Direction
1980s
- 1989
The Journey to Melonia
Art Direction
1970s
- 1978
The Adventures of Picasso
Art Designer
- 1974
Karl XII
Production Design
- 1970
Spader, Madame!
Set Decoration
Costume and makeup 4
1980s
- 1986
Ronja Rövardotter
Costume Design
- 1984
Ronia: The Robber's Daughter
Costume Design
1970s
- 1974
Karl XII
Costume Designer
- 1970
Spader, Madame!
Costume Designer
Wrote 4
2000s
- 2000
The Dog Hotel
Writer
1980s
- 1989
The Journey to Melonia
Writer
- 1980
God Natt Alfons Åberg
Writer
1970s
- 1975
Christopher's Christmas Mission
Writer
Other crew 3
Edited 2
1980s
- 1989
The Journey to Melonia
Editor
1970s
- 1974
Acted in 1
1980s
- 1989
During the Journey to Melonia
(self)
Created 1
1990s
- 1992
Lennart Hellsings ABC
Creator
Appearances3
2010s
- 2019
I huvet på Per Åhlin
Self
2000s
- 2006
Svenska ord i bild och tal
Self
1980s
- 1981
The Guldbagge Awards
Self - Creative Achievement winner · 1 episode