Biography
A graduate of Prague's School of Arts and Crafts, in 1936 he created a puppet theater, which was disbanded after the outbreak of WWII. During the war he designed stage sets and illustrated children's books. In 1945 he set up an animation unit with several collaborators at the Prague film studio; they called the unit "Trick Brothers." Trnka specialized in puppet animation, a traditional Czech art form, of which he became the undisputed master. He also created animated cartoons, but it was his puppet animation that made him an internationally recognized artist and the winner of film festival awards at Venice and elsewhere. He wrote the scripts for most of his own films.
Directed 18
2000s
- 2000
The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Director
1980s
- 1986
The Good Soldier Schweik
Director
1960s
- 1965
The Hand
Director
Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose
Director
- 1963
Cybernetic Grandma
Director
1950s
- 1959
A Midsummer's Night Dream
Director
- 1956
The Good Soldier Svejk
Director
- 1955
The Hurvinek Circus
Director
Two Little Frosts
Director
- 1953
Old Czech Legends
Director
- 1951
Prince Bayaya
Director
1940s
- 1949
Story of the Bass Cello
Director
The Devil's Mill
Director
Song of the Prairie
Director
- 1947
The Czech Year
Director
- 1946
Springman and the SS
Director
Art department 23
1960s
- 1966
Joy of Love
Art Direction
- 1965
The Hand
Art Direction
Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose
Art Direction
- 1964
Lemonade Joe
Art Designer
- 1963
Cybernetic Grandma
Art Direction
1950s
- 1959
A Midsummer's Night Dream
Art Designer
- 1957
Paraplíčko
Art Designer
- 1955
The Hurvinek Circus
Art Designer
Jan Hus
Art Designer
Two Little Frosts
Art Designer
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
Art Designer
- 1954
A Drop Too Much
Art Direction
- 1953
Old Czech Legends
Art Designer
- 1951
Prince Bayaya
Art Direction
1940s
- 1949
Song of the Prairie
Art Designer
The Devil's Mill
Art Designer
Story of the Bass Cello
Art Direction
- 1947
The Czech Year
Art Direction
Capek's Tales
Art Designer
- 1946
Springman and the SS
Art Designer, Supervising Art Director
Wrote 18
2000s
- 2000
The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Writer
1970s
- 1974
Garden
Book
1960s
- 1965
The Hand
Story, Screenplay
Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose
Screenplay, Story
- 1963
Cybernetic Grandma
Screenplay
1950s
- 1959
A Midsummer's Night Dream
Screenplay
- 1956
The Good Soldier Svejk
Writer
- 1955
The Hurvinek Circus
Screenplay
Two Little Frosts
Screenplay, Story
- 1953
Old Czech Legends
Screenplay, Story
- 1951
Prince Bayaya
Screenplay
1940s
- 1949
Story of the Bass Cello
Story, Screenplay
Song of the Prairie
Screenplay
The Devil's Mill
Screenplay, Story
- 1947
The Czech Year
Story, Screenplay
- 1946
Springman and the SS
Screenplay
Costume and makeup 4
1950s
- 1957
Against All
Costume Design
- 1956
Jan Žižka
Costume Design
- 1955
Jan Hus
Costume Design
- 1951
The Emperor and the Golem
Costume Design
Edited 2
1940s
- 1949
- 1947
The Czech Year
Editor
Acted in 1
1990s
- 1999
Jirí Trnka: Puppet Animation Master
Movie
Produced 1
2000s
- 2000
The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Producer
Appearances1
2000s
- 2000
The Puppet Films of Jiri Trnka
Self (archive footage)