About

Known credits:
80
Birthday:
1910-11-03
Place of birth:
Ostromer u Nové Paky, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]
Website:
N/A

Karel Zeman

Overview

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

Acting
2015 Film Adventurer Karel Zeman Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1980 Karel Zeman for Children Actor Self 59
Average
1949 Inspiration Actor Glass Blower 59
Average

Directing
2015 La magie Karel Zeman Directing Director N/A
N/A
1980 The Tale of John and Mary Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Karel Zeman for Children Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Directing Director 59
Average
1974 A Thousand and One Nights Directing Director 59
Average
1970 On the Comet Directing Director 59
Average
1967 The Stolen Airship Directing Director 59
Average
1964 The Jester's Tale Directing Director 59
Average
1962 The Fabulous Baron Munchausen Directing Director 61
Fair
1960 Laterna magika II Directing Director N/A
N/A
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Directing Director 60
Fair
1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time Directing Director 60
Fair
1955 Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover Directing Director N/A
N/A
1953 The Treasure of Bird Island Directing Director 59
Average
1951 King Lavra Directing Director 59
Average
1949 Inspiration Directing Director 59
Average
1949 Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor Directing Director 59
Average
1948 Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker Directing Director 58
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk in Temptation Directing Director 59
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk Directing Director 59
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer Directing Director N/A
N/A
1946 The Hamster Directing Director N/A
N/A
1946 Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck Directing Director 58
Average
1945 A Christmas Dream Directing Director 58
Average

Writing
2001 Sindbad Writing Scenario Writer N/A
N/A
1980 The Tale of John and Mary Writing Writer 59
Average
1978 Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1974 A Thousand and One Nights Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1970 On the Comet Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1967 The Stolen Airship Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1964 The Jester's Tale Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1964 The Jester's Tale Writing Story 59
Average
1962 The Fabulous Baron Munchausen Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1962 The Fabulous Baron Munchausen Writing Story 61
Fair
1960 Laterna magika II Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1959 Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Writing Screenstory 60
Fair
1957 Mr. Prokouk, Detective Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1957 Mr. Prokouk, Detective Writing Idea 59
Average
1956 Black diamond Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1956 Black diamond Writing Story N/A
N/A
1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time Writing Story 60
Fair
1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1955 Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1953 The Treasure of Bird Island Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1951 King Lavra Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1951 King Lavra Writing Adaptation 59
Average
1949 Inspiration Writing Writer 59
Average
1949 Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor Writing Story 59
Average
1949 Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1948 Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1948 Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker Writing Story 58
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer Writing Story N/A
N/A
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Art
1980 The Tale of John and Mary Art Art Direction 59
Average
1978 Krabat: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Art Art Direction 59
Average
1974 A Thousand and One Nights Art Art Direction 59
Average
1970 On the Comet Art Art Direction 59
Average
1967 The Stolen Airship Art Art Direction 59
Average
1962 The Fabulous Baron Munchausen Art Art Designer 61
Fair
1959 Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat Art Set Decoration N/A
N/A
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Art Art Designer 60
Fair
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Art Production Design 60
Fair
1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time Art Art Designer 60
Fair
1945 A Christmas Dream Art Art Designer 58
Average

Crew
1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Crew Special Effects 60
Fair
1957 Mr. Prokouk, Detective Crew Animatronics Designer 59
Average
1955 Strakonický dudák Crew Special Effects 59
Average
1955 Journey to the Beginning of Time Crew Special Effects 60
Fair
1947 Cukr Crew Special Effects 59
Average

Visual Effects
1980 The Tale of John and Mary Visual Effects Animation 59
Average
1953 The Treasure of Bird Island Visual Effects Animation 59
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk Visual Effects Animation 59
Average
1947 Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer Visual Effects Animation N/A
N/A
1945 A Christmas Dream Visual Effects Animation 58
Average