
Karel Zeman
Biography
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.
Acting (3 movies)
Directing (25 movies)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978

Journey to the Beginning of Time
1955

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962

On the Comet
1970

A Thousand and One Nights
1974

Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer
1947

The Treasure of Bird Island
1953

The Stolen Airship
1967

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
1958

The Tale of John and Mary
1980

The Jester's Tale
1964

Inspiration
1949

Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck
1946

La magie Karel Zeman
2015

Karel Zeman for Children
1980

Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk
1947

Laterna magika II
1960

A Christmas Dream
1945

Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker
1948

Mr. Prokouk in Temptation
1947

Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor
1949

King Lavra
1951
The Hamster
1946

Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover
1955

110 Years of the Pilsen Brewery
1952
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Prokouk: A Horseshoe for Luck | 1946 | Screenplay |
| The Hamster | 1946 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Office Clerk | 1947 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Volunteer | 1947 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Filmmaker | 1948 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Inventor | 1949 | Screenplay |
| Inspiration | 1949 | Writer |
| King Lavra | 1951 | Screenplay |
| The Treasure of Bird Island | 1953 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Animal Lover | 1955 | Writer |
| Journey to the Beginning of Time | 1955 | Screenplay |
| Black diamond | 1956 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, Detective | 1957 | Screenplay |
| The Fabulous World of Jules Verne | 1958 | Screenplay |
| Mr. Prokouk, The Acrobat | 1959 | Writer |
| Laterna magika II | 1960 | Writer |
| The Fabulous Baron Munchausen | 1962 | Screenplay |
| The Jester's Tale | 1964 | Screenplay |
| The Stolen Airship | 1967 | Screenplay |
| On the Comet | 1970 | Screenplay |
| A Thousand and One Nights | 1974 | Screenplay |
| The Sorcerer's Apprentice | 1978 | Screenplay |
| The Tale of John and Mary | 1980 | Writer |
