Some time ago, I found a Czech teaser for a gorgeous and whimsical movie mixing live action and puppetry, and was blown away by the visual experience. Unfortunately everything was in Czech so I couldn’t understand what this was about until they finally added some english subtitles and created a website.

http://www.kukysevraci.cz/en/index.html

When asthmatic, six-year-old ONDRA is forced to throw away his scruffy, sawdust-stuffed old teddy bear, KOOKY, he prays for the safe return of his furry friend. Soon afterwards, across town, Kooky is about to be crushed in a rubbish dump when he suddenly comes to life, making his escape into a mysterious forest. The naïve, cuddly Kooky needs help to survive amongst the rough-and-ready creatures of the forest and he finds it when he meets the crotchety forest guardian HERGOT. Hergot is in charge of watching over the forest, but he has his enemies too – the malevolent NIGHTSHADE plans to take over the forest, by proving that the short-sighted but good-hearted Hergot is not up to the job of guardian.

There is a new trailer but I prefer the previous one. It is just a bit more mysterious and quirky and the editing is also a bit funnier without revealing too much.

If you love Tim Burton and Jim Henson, this movie is for you!

“These flambéed rabbit droppings are delicious”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePelcaQOEaE[/youtube]

They have a Youtube channel where you will find 3 “Behind the scenes” videos showing how they made the movie. All the videos are in HD but in Czech unfortunately.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keGAAlYivL8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugWKgS6CWK4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDss2i_ygRI[/youtube]

ahhhhhh and maybe it is time to also post that also great Czech stop motion TV series “Pat a Mat”.

Great funny animation, I should post about them very soon.

https://youtu.be/f64oCYLxn8g