"It took me a long time to realize it, but when I draw Krtek, I am drawing myself" - Zdeněk Miler
Krteček is a beloved character by Czech children (and adults!), and his creator, Zdeněk Miler, received a much deserved honorary award at the 15th Schlingel International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Chemnitz, Germany, on September 29, 2010. Congrats Zdeněk and Krtek!
The full article as published in the Prague Monitor:
Animator Miler awarded at Chemnitz festival
ČTK |
30 SEPTEMBER 2010
Berlin, Sept 29 (CTK) - Czech animator and illustrator Zdenek Miler, 89, author of the popular Mole (Krtecek) cartoon figure, received an honorary award at the 15th Schlingel International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Chemnitz, Germany, Wednesday, festival spokeswoman Christin Franz has said.
Miler could not take part in the award-giving ceremony for health reasons. The award for outstanding contribution to European children's film was taken over by Zdenka Deitchova, producer of the Mole series.
The festival said it awarded Miler for having created the "cult figure" of the Mole that is famous all over the world.
Miler has been the second to be given the festival's award after director Vaclav Vorlicek in 2006, whose Three Nuts for Cinderella (1973) Czech-German fairy-tale feature film is still very popular in Germany.
In honour of Miler the Schlingel festival, held on September 27-October 3, will also present a retrospective of his work.
Miler made the first drawings of the Mole in 1954. The first film with this figure was released in cinemas two years later. It was awarded at the international film festival in Venice in the same year. Until 2002 Miller shot some 50 sequels.
"Walt Disney has used almost all animals in his cartoon stories except for one. I have chosen this," Miler said in the past.
