Everything that makes animated cinema so important can be found in Old Czech Legends (Czech: Staré pověsti české), the ambitious stop-motion epic by esteemed animator Jiří Trnka, who adapted the classic collection of short stories published in the late 19th century, Ancient Bohemian Legends by Alois Jirásek, which weaves together a combination of historical tales and European fables to tell the story of the founding of what is now the Czech Republic and its surrounding regions. This isn’t only a wonderful piece of animation, it’s a vital work of historical cinema, a film carefully produced by one of the most gifted filmmakers working in Europe at the time, and someone who should be subjected to much more acclaim and respect than he received during his career. Old Czech Legends is the kind of film that reminds film lovers of the reasons behind the craft’s success – how someone can take only a few sparse materials, and use it in such a way that an entire nation’s cultural history can be reflected as a result of the combination of raw audacity and strong source material, is absolutely staggering, and proves the importance of looking beyond what we consider to be traditional forms of storytelling. Animation has certainly come a long way since Trnka was working, but the roots of what would become one of the most beloved and profitable forms of filmmaking are present in absolutely every frame of this film, which carries with it a sense of deep respect for the origins of both the medium it is working in, and the stories that inspired it. In short, Old Czech Legends is a very important film that warrants another look, especially when considering the history of the genre.

Old Czech Legends is such a profoundly modern film, with every aspect of it misleading the unsuspecting viewer to believe that it was made only a few years in the past, rather than nearly seven decades ago. Trnka has a very particular eye for detail, and every moment of this film seems deep, authentic and meaningful, the work of someone who clearly cherishes his craft over absolutely everything else. As is often the case with auteur-driven animation (as opposed to the mass-produced studio fare that occurred almost concurrently – there’s merit in both forms of filmmaking, but the differences are glaringly obvious), this is a small and intimate work in which a director and his team have taken nothing but the most meticulous care to bring the stories to life. The fact that Trnka had the responsibility of adapting one of the most cherished works in Eastern European culture, a collection of stories that claimed to be the definitive text on the history of the region and its people, only makes the final product here all the more compelling, since the resounding success of the film means more when one realizes how impactful this must’ve been for audiences at the time. Cinema has often been used as a way for filmmakers to demonstrate the pride they feel in their culture, with some of the finest films ever produced being works that attempted to provide a glimpse into a particular moment in history – silent cinema itself was built on documenting the past. Trnka is drawing on many of these same traditions, only replacing large-scale sets and hoards of actors, with his own unique brand of animation, which uses gorgeously-designed puppets to tell the story of the origins of the Czechoslovakian people many centuries ago.

The combination of stop-motion animation (which has sadly faded in esteem as a result of the rise of computer-generated imagery), and puppetry, gives Old Czech Legends an even more interesting appearance, since the detail that comes through in every frame proves the dedication that went into this film’s creation. Choosing to tell the story of the shared cultural history through animation, rather than by more traditional methods (which likely would’ve been much easier, at least in terms of the time and effort it took to tell such a story), was a fascinating choice, motivated less by Trnka’s own history in the medium, and more by his inherently experimental nature. Adapting a few of the most iconic stories from his nation’s past, and presenting them through small, intimate vignettes that are sharply contrasted with the striking, idiosyncratic visual palette, allows him to playfully deconstruct the entire concept of historical filmmaking, adding in his own artistic quirks, as well as socially-charged commentary that make for a thoroughly captivating piece of storytelling. It’s not a traditional historical epic, which much of it being clearly inspired by the oral traditions that predate any kind of written records – and Trnka knows exactly how the balance both sides of the story, quietly deconstructing the format in such a way that we’re easily invested in these episodic glimpses into the myths and legends that many of us from outside the region may not have been entirely aware of. Any work of art that can be both entertaining and informative about an entire culture is immediately going to warrant a substantial amount of praise, and Old Czech Legends easily earns every bit of acclaim it has received by those who have encountered it over the years.

Unfortunately, films like Old Czech Legends don’t always fare well when it comes to film history – the animation isn’t always the most visually pleasing (even if this film has some of the most striking use of stop-motion animation ever put on film, and the camera work itself is an incredible achievement that is worth seeking out this film to see all on its own), and can sometimes feel detached from reality at worst, or be considered juvenile at best. However, for adventurous viewers, it’s difficult to imagine anything more delightful than being engrossed into this film. We don’t even notice how fast this film moves, as it transitions between these stories with flawless ease, gradually immersing us in a range of different tales that are just as striking as the one that preceded it. Old Czech Legends is a film about capturing a particular time and place in the past, using the animation as less of a way of conveying a specific message, and more on establishing an atmosphere of intrigue and mystery, which only makes it an even more intricately-woven piece of filmmaking. This is a major work – both in terms of Czechoslovakian cinema, and animation overall, Trnka was a vital figure, and while there is a spirited debate as to which of his several films was his masterpiece, a good argument can be made for this one, a film propelled on the beautifully-constructed nature of telling stories, and using the medium as a way of immersing viewers into a world that is both familiar and fantastical. Old Czech Legends is a masterpiece of artistically-charged cultural storytelling, and an essential work that deserves a much wider viewership, especially amongst those who have a penchant for unique animation.