This is the first short test of Spejbl's animation. We developed this character from the original marionette as well as the other main characters. His son Hurvinek, his friend and Hurvinek’s classmate ‘Manicka’ and faithful dog Zeryk – can be found here, please click.
What we wanted was to combine some old-fashioned moves from the original marionettes with new, faster and more dynamic animation. We shot some movements of Spejbl and used them in the Animation Department as reference video to define a specific style of animation. With big help from Sparx Animation [US] and after a 3-month production with a small group of 6 people, we finally finished with great success.
The project Hurvinek 3D began as a full-length animated movie in 2009. The production company Rolling Pictures, in a deal with Theater Spejbl & Hurvinek, bought the rights to the movie Hurvinek: The Movie and all merchandising associated with the production of the movie.
Rolling Pictures cooperated with the owner of the characters as well as Helena Stachova (the lovely voice of 'Manicka'), Martin Klasek (as the voice of Spejbl and Hurvinek), talented script advisor Miki Kyrsner and other members of the Spejbl and Hurvinek Theatre. The main script was written by amazing scriptwriter Jesper Moller [Denmark] together with German animation studio and Rolling Pictures script writing group.
Producer Martin Kotik says: 'This is the largest animated movie ever created in the Czech Republic'. The production has two major partners: National Czech TV and one of the biggest animation studios in Germany, Motion Works. The movie is a 3D digital animation in 3D stereoscopic projection, offering the audience the ultimate viewing experience. Production will start early next year in 2012 and the estimated premiere is set for 2014. The project extends into the gaming industry (the game will be released with the premiere of the movie) as well as merchandising (merchandising rights are still available via Rolling Pictures).