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Students studying animation, film and illustration got a feel for different artistic styles earlier this month, when they attended a study day at Solent University honouring one of the founders of Czech animation Jiří Brdečka.

31st October 2018
Art and designApplied artDesignVisual communicationsComputing and gamesCGI and visual effects

Students studying animation, film and illustration got a feel for different artistic styles earlier this month, when they attended a study day at Solent University honouring one of the founders of Czech animation Jiří Brdečka.

Featuring screenings and talks on the life and work of Brdečka, students also heard from the animator’s daughter Tereza Brdečková. She discussed the context and methods of her father’s work and answered questions.

Brdečka was a major figure in post-war Czech culture and one of the first to realise the potential of animated film as a serious art form. He won international acclaim for films such as Badly Drawn Hen (1963) and The Face (1973).

Initially working under Nazi occupation and then behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, despite his fame, Brdečka did not become widely known outside of animation circles. With his style being very different to that of other animators such as Disney, the event allowed students to see diverse practices within the field.

Senior Lecturer Peter Jones, who organised the event as a collaborative project between the School of Media Arts and Technology, the School of Art, Design and Fashion, and the University’s International Office, says: “These events are really important for students as they expose them to ground breaking foreign animation that they are often not aware of.

“Moreover, it was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about Brdečka’s life and work directly from his daughter.”

Casey Carstairs, studying BA (Hons) Digital Animation, adds: “I'm glad I had this opportunity, and would like to meet more people like this in the future. I found it very educational.”