Czech cartoon Krtek vying to win Korean hearts
By Ines Min
The world of children’s literature has transformed and adapted with the times, but one cannot help but feel that pang of warm nostalgia whenever confronted with a character embodiment of youth.
Whether it is the 1960s furry-eared Cheburashka of Russia or the well-known endless dichotomy of a clever rabbit and a lisping Elmer Fudd, the characters of children’s stories reserves a particular power. For the Czech, it was round-faced Krtek.
The National Library for Children and Young Adults opens ``Czech Picture Book and Illustration: Here Comes the Krtek’’ Dec. 1 for a month-long exhibition of the beloved character’s published and animated career. Comprised of some 60 illustrated children’s books from the country’s publishers Albatros and Brio, the exhibition will focus predominately on Krtek, though the showcase will offer an opportunity for visitors to peek into other popular titles.
Czech ambassador to Korea Jaroslav Olsa, Jr., will open the event alongside library director Lee Sook-hyeon, officially introducing the endearing ``little mole’’ to the Korean public. Though the character, born in 1956, burrowed its way into the hearts of the Czech, western Europeans, Taiwanese and even Japanese markets, his exposure here has thus far been minimal.
Created by now-legend Zdenek Miler ― who literally stumbled upon the idea via an actual mole’s burrow ― Krtek is a red-nosed, non-verbal mammal who first debuted in the animated film ``How the Mole Got His Pants.’’ The original purpose of the little mole was to enliven an explanation to children on how to create linen from flax seeds, which set the basics in design for the character. After growing to fame with western Europeans, the charming cartoon went on to win a silver lion at the 1957 Venice Film Festival and it’s star continued onward in more than 50 films. A publishing contract followed in the 1970s.
While Japan and Taiwan picked up nearly all the films and books, Korea has only seen the translation of three of the more than 30 short stories and pop-out books. The last Krtek film was released in 2002, while the final book was only published in 2004 (more than 5 million have been sold worldwide), so the collection offers one of the rare chances for residents here to view the array of work.
Screenings of the original animations will be shown, in an effort to display the power of the cartoon that caused such a stir more than five decades ago. The character took the now 89-year-old creator Miler three months to perfect, inspired from the animals of Walt Disney, and was wholly a character of the times.
The non-verbal universality of the character (Krtek only speaks in the debut film) was sent out as exports to more than 85 countries, during the Communist government’s reign in Prague. Though never overtly political, Krtek encounters comical bureaucrats and well-off American moles, reflecting the atmosphere of the times in a subtle manner.
With a history of culture backing the nostalgic figure, it’s simple to see how the little mole has managed to maintain a spot in the memories of those who grew up with him. However, Miler has decided to keep all rights to the friendly mole, meaning that the industry force will die out with him, leaving no hope for later revival with new stories: a bold stance for authenticity and individuality.
``If I sold Krtek,” he once told The New York Times in an interview, ``it would be like I killed him.’’
A variety of other well-known children’s books from the Czech Republic will also be on display, translated into English, Korean, French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Czech.
``Here Comes the Kretek’’ runs until Jan. 9, 2011. The opening ceremony takes place at 5 p.m., Nov. 30. The National Library is located across the street from the Korea Science and Technology Building, near exit 8 of Gangnam Station, subway line 2. For more information, visit www.nlcy.go.kr or call (02) 3413-4800.