Fairy Tales of a Sheep Grandmother: the first cartoon evening cartoon of Czechoslovak Television
Sheep Grandma's Fairy Tales is a legendary Czechoslovak animated series that remains in the hearts of viewers of all generations to this day. The cartoon was first shown in 1966 and became the first ever cartoon series that Czechoslovak Television produced as part of its evening cartoon programme.
The story and creation
The series, directed by Václav Bedřich, was based on a script by Dagmar Spanlangová at the Brothers in Trick studio, whose iconic logo with three boys is still synonymous with Czechoslovak animation. Zdenka Hajdová took care of the camera, and the actress Jiřina Bohdalová, who made her indelible mark in the history of evening cartoons with her unmistakable voice, narrated the series.
The first stories, About the Clever Lamb and Beranek a ghosts, were broadcast on 4. and 11. September 1966. However, the cartoon version of the series as we know it today did not appear on screens until 25. February 1968 during the intermission of the Dukla Jihlava - ZKL Brno hockey match.
Content and episodes
The series consists of 13 episodes in total, each of which brings entertaining and informative stories about a clever lamb who, with his wit, humour and kindness, manages to face the cunning and malicious wolves.
Each episode is short, with a running time of between 7 and 10 minutes, making it an ideal bedtime story for children.
episode list
- About the Clever Little Lamb (Sheep Grandma lists it as: About the silly wolf and the even sillier lamb) - September 4, 1966
- About the haunted castle - September 11, 1966
- About a pirate battle - February 25, 1968
- About why the marigold smiles - February 25, 1968
- About why the marigold smiles - 3. March 1968
- About how the lamb tricked the robbers - 10. March 1968
- About the big wolf shoot - 9. November 1969
- How the wolves dug themselves a hole - 16. November 1969
- About the wolf fight - 23. November 1969
- About that wolf dance - 30. November 1969
- About those wolf traps - 7. December 1969
- How the lamb had wolf fog - 24. December 1969
- About that wolf war - 21. December 1969
- About the Wolf's Christmas - December 24th December 1969
Meaning and link
The series Sheep Grandma's Tales features the immortal battle of good versus evil, where the kind and clever lamb triumphs over the cunning wolves. The concept won the hearts of viewers thanks to its simplicity, wit and timelessness.
The Little Shepherd is still broadcast today, testament to its enduring popularity. It is a work that not only entertains but also educates and demonstrates values such as wit, kindness and the ability to overcome even seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The Brothers in Trick, Jiřina Bohdalová and everyone involved in the making of the series have left an unforgettable legacy that continues to bring joy to new generations of viewers decades later.
Sheep Grandma's Fairy Tales is not only a series, but also a gem of Czechoslovak animation that deserves to be remembered as part of our cultural heritage.
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