Gems of Hungarian Animation

48 animated short films; digitally remastered video and audio; with booklet

Hungarian animation was one of the premium export items of Hungarian culture for nearly 30 years, from the 1960s onwards, during the Kádár era. Throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, right up until the change of regime in 1989 (while the countries of the Socialist bloc counted as some kind of political curiosity), the animators of Central Europe, among them Hungarian directors, picked up dozens of top awards at festivals around the world. This publication selects from the award-winning films from the three decades of the ‘golden age’ of animation.

1. Gems of Hungarian Animation 1. Short movies from the 60's
2. Gems of Hungarian Animation 2. Short movies from the 70's
3. Gems of Hungarian Animation 3. Short movies from the 80's


1. Gems of Hungarian Animation 1. Short movies from the 60's

1. Pencil and Eraser. Directed by Macskássy Gyula, Várnai György 1960 
2. Duel. Directed by Macskássy Gyula, Várnai György 1960 
3. Passion. Directed by Nepp József 1961 
4. Double Portraits. Directed by Kovásznai György 1964 
5. Homo Faber – We Have Tools. Directed by Szabó Sipos Tamás 1965 
6. Diary. Directed by Kovásznai György 1964 
7. Five Minutes Thrill. Directed by Nepp József 1966 
8. Variations on a Dragon. Directed by Dargay Attila 1967 
9. Concertissimo. Directed by Gémes József 1968 
10. The Rage of the Sun and the Moon. Directed by Reisenbüchler Sándor 1968 
11. Suite. Directed by Richly Zsolt 1969 
12. Salty Slops. Directed by Szoboszlay Péter 1969
13. Inauguration. Directed by Jankovics Marcell 1969 

Language: Hungarian
Audio: 2.0
Colour: Colour
Subtitle: English
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (1.33:1)
Running Time: 108’

2. Gems of Hungarian Animation 2. Short movies from the 70's

1. Behind the Bars. Directed by Macskássy Gyula; Várnai György 1970 
2. Modern Sports Coaching. Directed by Ternovszky Béla 1970 
3. Order in the House. Directed by Szoboszlay Péter 1970 
4. Wavelengths. Directed by Kovásznai György 1970 
5. The Year of 1812. Directed by Reisenbüchler Sándor 1972 
6. Sisyphus. Directed by Jankovics Marcell 1974
7. Honeymation. Directed by Varsányi Ferenc 1975 
8. Scenes with Beans. Directed by Foky Ottó 1975 
9. Hey, You! Directed by Szoboszlay Péter 1976 
10. “I Think Life is Great Fun”. Directed by Macskássy Katalin 1976 
11. Fight. Directed by Jankovics Marcell 1977
12. Inquisiton. Directed by Szórády Csaba 1977 
13. Changing Times. Directed by Kovács István 1977 
14. New Tenants. Directed by Gyulai Líviusz 1977 
15. Gobble-Gobble. Directed by Bányai István 1977 
16. Animalia No. 1. Directed by Hernádi Tibor; Majoros István 1977 
17. Panic. Directed by Reisenbüchler Sándor 1978 

Language: Hungarian
Audio: 2.0
Colour: Colour
Subtitle: English
Aspect Ratio 4:3 (1.33:1)
Running Time: 111’

3.  Gems of Hungarian Animation 3. Short movies from the 80's

1. Moto perpetuo. Directed by Vajda Béla 1980 
2. The Fly. Directed by Rófusz Ferenc 1980 
3. Private Nightmare. Directed by Orosz István 1980 
4. Miracles of the Night. Directed by Horváth Mária 1982 
5. Our National Holidays. Directed by Macskássy Katalin 1982 
6. Ad astra. Directed by Cakó Ferenc 1982 
7. Deadlock. Directed by Rófusz Ferenc 1982
8. Come to the Clearing. Directed by Molnár Péter 1982 
9. Door No. 8. Directed by Horváth Mária 1983 
10. Scones. Directed by Nagy Gyula 1984 
11. Lights Before Dawn. Directed by Békési Sándor 1985
12. The Wind. Directed by Varga Csaba 1985 
13. Wizards. Directed by Keresztes Dóra, Orosz István 1985 
14. Farewell, Little Island! Directed by Reisenbüchler Sándor 1987 
15. Ab ovo – Traces of Sand. Directed by Cakó Ferenc 1987 
16. Easter Greetings. Directed by Weisz Béla 1988 
17. Clear Image. Directed by Szilágyi Varga Zoltán 1988 
18. Western. Directed by Homolya Gábor 1989 
19. Mind the Steps! Directed by Orosz István 1989 

Language: Hungarian
Audio: 2.0
Colour: Colour
Subtitle: English
Aspect Ratio 4:3 (1.33:1)
Running Time 99’

Published and distributed by Hungarian National Film Fund – Film Archive, 2019