The Animated Film Studio in Bielsko-Biała has started the construction of the Interactive Fairy Tale and Animation Center. The exhibition of the Center will focus not only on explaining the animation process but will also present the creative output of the Cartoon Film Studio, informs the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

“Bielsko-Biała Studio is primarily a film company dedicated to the production of animated films for children. We want to develop Polish film production in this place and we want to work together, at the government and local levels, as well as animators, artists and people related to film production to ensure that we can develop our projects in film animation”, said Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr Gliński during the official start of construction.

The head of the Ministry of Culture added that the project is part of a number of investments implemented over the last six years. At the moment, over 300 museum projects are being implemented in Poland.

“I believe that we will meet in the fall of next year at the opening of the Fairy Tale and Animation Center in Bielsko-Biała”, summed up Minister Gliński.

The Animated Film Studio in Bielsko-Biała was established in 1947, and its first film “Was that a dream?” was produced a year later. Four more productions were made by 1950. In 1953 the film “Little goat” won the first prize at the festival in Karlovy Vary, and then a distinction in Venice. It was the first international award for Polish animation.

In 1963, Bolek and Lolek, the most popular heroes of Polish animation, appeared. Films with them were made in Studio for 23 years (1963-1986), as well as films with another popular hero – Reksio (1967-1990). In the 1960s, films with other heroes were launched: the Blue Little Knight and the chef Bartłomiej Bartolini of the Zielona Pietruszka coat of arms, together with the Wawel Dragon and Professor Gąbka.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński