The award-winning cartoonist Borivoj “Bordo” Dovnikovic gave a press conference on Sunday December 5th at Warehouse C, within the framework of the 51st Thessaloniki Film Festival. He talked about his many years of experience as an animator, about the famous Zagreb School of Animation, as well as the survival of animation in times of crisis.
An outstanding figure of the animation world and a legendary name of the renowned Zagreb School of Animation, Bordo is an official guest of honor of the 51st TIFF, on the occasion of the homage to Croatian Animation of the Balkan Survey section. The press conference, which was described by the artist as the best he had ever given in a festival, was attended by the Thessaloniki Film Festival Director, Mr. Dimitri Eipides, who characterized Bordo as “a legend in the field of animation”. “I am proud to have you here with us and we will have the chance to enjoy the whole of your work in this homage.” He added that: “Borivoj Dovnikovic has created a school in the field of animation and has given us some of the most beautiful films of the genre.”
The eminent artist discussed the early beginnings of his career in the 50s, which coincided with that of the production of animation films in Zagreb. It was at that time that a group of caricaturists and illustrators, including Bordo, dared to experiment with animation, marking the start of an effort destined to write history. “We started with Disney patterns as our guideline and we made black and white films for children. In the beginning, we did not have the knowledge, but a good cartoonist does not find it hard to grasp the basics.” He went on to say: “Of course, back then we thought it would be possible to have a film ready in two months. It took us days to finish drawing and a whole year to complete our first film, entitled “Big Meeting”; it was released in May 1951”.
The following year, the severe crisis that their country suffered did not allow the ambitious cartoonists to continue their work and they were forced to return to their former occupation as caricaturists. It took them five years to make a brand new start. “We started from scratch, on a different basis. We started making artistic adult animations instead of movies for children. We engaged in the art of animation in its literal sense and made films suitable for all ages.” Finally, in 1956, the Zagreb Film Company, now known worldwide, was created. In the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, the eminent cinema historian Georges Sadoul was the first to observe that the company’s films combined unprecedented dynamics and singular features. Therefore, he gave a name to this nursery for talents, by calling it “The Zagreb School”. What is Bordo’s opinion of this name? “I do not agree with this term. It gives the impression of a university faculty, where someone can be taught drawing. The term “school” is mainly related to the style we adopted. I prefer the term “Zagreb circle or group”.
A key year for Zagreb Film was 1961, when the group accomplished something beyond any expectation, as an Academy Award was awarded to the film “Surogat”, a success that gave a great boost to the work of these pioneer artists. “By the 80s, new members had joined us, but the political change that occurred in Yugoslavia in 1991, through which Croatia became an independent country, was the source of drastic changes. We did not have a smooth transition from socialism to capitalism. Nevertheless, our production kept on and we made good films. At that time animators began receiving more awards and recognition”, pointed out Bordo. Over the years, new techniques that reduced costs emerged in the field of animation, a change that did not have only positive aspects. “The goal is not to make a film that is just successful in terms of the techniques used, with the help of the computer. Your hands and mind must work in order to make art, a quality that seems to be fading out over the last years.”
The award-winning artist, despite having reached the age of 80, does not rule out the possibility of making some more films in the future. Nevertheless, he adds that “what he had to say, he has already said it”. “As far as I am concerned, I have done enough. It is time for the new generation to come out in the open with what it has to say. Besides, I made all my films by myself, with the help of only one assistant. Everything was under my control, but my body no longer allows me to keep working in the same way”, explained Bordo.
The pioneer cartoonist will deliver a masterclass on Monday, December 6th at 11 a.m., at the John Cassavetes Theater, within the framework of the 51st Film Festival.
