AI Keynote: From Scrappy Idea to Festival Darling: The Making of Pelikan Blue

This text, generated using AI, accompanies the full webinar available on our Vimeo channel.

Making of Pelikan Blue – The Journey of an Animated Feature Documentary
Apr 23 | 14:00—15:00 | Masterclass

Ever wondered what it takes to bring a unique animated documentary to life, especially when you’re navigating uncharted territory and tight budgets? Adam Felsegi, producer of the acclaimed Hungarian film “Pelikan Blue,” recently pulled back the curtain at the Visegrad Film Forum & CEE Animation Masterclass. His talk was a goldmine for aspiring filmmakers, animation enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the gritty realities and creative triumphs of independent film production.

If you’re dreaming of making your own animated feature, or just love a good “behind-the-scenes” story, this one’s for you.

What’s “Pelikan Blue” All About?

First, a quick primer: “Pelikan Blue” is Hungary’s first feature-length animated documentary. Directed by fine artist and animation tutor László Csáky, it tells the captivating true story of three young Hungarians in the 1990s. Fresh off the collapse of the Iron Curtain, they discover an ingenious (and illegal) way to forge international train tickets, opening up a world of travel and Western experiences previously unimaginable. But, as Adam hinted, “an action like this…always comes at a price.”

The film masterfully blends genuine audio recordings—from the original forgers, those who used the fake tickets, railway workers, and even the police who investigated the case—with evocative animation. This hybrid approach not only protects the anonymity of the subjects but also allows for a unique visual interpretation of their memories and the era.

The Genesis: A Story That Demanded to Be Told (Differently)

Like many passion projects, “Pelikan Blue” had a winding path to the screen.

Personal Connection: Director László Csáky himself used one of these forged tickets as a student to travel to Paris. This firsthand experience fueled his desire to tell the story.
Initial Idea: Originally, László envisioned it as a live-action fiction film. The audio interviews he conducted with the forgers were merely intended as research material.
The Pivot: “But he quickly realized that these guys are too good,” Adam shared. Their stories, humor, and perspective were so compelling that László decided the film had to be a documentary, using their actual voices. And given his background, animation was the natural visual medium.

Creative Evolution: Finding the Film’s Voice and Look

The journey from concept to final cut was one of constant evolution and adaptation:

Short to Feature: The project initially started as a 22-minute short film. However, after collecting over 40 hours of audio interviews (painstakingly transcribed line-by-line pre-AI!), it became clear there was enough rich material for a feature. They put out an online call and received over a hundred stories from people whose lives were changed by these tickets.
Structuring the Narrative: With a mountain of stories on index cards plastered across studio walls, Adam and László meticulously arranged them to craft a compelling storyline with twists and turns, focusing on the three main forgers and the 1989-2001 period (coinciding with the rise of low-cost airlines).
The Original Visual Style: László’s initial style was black-and-white chalkboard animation with “empty-headed characters,” a signature from his previous shorts.
(Cue a fascinating glimpse of the early, moodier black-and-white animatic shown during the lecture!)
The Animatics Are Key: Adam stressed the importance of the animatic (a roughly animated storyboard synced with audio). “The animatic is basically like picture lock,” he explained. “You have very, very small chances to modify the film after the animatic is locked because animation is very expensive.”
A Splash of Color & New Characters: Following advice from the National Film Institute for better distribution potential, the team made the crucial decision to switch to color. They also brought on character designer Máté Horásnyi, who, without ever seeing the real forgers, designed their animated counterparts based purely on their voices.

Key Insight: The animatic stage is your last best chance for major edits in animation. Lock it down wisely!

The Production Grind: Budget, Collaboration, and Unexpected Hurdles

This is where the rubber meets the road, and “Pelikan Blue” faced its share of challenges:

The “Mission Impossible” Budget: The film was made for under half a million euros. Adam admitted, “I would say, mission impossible.”
Making it Work:
- László, being an animation tutor, involved his students.
- Umbrella (Adam’s production company) provided some free workforce.
- Co-producer Cinnamon Entertainment offered non-commercial rates for their frame-by-frame animation work (done in TVPaint).
- Compromises: They had to forgo elements like shadows in the animation due to budget.
- Creative Solutions: Using Super 8mm footage for objects and establishing shots helped reduce the animation workload. László himself painted over 600 backgrounds!
External Shocks: The production weathered changes in taxation, the Ukraine-Russia war impacting prices, and shifts in the financing body.
A Decade in the Making: Adam joined in 2018, but László had been nurturing the project for about 10 years by its completion in Spring 2023. Adam himself managed to produce two live-action features in the time it took for “Pelikan Blue” to be finished!

Producer’s Tip: “If you produce an animation film, make a co-production. You will have time to make the deals.” Adam learned this the hard way, as the incubator program they were in had restrictive co-production limits.

Navigating the Legal Labyrinth: Archives, Music, and Brands

One of the most complex and time-consuming aspects was clearing rights:

Archive Footage: Acquiring historical footage from Hungarian Television was prohibitively expensive. Their workaround? Re-recording the audio for some clips (like a speech by former leader János Kádár, voiced by an actor) and leveraging a Hungarian law allowing free use for educational purposes if sources are cited.
Music: The soundtrack is carefully curated with period-specific tracks. They even commissioned a custom drum & bass piece for a house search scene, reflecting the era’s music scene.
Brand Logos: Every brand logo visible in the film (Kodak, Domestos, etc.) required permission from the rights holder. “It took for ages, really,” Adam confessed. Domestos even requested a specific disclaimer be included in the film, which the team handled with a touch of humor.

Warning for Filmmakers: Rights clearance for archives, music, and even incidental brand logos is a monumental and often underestimated task. Start early and be prepared for a long haul!

Audience & Impact: Unexpected Connections

Despite the niche genre, “Pelikan Blue” found significant success:

Festival Acclaim: Premiered at the A-list Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and has since traveled to over 30 festivals.
Domestic Success: Achieved over 25,000 cinema admissions in Hungary – a strong showing for an animated documentary.
The Gen Z Surprise: The team initially targeted Gen X and Y, who might have direct nostalgia for the era. However, Gen Z audiences connected deeply with the film, perhaps due to its layered narrative and dynamic editing style (partially a result of budget constraints necessitating more cuts).
Alternative Distribution: Partnering with Kinadok for distribution in universities, schools, and film clubs has proven effective for reaching engaged audiences who appreciate Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and even the original forgers (who are now more comfortable sharing their stories).

The Deeper Message: More Than Just a Crime Story

While “Pelikan Blue” is an entertaining “crime story” and a nostalgic trip, Adam emphasized its deeper resonance: “It’s about democracy, and it’s about change… I think we a little bit forgot to fight, that we have to fight for democracy.” He sees the forgers, in their own way, as individuals who were “active regarding changing their future,” embodying a spirit of defiance and a quest for freedom.

The journey of “Pelikan Blue” is a testament to perseverance, creative problem-solving, and the power of a unique story. It shows that even with daunting constraints, a dedicated team can create something truly special that resonates with audiences far and wide. A huge thank you to Adam Felsegi for sharing such valuable insights!