A hut stands in the middle of the deep, dark, fairy tale forest. It is the home of Mournful Prince who never got further than this after he set out to try his luck. When unexpected guests arrive, led by a mysterious cat, everything changes.
Mournful Prince whiles his days away in a messy hut until he is interrupted by a cat who immediately initiates the task of tidying. Soon, more unexpected guests arrive: Brother Moss, a talking tree, and Ragdoll Sara, a raggedy doll. The cat includes the complaining yet amusing company in the tidying; moreover, she organizes a “Sadness Contest” for them. In the end, everyone is a winner of the contest, as the Prince’s wishes come true: the hut turns into a palace, the cat transforms into a princess, and the Mournful Prince is now happier than he’s ever been before.
Director’s statement
As an animation professional, I gained most of my experience from making children’s content. So did my sister, Zsuzsa Tamas, author of many successful children books. Her story, The Cat Princess, based on a folk fairy tale, received the Best Children’s Book of the Year award in Hungary in 2014. We decided to adapt the book to screen: a TV special for children aged 6 to 8 and their families. Having read the book I was captivated by the structure, the unique “story within a story” parts: the lyrical tales told in the text provide the opportunity to create four independent stories, each with their own visual world and animation style. I was further inspired by the questions that the story raises: what happens when someone just can’t grow up? How can we help each other when we are in trouble too? The heart-warming answers offered by the story have faith in the strength of love and kindness, express the importance of friendship and the liberating power of a shared task.
Director
Iván Tamás
Iván Tamás holds a MA degree in Animation from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and is a certified Arts and Design teacher. He took part in the Animation Sans Frontières workshop in 2014/15. Since his graduation he has been working as an animator or director on various projects. He currently works as a visual artist in a game developer company and teaches illustration in an art school.
ivan@cubanimation.com
Producer
Bálint Gelley
Bálint Gelley graduated from MOME Animation department in 2012. He founded CUB Animation studio in 2015 with Bella Szederkényi. He’s one of the founder and board member of the Hungarian Animation Producers Association. Director and producer, also a lecturer at the MOME Animation department.
balint@cubanimation.com
Country of production
Hungary
Target audience
children aged 6–8, family
Animation technique
traditional
Production company
CUB Animation
