Directing

Zlatko Grgić

Born June 21, 1931 · Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now Zagreb, Croatia)

Died October 4, 1988 · aged 57

Zlatko Grgić was a Croatian animator, director, and screenwriter, renowned for his contributions to animated film. Hen the Zagreb School of Animated Films and co-created the beloved animated series Professor Balthazar (1967–1978), which gained international acclaim. Grgić also directed Muzikalno prase (The Musical Pig, 1965), which won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festiva…

Known For

Scabies

Scabies · 1970

A man is smoking. Something itches him and he scratches it. Then this repeats elsewhere. He starts to scratch himself harder and harder and at different places. Everywhere, from his sleeves, coat, trouser legs, small people start to fall out, and the man can no longer crush them.

Tolerance

Tolerance · 1967

A group of eccentrics are playing. A little man wants to join in but is always sent away and is finally murdered. In heaven he meets others of his kind and plays with them but a still tinier man wants to crash their games.

Revenger

Revenger · 1958

A film about an unhappy man who catches his wife with a lover. He leaves to buy a gun, while plotting to kill the wife and the lover. Based on a short story by Anton Chekhov.

The Fifth One

The Fifth One · 1965

A persistent trumpeter tries to join a string quartet that doesn't want him.

George and the Christmas Star

George and the Christmas Star · 1985

George and the Christmas Star

George cuts out a paper star to top his Christmas tree but, dissatisfied, decides to go for the real thing - an unusually bright star that seems to beckon him from the sky.

A Visit from Space

A Visit from Space · 1964

A Visit from Space

MovieAnimationScience Fiction

A girl attempts to reach red apples from a tree. Aliens land on Earth and the girl offers them the fruits.

The Musical Pig

The Musical Pig · 1967

The Musical Pig

MovieComedyAnimation

The musical pig in quest for a friend. It eventually finds one, but at what cost...

Who Are We?

Who Are We? · 1974

Canadians in search of the national identity will not find it fully fleshed in this film. An animated cartoon, it sees Canadians as pragmatists, adaptable to whatever climate or history place in their way. It is a boisterous, bubbling analysis of the Canadian character and, although it may not answer the question of the title, it does leave the feeling that being Canadian is not so exhausting as one might expect.

Filmography

Sort

Scabies

Scabies · 1970

A man is smoking. Something itches him and he scratches it. Then this repeats elsewhere. He starts to scratch himself harder and harder and at different places. Everywhere, from his sleeves, coat, trouser legs, small people start to fall out, and the man can no longer crush them.

Director

Tolerance

Tolerance · 1967

A group of eccentrics are playing. A little man wants to join in but is always sent away and is finally murdered. In heaven he meets others of his kind and plays with them but a still tinier man wants to crash their games.

Director

Revenger

Revenger · 1958

A film about an unhappy man who catches his wife with a lover. He leaves to buy a gun, while plotting to kill the wife and the lover. Based on a short story by Anton Chekhov.

Animation

The Fifth One

The Fifth One · 1965

A persistent trumpeter tries to join a string quartet that doesn't want him.

Animation

George and the Christmas Star

George and the Christmas Star · 1985

George and the Christmas Star

George cuts out a paper star to top his Christmas tree but, dissatisfied, decides to go for the real thing - an unusually bright star that seems to beckon him from the sky.

Animation

A Visit from Space

A Visit from Space · 1964

A Visit from Space

MovieAnimationScience Fiction

A girl attempts to reach red apples from a tree. Aliens land on Earth and the girl offers them the fruits.

Animation

The Musical Pig

The Musical Pig · 1967

The Musical Pig

MovieComedyAnimation

The musical pig in quest for a friend. It eventually finds one, but at what cost...

Director

Who Are We?

Who Are We? · 1974

Canadians in search of the national identity will not find it fully fleshed in this film. An animated cartoon, it sees Canadians as pragmatists, adaptable to whatever climate or history place in their way. It is a boisterous, bubbling analysis of the Canadian character and, although it may not answer the question of the title, it does leave the feeling that being Canadian is not so exhausting as one might expect.

Director

The Orator

The Orator · 1979

Short animated film.

Director

Professor Balthazar: Lighthouse Keeping

Professor Balthazar: Lighthouse Keeping · 1969

Professor Balthazar: Lighthouse Keeping

Professor Balthazar goes on vacation to the South Sea where his friend Hannibal is a lighthouse keeper. Hannibal loves ice cream, difficult enough to find there. His request for transfer is denied until he can arrange a replacement: Johan the yodeler from the Alps.

Director

The Suitcase

The Suitcase · 1968

Two men fighting over a suitcase to discover its content. At the end the smaller guy lets the bigger one have the suitcase. They are both surprised when they open it. Inside there are another two men with another suitcase and the whole story repeats.

Writer

Deep Threat

Deep Threat · 1977

Zlatko Grgic's short animated film depicts how humans evolved from the sea and the problems that ensued. Using humour, he shows how industry leads to waste and pollution, which in turn wreak havoc on the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

Animation Director

Dream Doll

Dream Doll · 1979

A lonely man living in a large city buys a life-size sex doll. His relationship with his dream doll causes a certain reaction in the community. A bizarre adaption of Le Ballon Rouge.

Animation

Twiddle-Twaddle

Twiddle-Twaddle · 1968

Twiddle-Twaddle

This film is based on the so-called comedy of the absurd. The unusual animalism of the figures and their distinctive animation and sound treatment promise that the film will be acceptable to children. Probably even adults will not be indifferent to this variety of fabrications.

Writer

The Devil's Work

The Devil's Work · 1965

The Devil's Work

MovieAnimationComedy

A nice guy who always finishes last discovers a potion that helps him turn the tables on the rude, stick it to the inconsiderate, and maybe overcome his own meekness.

Director

Toadstool

Toadstool · 1973

An unusual appointment with the doctor.

Director

The Enchanted Prince

The Enchanted Prince · 1978

The Enchanted Prince

MovieComedyFantasy

A mouthy frog gets his wish when a princess’s kiss turns him into a human. But just because he’s got a voice doesn’t mean he has much to say.

Producer

Busho, the Brave Scout

Busho, the Brave Scout · 1958

Busho, the Brave Scout

Short animated film.

Animation

Maxi Cat: Ball

Maxi Cat: Ball · 1973

Is this ball made of a green thread or something else?

Director

Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff · 1971

MovieAnimationComedy

This tongue-in-cheek cautionary tale by Croatian director Zlatko Grgic traces man's checkered history with fire, and shows how growing carelessness in the form of overloaded sockets, smoldering cigarettes and other fire hazards can have highly undesirable consequences.

Director

Shagreen Leather

Shagreen Leather · 1960

Shagreen Leather

Poor and unhappy, Rafael leaves Pauline and tries his luck at the roulette, but loses his last coin. Fate gifts him with the miraculous "Shagreen leather" that fulfills all wishes. In his new, luxurious life he wins the heart of wonderful Foedora. But with the power of the leather comes a rule: for every fulfilled wish it becomes shorter, and so does the life of its owner. Using the leather abundantly, Rafael soon spends his time.

Animation Director

Maxi Cat: Fishing

Maxi Cat: Fishing · 1973

Maxi Cat: Fishing

An unexpected place for Maxi Cat tailor-made fishing.

Director

Maxi Cat: Jaje

Maxi Cat: Jaje · 1973

Director

Professor Balthazar: Doctor Don't Litt

Professor Balthazar: Doctor Don't Litt · 1972

Professor Balthazar: Doctor Don't Litt

One morning, Tom’s dad the vet has had enough of it and goes fishing. Little Tom decides to replace him in his job at the zoo. When a lion is in urgent need of an ice-cream, Tom sets out to buy it, but he leaves his things in the cage. The guards think he was eaten by the lion and overall panic follows. Luckily, Professor Balthazar is here.

Director

Professor Balthazar

Professor Balthazar · 1967

Professor Balthazar

SeriesAnimationKids

With his inventions, Baltazar is always happy to help his fellow villagers out of all sorts of problems. In his colorful laboratory, very unusual inventions are created every day.

Creator