Líviusz Gyulai (December 2, 1937 - March 16, 2021) was a Hungarian graphic artist, illustrator, animator and animation director. Born in a predominantly Hungarian inhabited region of Transsylvania, his family fled to Hungary in his youth. There he became a renowned book illustrator and eventually an animator at the Pannonia Film Studio. He worked in a variety of graphical styles, creating surreal and whimsical imagery inspired by classic literature. Due to the sheer number and the popularity of his works, he is considered one of the country's most important artists of the late 20th century.
His illustrations and animations were noted for their often loose, simplistically constructed but laboriously detailed art styles and playful tone, a departure from the cynical, sardonic and depressing satirical art put out by many Hungarian cartoonists of the era. He had a fondness for the art and fashion of the turn of the 20th century, classical mythology, religious fables, mythical creatures, a deep nostalgia and adoration for life's simple joys and a longing for worlds of fantasy. Nearly all of his works have a dreamlike "anything goes" quality with plenty of quirky visual gags, sparse backgrounds, sketchy art styles, cheeky sexuality, lots of nudity, and a general eccentric, jovial tone. Most of them are also dialogue-free.
List of animated works
Shorts
- Delfinia, az én világom (Delfinia, My World, 1976, co-directed by Elek Lisziák and jointly produced by Soyuzmultfilm) — A young schoolgirl re-imagines her dull environment as a fantasy world, inspired by Gyulai wondering what his own daughter might muse about on her way to school.
- Új lakók (New Tenants, 1977) — A family of fun-loving, nudist centaurs move into a neighborhood overseen by a crotchety, dictatorial landlady. Likewise inspired by Gyulai's personal life.
- Jónás (Jonah, 1996) — Based on the Biblical figure, Jonah renovates a whale into his living space.
- Golyós mese (Spun, 1999) — A loose cannon ball causes shenanigans while flying across the globe and across history.
- Szindbád, Bon Voyage! (Sindbad Bon Voyage!, 1999) — A hobo finds himself in a series of wacky events across time and space on a Magic Carpet.
- Az én kis városom (My Small Town, 2002) — The goofy goings-on of a small, vintage town where men lust after mermaids.
- Könny nem marad szárazon (Tears won't stay dry, 2004) — How Gertrude the Governess became the bearded lady.
- De Ronch kapitány naplója (Memoirs of Captain de Ronch, 2007) — The titular captain reminisces on his horny, erotic escapades. Based on the writings of author Gyula Krúdy.
- Az őrangyal (The Guardian Angel, 2009) — A rookie, alcoholic angel has to watch over a pair of young siblings. Things don't go her way.
SeriesAll four of his series ran for 13 short episodes each.
- Jómadarak (Bad Eggs, 1981) — The exploits of two stickman-birds. Noted for its incredibly basic art and animation.
- Tinti kalandjai (The Adventures of Tinti, 1987-88) — Storybook-like tales of a young, inquisitive centaur boy from space helping solve problems on Earth.
- Egy komisz kölyök naplója (Diary of a Wicked Lad, 2013) — Animated Adaptation of American novelist Metta Victoria Fuller Victor's 1880 work A Bad Boy's Diary. Unlike most of Gyulai's cartoons, this one is fully narrated.
- Egy komisz kislány naplója (Naughty Girl's Diary, 2017) — A gender swapped version of the former, though not based directly on any preexisting work. Likewise narrated.
