Elpidio Valdés
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Elpidio Valdés is a
cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently Animation, animated, in an realism (arts), unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or s ...
character and
comic a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicat ...
, who starred in a number of features, shorts and strips of the same name. He was created in 1970 by cartoonist and
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
n filmmaker Juan Padrón, considered the father of Cuban film animation and director of the first three animated feature films produced by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry. Elpidio Valdes is a
mambí The mambises were the guerrilla independence soldiers who fought for the independence from Spain of the Dominican Republic in the Dominican Restoration War (1863–1865), and of Cuba in the Ten Years' War (1868–1878), Little War (1879–1880), ...
colonel fighting for the liberation of their homeland from
Spanish colonialism The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...
, commanding a squadron of cavalry, and represents the Cuban peasants in the 19th century Army of liberation. He owes his name to
Cecilia Valdés ''Cecilia Valdés'' is both a novel by the Cuban writer Cirilo Villaverde (1812–1894), and a zarzuela based on the novel. It is a work of importance for its quality, and its revelation of the interaction of classes and races in Havana, Cuba ...
, Cuban protagonist of a novel of the 19th century. Elpidio Valdes was intended to strengthen among Cuban children and youth a particular state view of an alleged authentic expression of the characters of the Cuban nationality.


Plot

Elpidio Valdés was born in the 1870s, in a field of battle during the
Ten Years' War The Ten Years' War (; 1868–1878), also known as the Great War () and the War of '68, was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. The uprising was led by Cuban-born planters and other wealthy natives. On 10 October 1868, sugar mil ...
. He was son of a rebel army officer and a peasant woman. In 1895, he joined the Liberation Army in the beginning of the
War of Independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...
. His father caught in an ambush at the beginning of the war, in which his mother continued to work in exile. He reaches the rank of colonel and survives the end of the war and during the Republic. He married in full battle with his girlfriend Maria Silvia with whom he has a son. The character's story is told in three films.


Characters

The following characters accompany Elpidio in his adventures. * Maria Silvia, his girlfriend and (later) wife. * Palmiche, his horse several shades of brown and orange. * Commander Marcial, his assistant. He died in combat in 1898. * General Resóplez, their greatest enemy. * Colonel Andaluz, Resoplez assistant. * Colonel Cetáceo, Resóplez nephew. * Pepito, child soldier mambí. * Eutelia, girl and assistant Maria Silvia. * Mister Chains, American landowner. * Media Cara, captain of the counterinsurgency. * Oliverio, inventor of the troops. * General Pérez, head of Elpidio. * Cortico, Media Cara counterguerrilla.


Production

The creator, writer and senior editor of the series is Juan Padrón. They have also participated as directors Tulio Raggi, Mario Rivas and Juan Ruiz. The theme song from the original series, the "Ballad of Elpidio", is composed and performed by
Silvio Rodríguez Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez (born 29 November 1946) is a Cuban musician, and leader of the Nueva Trova movement. He is widely considered as Cuba's best folk singer and arguably one of Latin America's greatest singer-songwriters. Known for his ...
about the music of Lucas de la Guardia. The theme of the second film and the second and third series of short films is Daniel Longrés. Cuban actor Frank Gonzalez voiced Elpidio and several other characters. Other voices were provided by Tony Gonzalez, Manuel Marin, Eddy Vidal, Maria Eugenia Garcia, Irela Bravo, Juan Julio Alfonso, Teresita Rúa and Erdwin Fernández.


Films and TV series

* ''Elpidio Valdés'' (1979). Has the birth of Elpidio, his father's death and the beginning of the War of Independence He meets Maria Silvia and becomes a scourge to the Spanish army, the U.S. counter-guerrilla and landowners. It takes place almost entirely in 1895. * ''Elpidio Valdés contra Dólar y Cañón'' (1983). Elpidio accounts for the efforts of Cuba to carry a cargo of arms from the United States. It takes place between 1896 and 1897. * ''Elpidio Valdés contra el águila y el león'' (1995). The adventures of Elpidio during the American intervention in the War of Independence. This film is formatted between fiction and documentary animation. * ''Más se perdió en Cuba''. Extended version of the above film into 5 chapters.


Short cartoons


1970s

* Elpidio Valdés contra el tren militar (1974) * Una aventura de Elpidio Valdés (1974) * El machete (1975) * Clarín mambí (1976) * Elpidio Valdés asalta el convoy (1976) * Elpidio Valdés contra la policía de Nueva York (1976) * Elpidio Valdés está rodeado (1977) * Elpidio Valdés encuentra a Palmiche (1977) * Elpidio Valdés contra los rayadillos (1978) * Elpidio Valdés fuerza la trocha (1978) * Elpidio Valdés y el fusil (1979)


1980s

* Elpidio Valdés contra la cañonera (1980) * Elpidio Valdés en campaña de verano (1988) * Elpidio Valdés ¡Capturado! (1988) * Elpidio Valdés ataca a Jutía Dulce (1988) * Elpidio Valdés y el 5to de cazadores (1988) * Elpidio Valdés y Palmiche contra los lanceros (1989) * Elpidio Valdés y la abuelita de Weyler (1989)


1990s and 2000s

* Elpidio Valdés se casa (1991) * Elpidio Valdés conoce a Fito (1992) * Elpidio Valdés y los inventores (1992) * Elpidio Valdés contra el fortín de hierro (2000) * Elpidio Valdés se enfrenta a Resóplez (2000) * Pepe descubre la rueda (2002) * Elpidio Valdés ataca trancalapuerta (2003)


Print edition

The comic strip appeared in 1970 in the '' Pionero'' magazine. During the 1980s, it was published monthly in the magazine ''Zunzún''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Elpidio Valdes Animated film series Cuban animation Cuban comics 1970 comics debuts Valdes Valdes Historical comics Adventure comics War comics Humor comics Comics set in the 19th century Valdes Valdes Comics set in Cuba