Zlatko Grgić (21 June 1931 – 4 October 1988) was a Croatian
animator
An animator is an artist who creates images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, and video games. Animat ...
who emigrated to
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
in the late 1960s.
Born in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
, in the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...
, Grgić was nominated for the
Academy Award for Animated Short Film
The Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film is an award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as part of the annual Academy Awards, or Oscars, since the 5th Academy Awards (with different names), covering the year 1 ...
at the
52nd Academy Awards
The 52nd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1979 and took place on April 14, 1980, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, beginning at 6:00 p ...
Bob Godfrey
Roland Frederick Godfrey MBE (27 May 1921 – 21 February 2013),
Zagreb Film
Grgić created the animated series ''
Professor Balthazar
''Professor Balthazar'' () is a Yugoslavia, Yugoslav animation, animated television series for children about an old inventor that was produced between 1967 and 1978. It was created by animator Zlatko Grgić.
The series revolves around benevolen ...
'' for
Zagreb Film
Zagreb Film is a Croatian film company principally known for its animation studio. From Zagreb, it was founded in 1953. They have produced hundreds of animated films, as well as documentaries, television commercials, educational films and several ...
and also animated 24 episodes of its series ''Maxi Cat'' (1971–73). His other credits include the 1965 animated shorts ''Peti'' and ''Đavolja Posla'' (''The Devil's Work'') ''Mali i veliki'' ''(Le Petit et le grand)'' (1966); ''Muzikalno prase'' ('' The Musical Pig'') (1966), winner of the
Palme d'or
The (; ) is the highest prize awarded to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festiv ...
at
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world.
Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
, the 1968 shorts ''Tolerance'' and ''Suitcase'' as well a ''Ptica i crvek'' (''The Bird and the Worm'') (1977).
Pre-Zagreb Film
* The Case Of Whicked Mouse (1961)
* Cesta (1963)
* Robot (1978)
* International Film Festival (1982)
* International Film Factory (1985)
NFB
Grgić was asked to join the
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
(NFB) after producers saw his film ''Scabies''. He directed and animated three shorts with the NFB: '' Hot Stuff'' (1971), named best educational film at the
Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
World Festival of Animated Film Zagreb (), best known as Animafest Zagreb, is a film festival entirely dedicated to animated film held annually in Zagreb, Croatia. Initiated by the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA), the event was e ...
, ''Who Are We?'' (1974) and ''Deep Threat'' (1977).
Legacy
He has an award named after him at the Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films: the Zlatko Grgić Prize for best first production apart from educational institutions.