5 lessons from Gene Deitch

In 1959, Gene Deitch arrived in Communist Czechoslovakia for what was to be a ten-day business trip. He never left. Thus began the longest phase of the extraordinary career of the American director and illustrator.

For the next half century, he has directed hundreds of films at the Prague studio Bratri v Triku, working primarily on animated adaptations of children's literature for the American company Weston Woods Studios.

Deitch, who died on April 16 at the age of 95, presented a documentary in 1977 in which he reveals his philosophy on the art of adapting picture books. Towards the beginning of Gene Deitch: The Picture Book Animated, notes that his approach is guided by the "unique character and content of individual books", but continues to outline the fundamental principles that shape his work. We have highlighted some of the key lessons below; the documentary can be seen below. Read our Deitch obituary here.