Gyula Macskássy

Macskássy studied at Sándor Bortnyik’s private art school “Műhely”, where he met fellow artists János Halász (John Halas) and Félix Kassowitz. The trio went on to launch Coloriton Studio – Europe’s first production company creating  animated commercials. After Halas and Kassowitz emigrated, Macskássy teamed up with György Szénásy and set up an atelier in the Neumann House next to Hotel Astoria in downtown Budapest. In 1948 the Hungarian film industry was nationalized, so Coloriton Studio became part of the “News and Documentary Film Production Company” where Macskássy and his colleagues worked on state-financed commercials and propaganda films.

His films were initially influenced by the work of Walt Disney, but he soon developed a typical Hungarian, unique style. Caricature, abstract painting and folk art also had an impact on his works which are light-hearted, self-reflective and not afraid to criticize the “system”.

In 1951 Macskássy directed The Cockerel’s Diamond Coin, the first Hungarian animation film in colour. He was also the pioneering creator of the first animated films series: Peti (1963), then later on the Gusztáv series. Macskássy was a very prolific artist, even later in life – in his final years he produced 1-minute “short film études”.