Jiří Barta is a Czech stop-motion animator from Prague, famous for his only other feature-length film, Toys in the Attic (2009). He is well known for using wood as a medium to create his animations. This new Blu-ray set from Deaf Crocodile features much of his work. On the first disc we have 1986's The Pied Piper, a 53 minute film that is based on the classic fairytale about the Pied Piper of Hamlyn who cleansed a village of rats and then returned for the townsfolks children when the villagers weren’t forthcoming with his payment, while disc two features seven shorts, Riddles for A Candy, Disc Jockey, The Project, The Vanished World of Gloves, The Ballad of the Green Wood, The Last Booty and The Club of the Laid Off. 

Barta’s beautiful but unusual style is evident from the off, on disc one with The Pied Piper. It’s a dark expressionistic take on the classic fairytale with a wonderfully unique visual style that sets it apart from most other animations; however, one can’t help but draw comparison with that other stop-motion master from the Czech Republic, Jan Svankmajer. Both men have created remarkable, stylish animations that have had a seismic impact within the field of stop-motion animation, and cinema in general. In The Pied Piper, Barta creates remarkable gothic medieval cityscapes that take the breath away, and the wooden figures he creates to be his cast of characters have a strange otherworldly appearance that gives them an almost monstrous presence. The soundtrack is also quite remarkable, featuring ominous, off-kilter flute music alongside darkly beautiful orchestral pieces and freaky, distorted avant-garde rock. It’s a glorious adaptation that highlights the inherent greed of men. As horrifying as it is beautiful, it’s a stunning visual treat that manages to create a genuinely eerie atmosphere.

Meanwhile, disc two features a selection of seven of Barta’s short films, ranging in length between 6 minutes The Project and The Club of the Laid Off, which runs for 25 minutes in total. These are a really nice inclusion and allow us a glimpse into how Barta would hone his skills through different phases in his career. His debut short, Riddles for A Candy, is the sweet and heartwarming tale about an anteater-looking creature, while Disc Jockey focuses on the things that make up our everyday lives. The Design is presented as if a drawing of a building on Barta’s drawing board comes to life, while The Vanished World of Gloves tells the story of cinema, through an array of gloves. The Ballad of the Green Wood is a short, romanticised film about the cycles of life, while The Last Booty is about a thief who becomes the victim of his own victims when they come back to steal his blood. The final film, The Club of the Laid Off (aka the Club of the Discarded) is a short film about an old, abandoned warehouse filled with old mannequins and what happens when newer, but still old mannequins are brought to the warehouse. 

On top of all the films, we get two discs packed with bonus features, interviews and an audio commentary for The Pied Piper. Overall, this is a great set, that is packed to the gills, with the vast majority of JJiří Barta’s filmic output, and Deaf Crocodile deserve great credit for making this happen. Obviously, The Pied Piper takes centre stage, as it should, but let’s not forget just how good some of these shorts are. If you’re not familiar with the work of Barta and are looking for a way to discover his oeuvre, then this is perhaps the best way in which to do so. Fans of stop-motion animation, in particular, should be falling over themselves to get a copy of this set while they can.