Balthazar on Čajni - News | Art-kino Croatia

As part of the Days of St. Vitus, the popular professor Balthazar will pay the youngest Rijeka citizens a visit at the charming Tea Square (Čajni trg), which looks like a scenery from one of the many episodes of this cult animated series.

On the occasion of Days of St. Vitus, Art-kino organises a screening of Professor Balthazar (Profesor Baltazar) cartoons on so-called Tea Square (Matija Vlačić Flacius Square) in collaboration with City of Rijeka and Samovar bar. The screening will be held on Friday, 12 June at 21:30 (determined by sunset), and it is a great opportunity for our youngest fellow citizens, as well as their parents and grandparents, to enjoy an evening dedicated to another patron of the city – the imaginary Balthazar-city. Interestingly, the creators of the animated series found the inspiration for Balthazar-city in the city of Rijeka. 

The programme features the following cartoons: Lighthouse Keeping (Hanibalove Alpe), Of Mice And Ben (O mišu i satovima), Hat-On Flier (Pingvin Čarli), Sporting Life (Sportski život), Street Musicians (Ulični svirači) and The Trials Of Love (Violeta i Franc). The total screening duration is 45 minutes and admission is free. 

The character of the popular professor Balthazar saw the light of day back in 1967 in the animated film Inventor Of Shoes (Izumitelj cipela) and its success prompted the idea of filming a series of cartoons in which the benevolent professor will be the main character. The series was filmed from 1968 until 1978 and it is the most successful Zagreb School of Animated Film project. 

The main character of this popular animated series is a benevolent and unusual scientist who uses his inventions to make the lives of the Balthazar-city inhabitants easier. Balthazar is a lover of nature and all living beings, a fighter for good, a promoter of tolerance, peace and love. The messages of the favourite professor about how to solve problems without violence and aggression, but with imagination, harmony and positive energy are still relevant today, so it is no wonder that stories about the adventures of the inhabitants of this colourful city continue to gain fans among the youngest generations even today. 

In case of bad weather the programme will be held on Saturday, 13 June at 21:30, and if the inclement weather continues, the new date is next Friday, 19 June.