Večerníček is one of the most famous Czech TV characters. This little guy has been helping kids with their evening routine for generations.
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What is Večerníček?
Večerníček is a bedtime story show which starts just before 7 PM and features one 10-minute-long story. It’s the cornerstone of many Czech children’s evening routines. Dinner, pyjamas, brush your teeth, večerníček and then straight to bed, that’s how it used to go and how it still is for many small children.
The first episode was broadcasted on January 2, 1965 and the colored opening and closing themes were drawn in 1973 and since that year the show has been on TV every evening. And let’s not forget to mention the authors! The themes were drawn by Radek Pilař and animated by Antonín Bureš, the author of the music is Ladislav Simon and the themes were directed by Václav Bedřich.
At the beginning of the opening theme Večerníček says “Good evening” and in the closing theme he says “Good night”. The voice belongs to Michal Citavý who was 5 years old at the time he dubbed the little man introducing the bedtime stories.
Many famous Czech illustrators and writers have participated in the show over the years. And so children could hear stories written by Jan Karafiát, Adolf Born or Václav Čtvrtek told by stars like Jiřina Bohdalová or Petr Nárožný.
Večerníček Trivia
This bedtime show which celebrated 50 years in 2015, is not only the longest broadcast Czech children show but also the most viewed. children show. Few years before this anniversary, on January 2, 2011 Google changed it’s logo to commemorate Večerníček – see the Google Doodle here.
On the 12th of February of 1999 Petr Pravec from the observatory of Ondřejov discovered a minor planet which was named 33377 Večerníček.
Many episodes of the show are famous Czech children’s stories and books and in the show they sometimes make references to each other. Sometimes it’s characters from one series appearing in another, or the characters from one whistling the intro theme from another story.
Most Famous Bedtime Stories
Let’s watch some of the most famous stories that were part of the Večerníček show.
Včelí medvídci
Based of the book by Jiří Kahoun.
Mach a Šebestová
By Miloš Macourek and Adolf Born, narrated by Petr Nárožný.
Krtek
By Zdeněk Miller – read more about this children’s series here.
Žofka a spol.
By Miloš Macourek, Jaroslav Doubrava and Adolf Born, dubbed by Petr Nárožný.
Bob a Bobek
Narrated by Josef Dvořák, music by Petr Skoumal.
O loupežníku Rumcajsovi
By Václav Čtvrtek and Radek Pilař
Pohádky z mechu a kapradí (Křemílek and Vochomůrka)
By Václav Čtvrtek, Zdeněk Smetana and dubbing by Jiřina Bohdalová
Rákosníček
By Zdeněk Smetana, dubbing by Jiřina Bohdalová
O makové panence a motýlu Emanuelovi
By Václav Čtvrtek, dubbing by Vlastimil Brodský
Říkání o víle Amálce
By Václav Bedřich and dubbed by Jiří Hrzán
Štaflík a Špagetka
By Václav Bedřich, Alena Munková and Zdeněk Smetana
Pat a Mat
Broučci
Based on the book by Jan Karafiát.
Maxipes Fík
By Rudolf Čechura, dubbed by Jiří Dvořák and Jiří Šalamoun, music by Petr Skoumal.
Spejbl a Hurvínek
Based on the marionettes made by Josef Skupa.
Káťa a Škubánek
By Libuše Koutná and Josef Lamka
Kosí bratři
By Garik Seko, narrated by Stanislav Fišer
Krkonošské pohádky
Directed by Věra Jordánová
Jája a Pája
Dubbed by František Filipovský, Petr Haničinec, Václav Postránecký.
Kubula a Kuba Kubikula
Based on the book by Vladislav Vančura.
Malá čarodějnice
Based on the book by Otto Preußler, dubbed by Jiřina Bohdalová.
Míša Kulička
Based on the book by Jiří Menzel, illustrations by Jiří Trnka.
O človíčkovi
By Pavel Teisinger, Zdenka Teisingerová and Josef Lamka.,
O hajném Robátkovi a jelenu Větrníkovi
Based on the book by Václav Čtvrtek, illustrated by Bohumil Šašek and Ladislav Čapek.
O chytré kmotře lišce
Based on the book by Josef Lada. Narrated by Jiřina Bohdalová.
O Mikešovi
Based on the book by Josef Lada.
O skřítku Racochejlovi
By Zdeněk Smetana, dubbed by Jiřina Bohdalová.
Z deníku kocoura Modroočka
Based on the book by Josef Kolář.
Did you know any of these Czech bedtime stories? Did you perhaps watch Večerníček yourself when you were little? If you want to read more articles about the Czech cinematography, just browse Movies.