Tylko dla dzieci. Krótka historia filmów o Bolku i Lolku

Abstrakt

The article is a brief history of the most popular and the longest animated series in the history of Polish cinema and television: Bolek i Lolek (in English distributed as Jym & Jam or Bennie & Lennie), produced in Bielsko-Biała. The paper describes the origin of the cycle – from initial ideas, through a stage of designing the characters, to the premiere of first episode in 1964. Article also characterizes particular seasons of the show, reveals its evolution and reception, both in Poland and abroad. The paper presents series against the background of historical events in the People’s Republic of Poland as well as in the political context, as Bolek i Lolek played an important role in the discussion about duties and poetics of film art for children in communist system. At the end the article describes unsuccessful attempts to continue the series in a democratic Poland (including gay pride scandal).