Gyulai Líviusz Gyulai was no longer able to finish his cartoon series A Yankee in King Arthur's Court, but based on his plans, the film is nearing its end . A staff member of Vasarnap.hu spoke with Emmy Vennes, the widow of Líviusz Gyulai.

 – The A Yankee in King Arthur's Court will be ready soon. Líviusz Gyulai could not finish his film. What makes this series special?

– Due to the death of my husband, he was no longer able to finish the animated series A Yankee in King Arthur's Court he created based on Mark Twain's He really liked the novel, in which a 19th-century Yankee falls into 6th-century England. The young Yankee hastily bridges the huge gap between the centuries: he Americanizes the "Dark Ages", King Arthur's empire. Of course, our hero, the Yankee, does not remain untouched either, as the age of chivalry and romantic adventures take their toll, he falls in love with the world of the Middle Ages, which is believed to be beyond.

Lívius was preoccupied with the idea that it would be good to make an animated film out of this literary work.

He loved Mark Twain's style, world view and humor. In his words: "the great writer's novel needs to be "dusted off" - with the greatest respect for my beloved master -, I am telling the story "updated" and "actualized", I am spinning the thread of this great topic."

"He could identify with Twain then."

– Of course, the foundational work is a kind of guiding thread for the literary text, which allows its spirit to soar freely. King Arthur, who is receptive to innovation, favors the Yankees. The wizard Merlin, the apostle of the "Dark Ages", characterizes this age as the main enemy who resists for a long time, but is eventually swept away by the overwhelming, world-shaping knowledge of the 19th century. This situation promises great fun for all ages.

Líviusz smuggled the atmosphere of the 19th century into the medieval milieu in a wonderful way with his great figures and brilliant drawings.

The narration - written by him - Péter Blaskó . In the story, we can see an ambivalent development, which in the end is about the fact that humans are making our world more and more unlivable. Wherever he sets foot, he destroys everything. We can see that Twain was not far wrong, his thought is even more timely today than in his time, but maybe there is hope.

the full article from Vasarnap here.

Author and image: Gábor Tóth