A new episode, the first of 13 from the new series Pat a Mat kutí (Pat & Mat do DIY - there's no official translation yet), was released on March 5. It is episode 33 (meaning ep. 7/13 in the series) and was posted on Attraction Distribution's (one of the worldwide distributors of the series) Vimeo profile (link here), but the video posted there is slowed down, so here's a link to a corrected version from a dedicated Polish fan. The title is Automyčka, or Car Wash:
I thought this was a funny and satisfying episode, not a bad way to open the new series. The previous 6 episodes were released on December 17 last year and are officially available free of charge on this link: https://www.televizeseznam.cz/porad/pat-mat
UPDATE, March 11: The titles for the next 13 episodes with screenshots have just been announced on Patmat film's website. Click the following links for Czech or English lists.
I haven't had a chance to cover the newest episodes on this blog yet, so this is an occasion to air out some opinions and criticisms of them. This episode is one of 39 episodes split into three 13-part series: Pat a Mat nás baví (Pat & Mat Entertain Us), Pat a Mat v zimě (Pat & Mat in Winter) and the new series, which is basically the first series renamed. Although the episodes are still technically on a high level and were made the same way as older episodes (the only difference being digitization: they are now shot digitally in 4K), the newest episodes generally can't hold a candle to older episodes. It can be said that the newest episodes are all decent, but not much else. There are not (m)any stand-out episodes and there aren't many really bad ones.
The first series, Pat a Mat nás baví, was especially disappointing. It was the first series with these characters that I didn't really enjoy overall and I consider it a step down from Pat & Mat in the Countryside (Pat a Mat na venkově), the series that preceded it. The winter series was an improvement, so I hope the third one will be as well. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not against making new episodes, but I am against making 39 of them in 3 years, numbers which were not reached even when three studios produced episodes at the same time. I'm afraid that is just hyperproduction. Although we can all agree that the heights of ...a je to! will never be reached again, there is always potential for good adventures with these characters if we tread carefully.
Director Marek Beneš has stated that finding new ideas for the episodes is really tough. This was painfully obvious in the often boring and monotonous first series and prompted the studio to hire new writers, specifically Štěpán Gajdoš, who was born in 1997, just like the author of this blog. Interestingly, the story credit for this episode is the first ever given to Kees Prins, the voice of Pat in Dutch dubbings. In this interview from 2018, Prins said:
Even though it was fun, I feel this episode would have been even better if it was condensed into a 7-minute episode with the action sped up. Pacing is problematic in the new series. The action often feels overdrawn; there is a sense that not much (or rather not enough) is happening, which wasn't the case with Countryside. A further hindrance is that all episodes are timed to exactly 8:00, which leaves no room for improvisation during filming. In 2003-04, the episodes were timed to 7:00. The slowing down might also be connected to the target audience: as promotional leaflets say, the new series is marketed to children aged 3-8.
UPDATE, March 11: The titles for the next 13 episodes with screenshots have just been announced on Patmat film's website. Click the following links for Czech or English lists.
I haven't had a chance to cover the newest episodes on this blog yet, so this is an occasion to air out some opinions and criticisms of them. This episode is one of 39 episodes split into three 13-part series: Pat a Mat nás baví (Pat & Mat Entertain Us), Pat a Mat v zimě (Pat & Mat in Winter) and the new series, which is basically the first series renamed. Although the episodes are still technically on a high level and were made the same way as older episodes (the only difference being digitization: they are now shot digitally in 4K), the newest episodes generally can't hold a candle to older episodes. It can be said that the newest episodes are all decent, but not much else. There are not (m)any stand-out episodes and there aren't many really bad ones.
The first series, Pat a Mat nás baví, was especially disappointing. It was the first series with these characters that I didn't really enjoy overall and I consider it a step down from Pat & Mat in the Countryside (Pat a Mat na venkově), the series that preceded it. The winter series was an improvement, so I hope the third one will be as well. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not against making new episodes, but I am against making 39 of them in 3 years, numbers which were not reached even when three studios produced episodes at the same time. I'm afraid that is just hyperproduction. Although we can all agree that the heights of ...a je to! will never be reached again, there is always potential for good adventures with these characters if we tread carefully.
 |
| The car wash contraption from the episode |
Director Marek Beneš has stated that finding new ideas for the episodes is really tough. This was painfully obvious in the often boring and monotonous first series and prompted the studio to hire new writers, specifically Štěpán Gajdoš, who was born in 1997, just like the author of this blog. Interestingly, the story credit for this episode is the first ever given to Kees Prins, the voice of Pat in Dutch dubbings. In this interview from 2018, Prins said:
Well, they did approach us to maybe think about ideas for episodes, because they are now - I believe - making 36 of them, with a master plan of 81 in total. So, they also need feedback from other people, and, of course, it is very nice that they have asked us. I said: first, let me think. Then, I made three stories and sent them to the studio. And they have already chosen one of those three, it still has to be made, but it is already in the pipeline.Other interesting story shouts are Ladislav Pálka, the Ateliery Bonton Zlín director from 2003-04 (maybe an unused script from that time) and this episode's animator's son.
Even though it was fun, I feel this episode would have been even better if it was condensed into a 7-minute episode with the action sped up. Pacing is problematic in the new series. The action often feels overdrawn; there is a sense that not much (or rather not enough) is happening, which wasn't the case with Countryside. A further hindrance is that all episodes are timed to exactly 8:00, which leaves no room for improvisation during filming. In 2003-04, the episodes were timed to 7:00. The slowing down might also be connected to the target audience: as promotional leaflets say, the new series is marketed to children aged 3-8.
 | |
| Mensdorff-Pouilly working on a yet unreleased episode (volskrant.nl) |
"I did not want to spend the next 15 years animating 30-odd episodes with one animator", Beneš said in an interview, referring to the 2011-15 episodes, where Jan Smrčka worked as the sole animator. Now, seven animators, two Czech and five Chinese, get to do the work. Without much guessing, I can say that Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly animated this episode in its entirety. His handprint is all over it: the fluid, but unique way the characters move (notice their wobbly walk cycle), and Mat's appearance cannot be missed. However, I noticed a certain stiffness in some scenes of the episode, which is probably a result of the fast production schedule. The stiffness can especially be noticed in episodes animated in an unnamed Chinese studio, where young animators work to get these episodes out faster. I've tried to find out the name of the studio, but it has never been mentioned in any interview. Googling the Chinese names listed in the credits also doesn't turn up any results. Beneš criticized the studio in this 2019 interview, saying they finished the episodes later than Patmat film was originally told. These delays meant the studio had to ask for an extension of their 2-year deal with Czech Television. Yet another evidence of a the production being quite hectic is that post-production mistakes occur here and there: look at this scene from the episode, where part of the frame is left unused.
Countryside, the series preceding these three new series, had a much more nostalgic atmosphere and was overall more enjoyable. An important factor in that was also Petr Skoumal's music. Skoumal sadly passed away in 2014 and the last four Countryside episodes had to be completed with music he composed for previous episodes. The new composer is Zdeněk Zdeněk, who possesses years of experience in composing animated series. Skoumal's shoes are very tough to fill after 90 episodes and Zdeněk was only partially successful - I was often annoyed with his music in the first series as I thought there was a certain overload in that department. He improved during the winter series, but there is one major objection I have regardinv his scores - not counting titles, he has never utilized the Pat & Mat theme in any way. As Skoumal used it in practically every 2000s episode, this is a step away from tradition. Older viewers would be pleased to hear the old theme here and there.
 |
| Marek Beneš, Zdeněk Zdeněk (patmat.cz) |
One of the reasons older viewers still tune into Pat & Mat is that they are given a nostalgia trip, something which, I believe, they can't quite get from these episodes. Before writing this post, I talked with some older viewers and consulted Czech reviews; most of them say that a certain magic and charm of the series has been lost. To paraphrase an old title, you could hear them say: ... and that's not it!
 |
| our heroes |
Maybe that's a bit too harsh. The new episodes still remain a unique programme. They are surely interesting to children audiences even though they won't be an older fan's cup of tea. No matter what, it is still Pat & Mat. This blog will therefore continue to keep track of new episodes as they start to appear in the future. Patmat film is currently preparing production of further new episodes, which will start next year.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the newest episodes in the comments below.
It is known that no one will beat the genius of Lubomir Beneš, even his son. However, I love watching new episodes, especially as good as the Car Wash episode.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the reason might be that the times have changed. The studio has to play it safe and simple, so that the cartoons can be presented towards younger audiences. Cartoons using slapstic humor and fast paced movement have became unpopular with modern younger audiences. The shows now are in my opinion very simple, cartoony, sometimes even dumb and very colorful, that they attract younger children. Most of them are made in digital 2D due to price being very cheap. But still, we can be happy that this show, Pat & Mat, Ajeto, The neighbors whatever you call it didn't take that route by still using original ways of animating and being entertaining and learning us many new ways how to solve everyday probles on a fun level. It totaly depends on how each person sees it (Many prefer the older look, slapstick, which was present in the 70s - early 90s...). The biggest factor that play on how the person sees the show is nostalgia. Some might love the very first episodes, for example I adore those six episodes made from 1989 to 1990, some love the 2000s series better. It depends what you watched in your younger ages and now, when they watch the new season they feel that something is missing beacuse they remember that that thing was present in their childhood when they watched their preferred episodes or series.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion on this?
I still enjoy Pat and Mat just as I did in my childhood. It might not be as entertaining as my favourite episodes (Like klič, Strecha, Generalni Uklid... which I could literally watch on loop for hours), but they surely give me a lot of laughs and some memorable moments to remember. (I am sorry for being sooooooo long, It took 5 rewrites, 4 PC crashes and lasted 6 hours for me to type this) I could realy say ...And that's It!
Yes, I suggested in the post that the too child-friendly attitude was one of my main problems with the new episodes. Of course, I am delighted that the show is still produced the traditional way and the characters haven't been sold out and misused (as is the case with Krtek). I would love to visit the studio one day to see the production as it happens.
DeleteNostalgia plays a big role with viewers who haven't seen the show for a long time, but in the end it all comes down to whether something is entertaining or not. As you have said it yourself, the new episodes aren't generally entertaining enough. If anyone, us long-time fans would know that. Interestingly, I have just watched the old episodes you mentioned (they were on TV) and I agree that they are timeless.
Sorry to hear about your PC troubles, but don't hesitate to write long comments at all, they are welcome!
That's so cool that they are still playing old episodes on TV! Here in the UK I haven't seen any broadcast once, and I think that's a real shame.
DeleteI think Pat & Mat were broadcasted in UK.
DeleteOn English Wikipedia about Lubomír Beneš you can find this "...The animated films made by aiF were also broadcast on BBC One..."
It’s interesting that you mention that you were a bit disappointed that in the newer episodes “...not counting the titles, he [Zdeněk Zdeněk] has never utilized the Pat and Mat theme in any way”. The reasons for this are probably partly financial, and partly creative. In animation series like Pat and Mat, the most lucrative financial returns often come from the music in the form of royalties, which are shared between the composer and the producer and/or publisher of the music. I know Pat and Mat is not specifically for children, but children’s animated series are often shown in many, many countries, and repeated constantly. Every single time an episode plays on a terrestrial broadcaster (as opposed to a video on demand platform), in countries that are party to certain music rights agreements, music royalties are generated for the composer and the producer and/or music publisher. These royalties can add up to very, very significant sums. Patmat film could probably have continued to reuse all the music “cues” that Petr Skoumal created over the years, but a percentage of the royalties (usually 50%) would have continued to go to Skoumal’s estate. The estate would no doubt still receive royalties from the use of Skoumal’s Pat and Mat theme in the newer episodes. It probably made business sense for Patmat film to hire a new composer, and perhaps even negotiate a (possibly) better split of the royalties. From a creative viewpoint, Patmat film may also have preferred to use new music specifically written to the new episodes, rather than using Skoumal’s original themes. Many of these sorts of decisions are a combination of creative and financial. The whole plan to have some of the animation done in China was no doubt to try and bring the series in on a reduced budget or schedule, because Patmat film were probably being offered less money for a new series than before – that’s what usually happens. I can’t imagine that Patmat film would have gone to China for primarily creative reasons. The problem arises if too many decisions are made primarily for financial reasons instead of creative ones. This can mean that newer series of a show can appear to be losing something, and drifting away from their original intention, so causing fans of the earlier series to feel a bit disappointed. Pat and Mat, like all commercial creative endeavours, is a balance between art and commerce, and it’s tricky to get the balance right!
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right with your final point.
DeleteI believe that hiring a new composer was necessary creatively. Patmat film (presumably) only had Skoumal's final nine scores and they used them a bit clunkily in the four 2014-15 episodes after his passing, with cues often not entirely matching up to the action. They had to hire a new musician because constatly repeating the limited amount of cues would have been very noticeable.
Skoumal's music is an interesting topic itself for a future post. To stick to just the main theme, he used its 1979 arrangement up to 1990 and then made some new arrangements in 1992. In 1994, he abandoned using the theme completely. He also used different cues in every of the seven episodes from that year so that one cue was rarely (if ever) repeated. The theme was back in use from 2002 to his death, almost always in a brand new arrangement. I do wonder whether Skoumal's 1979-85 music exists anywhere as I would love to hear it in good quality and without the sound effects.
As for China, Beneš said in interviews that they outscorced some of the animation to China to get the episodes completed faster. No doubt the 2-year deal with Czech Television was one of the main motives for that move. He also stated that there were not enough animators in Czechia to do the animation job for the studio.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5s4GHT5ky6ITAyrzqD7QWAjeZnvd4Z2I
Delete-Skoumal's music from "Se vraceji"
a clip from palačinky was released on itunes czechia: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fcz%2Fmovie%2Fpat-a-mat-kutilsk%25C3%25A9-trampoty%2Fid1501840349%3Fl%3Dcs&event=video_description&v=xxfreRv7zS4&redir_token=8XjHltZ4SGjnBCSD_ev07eqjfth8MTU4NTk0OTIwNkAxNTg1ODYyODA2
ReplyDeleteNow the PatMat Studio has confirmed the title of the new season, Pat a Mat kutí in English, called Pat & Mat Adventures.
ReplyDeleteThis is where Dutch-dubbed new episodes are being released every workday: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Ft-bfeuQX-H0O6x4yjYzK-KOUvcnsTE
ReplyDeleteThe official Pat & Mat channel has been recently uploading episodes from Pat & Mat - DIY Troubles (I believe that is the official name), and I must say that they aren't as good as the Winter series and the Entertain Us (Pat a Mat nás baví) series, and definitely not the Countryside series.
ReplyDeleteThe action in these episodes restricted, not the usual sort of creative experimentation previous incarnations of the show gave us. I think the worst offender is Nábytek/Furniture--barely anything happens that furthers the plot! Some funny action with breakfast and them removing the old furniture is good, but then all they do is mess with some boards for a minute or two before ordering some more furniture.
Yes, it has, but the videos are country-blocked. You can see them in the US, but most of Europe can't (not officially, of course). I would both disagree and agree with you. On the whole, so far I think I like the season the best of the three. Not all episodes are out yet, though. There are some duds (like Nábytek, definitely - and I didn't enjoy Phototrap at all), but Popcorn is, in my opinion, the funniest 2018-20 episode, while I also adore Tube Post. I am preparing a mini review with a paragraph or two about each episode - and special posts about Popcorn and the animation in Tube Post. One of the reasons I like this season is a lot of Czech animation (six episodes in total if Pizza and Garage Door were fully done there). The downside is that the Chinese animation has gone downhill in 2020 episodes. I watched Ice Production today and I couldn't believe what they got away with in a few scenes. I guess it was always going to be a pro-and-con affair with these episodes.
DeleteTube Post and Popcorn are pretty good admittedly! Also liked the Flying Machine.
DeleteI guess I should have stated that the series wasn't bad persay, but perhaps underwhelming. There is still some fun to be had, though, all things considered!
Also I agree with Ice Production, it looked kinda off. The part with the hose filling up the newly placed pool looked iffy for sure.
Interestingly, Flying Machine was a disappointment to me. The more it went on, the less I was satisfied with it. Yes, underwhelming is a good description for several episodes that I already have written down for a couple. I would say that, to my liking, there are more extremes this season - more episodes I like and those I don't, which I find better than all averages.
DeleteRe Ice, that's not the scene I was most baffled by, actually. More on that when I finally get to type my reflections.
may i ask what are your opinions on the episode "pizza"?
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought it was okay, good. To me, it wasn't one of the best episodes of the series, but it had some entertaining moments.
Delete