Kjell Aukrust facts for kids
Kjell Aukrust (born March 19, 1920, died December 24, 2002) was a famous Norwegian writer, poet, artist, and humorist. He is best known for his fun "Flåklypa" stories and drawings.
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About Kjell Aukrust's Life
Kjell Aukrust was born in Alvdal, a place in Hedmark, Norway. His father, Lars Olsen Aukrust, was the head of an agricultural school there. Kjell had a famous uncle, Olav Aukrust, who was a poet. His brother, Odd Aukrust, was also well-known as an economist. Kjell married Kari Holter in 1947.
He studied art at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry from 1938 to 1942. In 1939, one of his drawings was shown at a big art show in Oslo called the Autumn Exhibition. Kjell Aukrust wrote three books about his childhood in Alvdal. These books were called Simen, Bonden, and Bror Min. They were published in 1958, 1964, and 1960.
The World of Flåklypa
Kjell Aukrust is most famous for creating a make-believe Norwegian village called Flåklypa. This village was full of funny and unique characters. He first made the Flåklypa world when he was an artist and writer for a magazine called Mannskapsavisa.
Some of his most famous characters are Reodor Felgen, Solan Gundersen, Ludvig, and Emanuel Desperados. His stories in the magazine were like funny newspaper articles. Later, this section was even renamed Flåklypa Tidende, which means "Flåklypa Times".
Flåklypa Grand Prix Film
The Flåklypa stories became the basis for a very popular animated movie. This film, called "Flåklypa Grand Prix", came out in 1975. It was directed by Ivo Caprino and used a special animation style called stop motion. This means objects are moved tiny bits at a time and photographed, making them look like they are moving on their own.
"Flåklypa Grand Prix" was the first full-length animated movie made in Norway. It became a huge success all over the world and was translated into more than seventy languages. In some countries, like Britain, it is known as "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix". The main character, Reodor Felgen, is known in Norway for inventing amazing, often complicated, machines.
Other Flåklypa Movies
Some of the characters from Flåklypa also appeared in another animated movie. This film was called "Solan, Ludvig og Gurin med reverompa" and was released in 1998. It was the first full-length hand-drawn animated movie from Norway. This movie takes place in Oslo and Alvdal. In Britain, it is known as Gurin with the Foxtail.
Huset Aukrust: A Special Center
In 1996, a special center called Aukrustsenteret was opened in Alvdal. It is now known as Huset Aukrust. The building was designed by a famous architect named Sverre Fehn.
At Huset Aukrust, you can see many of Kjell Aukrust's drawings. You can also find models of his imaginative inventions. One of the most exciting things to see is a model of Il Tempo Gigante. This is the amazing car featured in the "Flåklypa Grand Prix" movie.
