Miki Muster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miki Muster
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Miki Muster, 2008
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| Born |
Nikolaj Muster
22 November 1925 Murska Sobota, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
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| Died | 7 May 2018 (aged 92) Notranje Gorice, Slovenia
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| Nationality | Slovenian |
| Education | Academy of Fine Arts, Ljubljana |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, illustrating, sculpture, animation |
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Notable work
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Zvitorepec (43 editions) |
| Awards | Prešeren Award |
Nikolaj Muster (born November 22, 1925 – died May 7, 2018) was a famous Slovenian artist. He was known as Miki Muster. He was a sculptor, illustrator, cartoonist, and animator. Miki Muster was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first and most important people, in Slovenian comics and animation. He is best known for his comic series with characters Zvitorepec, Trdonja, and Lakotnik. He also made many animated TV commercials.
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About Miki Muster
Miki Muster first became interested in animation when he watched Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He loved the movie! He later studied at the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Ljubljana. There, he earned a degree in sculpture.
Even while he was studying, Miki dreamed of working for Disney studios in the United States. But after World War II, it was very hard for people from Yugoslavia to travel to the US. So, his dream could not come true at that time. After making only a few statues, he decided to focus on drawing instead.
Starting His Comic Career
In 1952, Muster began drawing his famous comic strip called Zvitorepec. This comic appeared in magazines like Poletove podobe in povesti (PPP) and Tedenska tribuna. PPP was supposed to publish Disney comics. However, when those comics did not arrive on time, Muster stepped in with his own amazing stories.
From 1955 to 1973, he drew for a newspaper called Slovenski poročevalec, which later became Delo. After that, he worked as a freelance artist. This means he worked for himself and was not tied to one company.
Challenges and Success
At the time, the government in Yugoslavia was Communist. They preferred an art style called socialist realism. This style showed workers and everyday life in a very serious way. Anything that seemed too "Western," like American-style comics, was not liked by the government. This made it a bit difficult for Miki Muster.
In 1973, Muster moved to Munich, Germany. He wanted to work more in animation at a company called Bavaria Film. After Slovenia became an independent country, Muster returned home. For a while, he drew funny pictures called caricatures for political magazines.
Awards and Recognition
Miki Muster received many awards for his amazing work. In 2014, he won the Borut Meško Award for his great achievements in illustration and caricature. Also in 2014, the President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, gave him a special silver medal. This was for his pioneering work in comics and animation.
In 2015, he received the Prešeren Award. This is the highest award for arts in Slovenia, given for lifetime achievements. In the same year, he was also given an honorary doctorate from the University of Nova Gorica. This is a special title given by a university to honor someone's achievements.
Miki Muster passed away on May 7, 2018, at the age of 92. He died in a nursing home in Notranje Gorice.
Muster's Creative Works
Miki Muster was most famous for his comic books. They featured three main characters: Zvitorepec, Trdonja, and Lakotnik.
- Zvitorepec was a clever fox.
- Trdonja was a wise turtle.
- Lakotnik was a simple-minded wolf who was always hungry.
These characters were inspired by old Slovenian folk tales.
Adventures of the Trio
In their many adventures, the trio traveled all over the world. They also went through different time periods. Some of their most famous adventures took place in the Wild West, in the future, and even in space!
One space adventure from 1959 caused a small political problem. In the story, the trio met Russian cosmonauts (space travelers) on a trip to the Moon. Muster drew the Russian cosmonauts as bears. The Soviet embassy in Belgrade officially complained about this. To fix the problem, the next comic showed American astronauts as monkeys. This made the Russians happy, and the US didn't mind because the comics weren't published there anyway.
Some of Muster's stories also talked about real-world problems. These included things like increasing pollution and dangerous driving. One story about Lakotnik building his own house even made fun of how construction worked in Yugoslavia in the 1960s.
Some people at the time said Muster's style was "too American" or "too Disney-like." But everyone still agreed he was a very talented artist. His comics were super popular with kids and teenagers. They stayed a favorite in newspapers and book collections for many decades.
Other Illustrations and Animations
Muster also created other comics and illustrations. These included stories about Neewa the Bear, Lupinica, Snežko, and The Last of the Mohicans.
He was also well-known for his animation work. He made many animated TV commercials. Some of his most famous works were the Cikcak bunnies. He also made commercials for Mercator stores, Čunga Lunga chewing gum, and Viki krema.
While he was in Munich, Muster worked with an Argentinian cartoonist named Guillermo Mordillo. Together, they created about 400 short animated films based on Mordillo's characters. Miki Muster also helped animate the adventures of a German private detective named Nick Knatterton.
See also
In Spanish: Miki Muster para niños
