The Pied Piper

This stop-motion fantasy drama is based on the legend of the Pied Piper. In a medieval town plagued by rats, a mysterious flutist agrees to rid the city of the infestation in exchange for payment. When the greedy townspeople betray him and refuse to pay the promised gold, the piper uses his music to seek revenge on the inhabitants. The production is noted for its dark visual style, which blends medieval art with German Expressionism, and its use of a constructed language. The film took two years to complete, utilizing fourteen wooden puppets and 140 sets.

Directed by Jiří Barta and written by Kamil Pixa, this 1986 co-production between Czechoslovakia and Germany was created by Krátký film Praha and TV 2000. The voice cast features Oldřich Kaiser, Jiří Lábus, Michal Pavlíček, and Vilém Čok. With a runtime of 53 minutes, the film has been well received by viewers, maintaining a 7.8 rating on IMDb based on 2,400 votes and a 7.5 rating on TMDB from 85 votes.