On the 28th of November 2007 passed away Donyo Donev, one of the greatest representatives of Bulgarian animated film.
Born in 1929 he graduates from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1954. In 1955 Todor Dinov invites him to work in the new Animated Film Studio in Sofia.
His first steps in the art of animation are as graphic artist in 1956. His director’s debut is in 1961.
The great talent of Donyo Donev blooms in the middle of the sixties when he creates many magnificent films which, together with the works of other important authors, wrote the golden pages of the history of Bulgarian animated film. His masterpiece “The Three Fools”(1970), based on Bulgarian fairy tale, and next films on this subject, belong between the most famous and popular animated works with the spectators in Bulgaria. These three funny personages, exciting so much laughter at the audience, in the same time became a satire of the negative traits of the human nature.
Donyo Donev in his films created his own world full of small and sympathetic characters who walk so quickly on so ridiculous way. He was a perfect draughtsman and director who had the talent to tell interesting, amusing and instructive stories on a very simple way. Many of his films as for example “Shooters”(1967), “Clever Village”(1972), “De Facto”(1973) or “Causa Perduta”(1977) are decorated with many national and international awards.
In 1985 he finished “We Called Them Montagues and Capulets” - one of the first Bulgarian long feature animated films.
Many years Donyo Donev taught in the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts where he was so popular with the students. Under his master’s hand went out hundreds illustrations and caricatures published in many magazines and newspapers, which belong to the very best done in this kind of art. In his leisure he preferred to make exceptional humoristic portraits of his colleagues, to go for a fish or to take a drink with friends.
Last September under the first rays of the autumn sun I met him on the street. He walked after a staying in the hospital. He looked tired but his eyes were full of life and enthusiasm. He told me that he has a project for a new film on which he would like to begin to work in 2008... Unfortunately it will be the only Donyo Donev’s film which we will never see.

Pencho Kunchev
ASIFA Vice-President, ASIFA Bulgaria President