ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

The Kite: Animated Short Explains Death to Children

other · 2026-04-27

Slovak director Martin Smatana's 2019 animated short film 'The Kite' uses the metaphor of a kite to help children understand death. The film, now available online, follows a grandfather and his grandson in a garden as seasons change and the grandfather's body becomes frail like a kite flying away. Produced by Peter Badač, the film has won over sixty international awards. It addresses the difficult topic of loss with sensitivity and poeticism.

Key facts

  • Martin Smatana is the director of 'The Kite'
  • The film was released in 2019
  • The film is now available online
  • The film uses a kite as a metaphor for death
  • The story features a grandfather and his grandson
  • The setting is a garden with fruit trees and wind
  • The grandfather's body becomes frail like a kite
  • The film has won over sixty awards globally

Entities

Artists

  • Martin Smatana

Institutions

  • Artribune

Locations

  • Slovakia

Sources