A new Czech animated co-production will reach Prague cinemas this month as The Last Whale Singer (Velrybí píseň) opens nationwide on Feb. 19. The feature-length animated film, produced across Germany, Czechia and Canada, marks the latest internationally backed project to involve Czech animation talent and technical production.
Directed by German filmmaker Reza Memari, the family-oriented fantasy centers on Vincent, a young humpback whale struggling to live up to the legacy of his parents, whose mythical song once protected the oceans. The film combines a coming-of-age narrative with environmental themes, positioning itself within a growing trend of European animated features that address ecological concerns through fantasy storytelling.
Distributed locally by CinemArt, the film arrives following a multi-year production process that brought together studios and artists from several countries, with Czech participation playing a significant role in animation and technical development.
An international animated project with Czech involvement
The Last Whale Singer was produced by Telescope Animation, with Czech co-producer PFX and France’s La Boîte à Fanny joining the international collaboration. The project received support from multiple European and Canadian funding bodies, including the Czech Audiovisual Fund, Creative Europe’s MEDIA program, and Germany’s Federal Film Fund, reflecting the film’s cross-border financing structure.
Czech cinematographer Jaromír Malý served as director of photography, while Czech animator Pavel Hruboš was among the film’s key creative contributors. The production employed more than 300 artists and technicians across participating countries, underscoring the scale of the collaboration and the increasingly international nature of animated film production involving Czech studios.
The filmmakers used Unreal Engine to develop a real-time animation workflow, allowing creative teams to preview scenes without lengthy rendering times. This approach enabled greater flexibility during production, particularly in shaping underwater environments that function as an active visual element rather than a static backdrop.
Visually, the film aims for a balance between realism and stylization, avoiding exaggerated character design in favor of a more naturalistic portrayal of marine life. Light, movement and sound play a central role, with the underwater world treated as a dynamic space shaped by currents, particles and shifting color.
Storytelling, sound and themes of identity
At the center of the film is Vincent, the orphaned son of the last Whale Singer, whose song once safeguarded ocean life. After the emergence of a destructive creature known as the Leviathan, Vincent sets out on a dangerous journey to the depths of the sea, accompanied by Walter, a cautious remora fish, and Darya, a deaf orca. Rather than relying on inherited power, the story follows Vincent’s struggle to find his own voice.
Director Reza Memari has described the project as rooted in the idea of searching for one’s identity, inspired by real-life observations of humpback whale songs. While scientific understanding of whale communication remains limited, the concept provided a foundation for a broader narrative about confidence, responsibility and cooperation.
Sound and music are central to the film’s structure. The score was composed by Icelandic composer Daníel Bjarnason, whose work emphasizes scale and atmosphere while remaining emotionally restrained. Whale songs, developed in collaboration with musician Ásgeir, form an integral part of the storytelling rather than serving as background elements.
The Czech-language version features voice performances by several well-known Czech actors, including Marek Lambora, Tereza Ramba and Richard Genzer. The film is expected to screen in Czech cinemas in a dubbed version, with original English-language screenings potentially coming to select venues.
