Zdeňka Pavlina Deitchová (née Hrachovcová, formerly Najnamová, born May 18, 1928 - died Nov 2025) was a Czech animator and production manager, and the director for the Bratři v triku studio. Deitchová worked on a variety of projects like Krtek and other films. She was married to American animator Gene Deitch until his death in 2020.
Early life Zdeňka Najmanová was born on May 18, 1928, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her father worked for Czechoslovak Railways. In 1935 after her mother died suddenly, she was raised by her father, František Hrachovec, and her older brother, František Hrachovec. In Prague, she attended and graduated from the School of Applied Arts.
Career Deitchová got a job as an animator at the Bratři v triku studio. Eventually, she was promoted to production manager and was put in charge of the studio's international contract work. In this job, she met William Snyder and worked on a variety of his films. Through her work with William Snyder, she met Gene Deitch, who she later married. She then became the director of the studio and worked on a variety of projects like Krtek with Gaia Vitkova as the editor. Deitchová also taught at the Animation Department of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU).
Deitchová died in November 2025, aged 97.
Legacy In 2007 after working in the industry for over 55 years, she retired. In 2014, Deitchová was interviewed by the nonprofit Post Bellum as part of their Stories of the 20th Century project.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes2002-2007Čarodějné pohádkyProduction managerTelevision series2005Mach a Šebestová na cestáchProduction managerTelevision series2003O KanafáskoviProduction managerTelevision series1993-2003Edudant and FrancimorProduction managerTelevision series1987-2002KrtekProduction managerTelevision Series1991Sedem vymyslených budíkovProduction managerTelevision series1988-1990Štaflík a ŠpagetkaProduction managerTelevision Series1990The Emperor's New ClothesProduction managerShort Film1990The Pigs' WeddingProduction managerShort Film1987In the Night KitchenProduction managerShort Film1986The Great Cheese RobberyProduction managerMovie1985Mr. Pip's KissesProduction managerShort Film1984Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsProduction managerShort Film1983Burt Dow: Deep-Water ManProduction managerShort Film1983Procházka pana PipaProduction managerShort Film1983-1987Rákosníček a jeho rybníkProduction managerTelevision series1982The HatProduction managerShort Film1981Moon ManProduction managerShort Film1980Teeny-Tiny and the Witch WomanProduction managerShort Film1979Smile for AuntieProduction managerShort Film1977Charlie Needs a CloakProduction managerShort Film1977Strega NonaProduction managerShort Film1975Na věčnou památkuProduction managerShort Film1971The Foolish FrogProduction managerShort Film1969The GiantsProduction managerShort Film1962Mouse Into SpaceProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Carmen Get It!Production manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Buddies... Thicker Than WaterProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Sorry SafariProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962AnatoleProduction manager – as S. NaumanShort Film1962Tall in the TrapProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962The Tom and Jerry Cartoon KitProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Dicky MoeProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Calypso CatProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962Landing StriplingProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1962High SteaksProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1961It's Greek to Me-ow!Production manager – uncreditedShort Film1961Down and OutingProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1961MunroProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1961Switchin' KittenProduction manager – uncreditedShort Film1960SunshineProduction manager – as S. NaumanShort Film
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