Pat & Mat (Czech and Slovak: Pat a Mat) is a Czech slapstick stop motion silent animated series created by Lubomír Beneš and Vladimír Jiránek. The characters first appeared in the theatrically released short Kuťáci (Tinkers) in 1976, while the first made-for-TV episode "Tapety" ("Wallpaper") was produced for ČST Bratislava three years later.
The main characters of the series are two inventive and comically clumsy handymen named Pat and Mat. As of 2025, 130 episodes of the show have been released, and it has been syndicated in a large number of countries due to its lack of dialogue (except in some markets such as the Dutch version, which is dubbed).
History Names
The original name of the series was Kuťáci (The Tinkers), but when production of episodes started for ČST Bratislava, a Slovak name was required, and the crew eventually settled for ... a je to! (... and it's done!). The characters themselves were nameless until 1989, when they were given the names Pat and Mat. "Pat" and "mat" are the Czech and Slovak terms for stalemate and checkmate respectively, but despite popular belief, this is not where Pat and Mat's names come from; they are shortened forms of Czech expressions "patlal" and "matlal", which can roughly be translated as "clumsy" and "awkward". The authors intentionally gave the characters short and universal names suitable for a worldwide audience.
Premise According to the authors, it is manual ineptitude that inspires the stories. Alongside the humour, another motif of the show is the importance of an optimistic approach towards life. The two characters always get into problematic situations, but they never give up until they solve the problem in imaginative ways. Pat and Mat typically find a solution in the end, usually via a surprising or innovative method, after which they shake hands, before making their trademark hand gesture with a bent hand and closed fist.
Struggles
Although the authors wanted to continue shooting after the initial short, their studio Krátký film did not allow them to do so. The reason given was that Kuťáci were just ordinary entertainment not appropriate for the cultural policy of the time, but as the Slovak Television in Bratislava showed interest in further episodes, twenty-eight episodes were produced for them instead, with great success.
Further productions The characters were revived in 2009 by Beneš for a new series, Pat a Mat na venkově (Pat & Mat in the Country). The pilot, "Postele" ("Beds"), premiered at the 50th Zlín Film Festival in 2010. 12 more episodes followed between 2011 and 2015, produced by Patmat Film and filmed in 16:9. Beneš directed and wrote all 13 episodes. Eight of the episodes were released on DVD in 2013 and received their TV premiere on the Dutch channel VPRO on 9 June of the same year, with the rest following soon.
To celebrate the show's 40th anniversary, Gusto Entertainment produced full-length feature film released in cinemas in 2016. The film, Pat a Mat ve filmu (Pat & Mat in a Movie), featured ten of the 2009–2015 episodes with linking segments and was shown in cinemas in several countries, including the Netherlands.
From 2018 until 2020, 39 new episodes divided into three 13-part series were made in Patmat film, co-produced by Czech Television and Netherlands-based JUST Productions, again directed by Beneš. The animation for more than half of these episodes was produced in a Chinese studio to speed up work. New episodes for Pat a Mat na venkově series were announced by Czech Television since 2021.
Unreleased 50th episode After Lubomír Beneš died in 1995, the studio produced a new episode titled Playing Cards (Karty in Czech) and initially planned to make further episodes of this new series, with the possibility of half-hour episodes and a feature film in the future. Unlike the previous silent episodes, the new episode had English voice acting, with David Nykl as the voice of Pat and Peter Alton as the voice of Mat. Due to various circumstances, Playing Cards was never released or distributed in the Czech Republic and most of the world, even though it entered competition at Annecy in 1999.
Although the episode was pulled from distribution, a screenshot from it was posted on aiF Studio's website. The former Prague management later set up a new studio at the same location, Animation People, and posted more screenshots on their website, which were eventually replaced with a short, silent clip of the episode. In 2025 the episode was finally uploaded on the official Pat a Mat YouTube channel.
Production years Nr. Episode(s) Production year 1 1 (1) 1976 2 2–29 (28) 1979, 1981–1985 3 30–35 (6) 1989–1990 4 36–49 (14) 1992, 1994 5 50 (1, unreleased until 2025) 1997–1998 6 51–78 (28) 2002–2004 7 79–91 (13) 2009, 2011–2015 8 92–104 (13) 2018 9 105–117 (13) 2018–2019 10 118–130 (13) 2019–2020
List of episodes +N°Year of productionEnglish titleCzech title(Slovak in 1979–1985)Episode director Kuťáci (Tinkers)produced in the Barrandov animation studios (Krátký Film), Prague 1 1976 Tinkers Kuťáci Lubomír Beneš ... a je to!produced in the Barrandov animation studios (Krátký Film), Prague for Czechoslovak Television, Bratislava 2 1979 Tapestry (Wallpaper) Tapety Lubomír Beneš 3 1979 Workshop Dielňa 4 1979 Carpet Koberec 5 1979 Rocking Chair Hojdacie kreslo 61979 Picture Obraz 7 1979 Garage Garáž 8 1979 Light (The Light) Svetlo 9 1981 Record Player (Gramophone) Gramofón 10 1981 Grill Grill 11 1982 Removal (Moving Day) Sťahovanie 12 1982 Water Voda 13 1982 Garden Záhradka 14 1982 Painting Job Maľovanie 15 1982 Jumpers Skokani 16 1982 Crossword (Crossword Puzzle) Krížovka 17 1983 Bird Feeder (Birdhouse) Búdka 18 1983 Big Laundry (Laundry Day) Veľké pranie 19 1983 Gym Telocvičňa 20 1983 Breakfast (Breakfast in Grass) Raňajky v tráve 21 1983 Washing Machine Práčka 22 1983 Rain Dážď 23 1984 Excursion (Trip) Výlet 24 1984 Winegrowers (Winemakers) Vinári 25 1984 Skates Korčule 26 1984 Piano Klavír 27 1985 Potters Hrnčiari 28 1985 Defect (Malfunction) Porucha 29 1985 Apple Jablko Pat & Matproduced in the Barrandov animation studios (Krátký Film), Prague 30 1989 Key (The Key) Klíč Lubomír Beneš 31 1989 Furniture Nábytek 32 1990 Mowing Machine (Lawnmower) Sekačka 33 1990 Big Cleanup Generální úklid 34 1990 Roof Střecha 35 1990 Door Dveře Pat & Matproduced in the authors' aiF Studio, Prague 36 1992 Biscuits Sušenky Marek Beneš 37 1992 Garage Door Vrata Lubomír Beneš 38 1992 Cyclists Cyklisti 39 1992 Paving Bricks (Tiles) Dlaždice 40 1992 Parquetry (Parquet) Parkety 41 1992 Gutter Pipe Okap Marek Beneš 42 1992 Convertible Kabriolet Lubomír Beneš 43 1994 Flat Tire (Accident) Nehoda 44 1994 Billiards Kulečník 45 1994 Quickset Hedge (Hedgerow) Živý plot 46 1994 Safe (The Safe) Trezor 47 1994 Mudguard (Fender) Blatník 48 1994 Model Builders Modeláři 49 1994 Windsurfing Windsurfing episode not released for distribution 50 1997–1998 Playing Cards Karty František Váša Pat a Mat, Pat a Mat se vracejí (Pat & Mat Return)(followers, with Marek Beneš or his consent)produced by Ateliery Bonton Zlín 51 2002 Puzzle Puzzle Marek Beneš 52 2003 Roasted Sausages Opékají špekáčky Ladislav Pálka 53 2003 Roof Repair Opravují střechu Ladislav Pálka 54 2003 Black Box Černá bedýnka Vlasta Pospíšilová 55 2003 Furniture on Wheels Kolečka Vlasta Pospíšilová 56 2003 Dog House Psí bouda Milan Šebesta 57 2003 Lacquering the Floor Natírají podlahu Ladislav Pálka 58 2003 The Greenhouse Skleník Marek Beneš 59 2003 The Swing Houpačka Marek Beneš 60 2003 Unwanted Guest Nezvaný návštěvník Marek Beneš 61 2003 Bodyguards Bodygárdi Marek Beneš 62 2003 Painting the Windows Natírají okna Marek Beneš 63 2003 Easter Egg Velikonoční vajíčko Vlasta Pospíšilová 64 2003 Slim Figure Štíhlá linie Vlasta Pospíšilová 65 2003 Vending Machine Automat Marek Beneš 66 2003 Autodrome Autodráha Marek Beneš 67 2003 Aquarium Akvárium Marek Beneš 68 2003 Canning Zavařují Ladislav Pálka 69 2003 Hang Glider Rogalo Ladislav Pálka 70 2003 Christmas Cake Vánočka Milan Šebesta 71 2003 Flu Stůňou Ladislav Pálka 72 2003 Fax Machine Fax Josef Lamka 73 2003 Strawberries Truskawki Vlasta Pospíšilová 74 2004 Playing Golf Hrají golf Ladislav Pálka 75 2004 Bottle Cap Někam to zapadlo Vlasta Pospíšilová 76 2004 Swimming Pool Kopají bazén Marek Beneš 77 2004 Hanging a Painting Věší krajinu Marek Beneš 78 2004 Christmas Tree Vánoční stromeček Marek Beneš Pat a Mat na venkově (Pat & Mat in the Countryside)produced by Patmat film, Prague 79 2009 Beds Postele Marek Beneš 80 2011 Water Supply Vodovod 81 2011 Paper Plates Papírový servis 82 2011 Projector Promítačka 83 2012 Vacuum Cleaner Vysavač 84 2012 The Pool Bazén 85 2012 The Floor Podlaha 86 2013 Deadwood Suchý strom 87 2014 Orange Juice Pomerančová šťáva 88 2014 Bicycle Rotoped 89 2015 Cactus Kaktus 90 2015 Bathroom Tiles Obkladačky 91 2015 Sun Cover Sluneční clona Pat a Mat nás baví (Pat & Mat Entertain Us)produced by Patmat film, Prague 92 2018 Bees Včely Marek Beneš 93 2018 (Solar) Lawnmower Sekačka 94 2018 Mole Krtek 95 2018 Fence Plot 96 2018 Clogged Chimney Ucpaný komín 97 2018 Power Station Elektrárna 98 2018 Rock Garden Skalka 99 2018 Rodeo Rodeo 100 2018 Carousel Kolotoč 101 2018 Dishwasher Myčka 102 2018 Waste Odpad 103 2018 Stairs Schody 104 2018 Camera KameraPat a Mat – Zimní radovánky/Pat a Mat v zimě (Pat & Mat – Winter Fun/Pat & Mat in Winter)produced by Patmat film, Prague 105 2018 Calamity Kalamita Marek Beneš 106 2018 Christmas Lights Vánoční světýlka 107 2018 Sauna Sauna 108 2018 Nativity Scene Betlém 109 2018 Tree Stromeček 110 2018 Gifts Dárky 111 2018 New Year Silvestr 112 2019 Christmas Card Novoroční přání 113 2019 Potato Salad Bramborový salát 114 2019 Carp Kapr 115 2019 Gingerbread House Perníková chaloupka 116 2019 Glazed Frost Ledovka 117 2019 Igloo IglúPat a Mat kutí (Pat & Mat Handymen's Adventures/DIY Troubles)produced by Patmat film, Prague 118 2019 Pancakes Palačinky Marek Beneš 119 2019 Flying Machine Létající stroj 120 2019 Popcorn Popcorn 121 2019 New Kitchen / Furniture Nová kuchyně / Nábytek 122 2019 Car Wash Automyčka 123 2019 Harvest Sklizeň 124 2019 Phototrap Fotopast 125 2020 Ice Making Výroba ledu 126 2020 Tube Post Potrubní pošta 127 2020 Barbecue Barbecue 128 2020 Pizza Pizza 129 2020 Bread Pečou chleba 130 2020 Garage Door Garážová vrata
Feature films Year Czech title English title 2016 Pat a Mat ve filmu Pat & Mat in a Movie 2018 Pat a Mat znovu v akci Pat & Mat in Action Again 2018 Pat a Mat: Zimní radovánky Pat & Mat: Winter Fun 2019 Pat a Mat: Kutilské trampoty Pat & Mat: Handymen's Adventures
Broadcast Fox Kids airings In 2003 Fox Kids Europe bought the rights from Ateliéry Bonton Zlín to air episodes 2–26.
Country TV channel(s) Year(s) Czech Republic ČST, ČT, ČT :D, Fox Kids 1979–1992, 1992–present, 2013–present Slovakia ČST, Jednotka, Dvojka, TV JOJ 1979–1992, 1993–2010, 2016 Netherlands NCRV, VPRO 1982, 1984–present
Home media Shorts from the AIF era were initially unavailable due to copyright issues, but appeared on DVD for the first time in 2007.
Related products At least two books with the series' characters have been published:
A Czech computer development company, Centauri Production released the Pat & Mat mini video game. It was released in Czech language in the Czech Republic on 1 October 2009, and in other EU countries in English in 2010. The English version from Steam was taken down in July 2020.
There is a wide range of Pat & Mat merchandise available, including games, dolls, key rings, office material, posters and T-shirts.
Notes
References
External links
Official website of Lubomír Beneš' aiF Studio Official website of Marek Beneš' Patmat film studio