Elpidio Valdés is a Cuban comic strip series created in 1970 by cartoonist and Cuban filmmaker Juan Padrón, considered the father of Cuban film animation and director of the first three animated feature films produced by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry.
The series starrs Elpidio Valdes, a mambí colonel fighting for the liberation of their homeland from Spanish colonialism, commanding a squadron of cavalry, and represents the Cuban peasants in the 19th century Army of liberation. He owes his name to Cecilia Valdés, Cuban protagonist of a novel of the 19th century. Elpidio Valdes was intended to strengthen among Cuban children and youth a particular state view of an alleged authentic expression of the characters of the Cuban nationality.
Plot
Elpidio Valdés was born in the 1870s, in a field of battle during the Ten Years' War. He was son of a rebel army officer and a peasant woman. In 1895, he joined the Liberation Army in the beginning of the War of Independence. His father caught in an ambush at the beginning of the war, in which his mother continued to work in exile. He reaches the rank of colonel and survives the end of the war and during the Republic. He married in full battle with his girlfriend Maria Silvia with whom he has a son. The character's story is told in three films.
Characters
Elpidio Valdés The main protagonist of the series.
Colonel Valdés The father of Elpidio Valdés.
Maria Silvia His girlfriend and (later) wife.
Palmiche His horse, of several shades of brown and orange.
Commander Marcia His assistant. He died in combat in 1898.
General Resóplez Elpidio Valdés' greatest enemy.
Colonel Andaluz Resóplez's assistant.
Colonel Cetáceo Resóplez's nephew.
Pepito Child soldier mambí.
Eutelia Girl and the assistant of Maria Silvia.
Mister Chains American landowner.
Media Cara The captain of the counterinsurgency.
Oliverio The inventor of the troops.
General Pérez The head of Elpidio Valdés.
Cortico Media Cara counterguerrilla.
Production
The creator, writer and senior editor of the series is Juan Padrón. Also participated as directors Tulio Raggi, Mario Rivas and Juan Ruiz.
The theme song from the original series, the "Ballad of Elpidio", is composed and performed by Silvio Rodríguez over music of Lucas de la Guardia. The theme of the second film and the second and third series of short films was composed by Daniel Longrés.
Cuban actor Frank Gonzalez voiced Elpidio and several other characters. Other voices were provided by Tony Gonzalez, Manuel Marin, Eddy Vidal, Maria Eugenia Garcia, Irela Bravo, Juan Julio Alfonso, Teresita Rúa and Erdwin Fernández.
Feature films
Elpidio Valdés (1979) Has the birth of Elpidio, his father's death and the beginning of the War of Independence He meets Maria Silvia and becomes a scourge to the Spanish army, the U.S. counter-guerrilla and landowners. It takes place almost entirely in 1895.
Elpidio Valdés contra Dólar y Cañón (1983) Elpidio accounts for the efforts of Cuba to carry a cargo of arms from the United States. It takes place between 1896 and 1897.
Elpidio Valdés contra el águila y el león (1995) The adventures of Elpidio during the American intervention in the War of Independence. This film is formatted between fiction and documentary animation.
Television series
Más se perdió en Cuba (1999) Extended version of Elpidio Valdés contra el águilla y el león into 5 episodes.
Short films
1974 No.FilmRelease date
1975 InstallmentFilmRelease date
1976 No.FilmRelease date
1977 No.FilmRelease date
1978 No.FilmRelease date
1979 No.FilmRelease date
1980 No.FilmRelease date
1988 No.FilmRelease date Elpidio Valdés en campaña de verano (1988) Elpidio Valdés ¡Capturado! (1988) Elpidio Valdés ataca a Jutía Dulce (1988) Elpidio Valdés y el 5to de cazadores (1988)
1989 Elpidio Valdés y Palmiche contra los lanceros (1989) Elpidio Valdés y la abuelita de Weyler (1989)
1991
Elpidio Valdés se casa (1991)
1992
Elpidio Valdés conoce a Fito (1992) Elpidio Valdés y los inventores (1992)
2000
Elpidio Valdés contra el fortín de hierro (2000) Elpidio Valdés se enfrenta a Resóplez (2000)
2002
Pepe descubre la rueda (2002)
2003
Elpidio Valdés ataca Trancalapuerta (2003)
2015
Elpidio Valdés especial (2015)
Print edition The comic strip appeared in 1970 in the Pionero magazine. Since 1980, it was published monthly in the magazine Zunzún.
References
External links