Cultural Animation

Myths and Tales of Cyprus

Μύθοι της Κύπρου

Animation Direction and Production

Myths and Tales of Cyprus is a fourteen-episode series combining live action and animation that brings Cypriot myths back into contemporary public conversation.

Commissioned by the Press and Information Office of Cyprus and produced by Thelum, the project revisits figures and legends drawn from Cypriot folklore through a cinematic visual language designed for modern audiences.

Thirteen of the fourteen episodes incorporate original animated sequences directed and produced by one and a half, an animation studio based in Cyprus, integrating illustration, atmospheric environments and character animation within the broader live-action framework.

The episode below presents the story of the Kalikantzaroi, one of the most recognisable figures of Cypriot winter folklore.

RETURNING CYPRIOT MYTHS TO CONTEMPORARY AUDIENCES

Stories that once circulated through oral tradition had gradually grown distant from everyday life.

The series was conceived as a way of reintroducing these narratives to contemporary audiences through a combination of live action and animation. Rather than presenting folklore as distant mythology, the production sought a tone that felt immediate, cinematic and emotionally grounded.

Each episode focuses on a different story from Cypriot folklore, ranging from well-known figures to lesser known local legends.

Animation allows these narratives to move beyond simple illustration, giving visual form to moments that exist primarily in oral storytelling traditions.

Sierolotta iron pig creature chasing a monk across a river in the animated series Myths and Tales of Cyprus

FORMING A VISUAL WORLD FOR CYPRIOT FOLKLORE

The animation development required research into historical and literary sources associated with Cypriot folklore.

Characters, environments and symbolic elements were shaped through a visual language influenced by medieval manuscript illustration, Byzantine visual traditions and local folk aesthetics.

These references were translated into a contemporary 2D animation framework designed to function alongside live action footage.

Each episode required its own atmosphere while maintaining a coherent visual system across the full fourteen-episode series.

Large-scale environments were designed as modular narrative spaces. A single composition could function as an establishing frame and later support reframed or zoomed perspectives within it. This approach allowed layered storytelling while maintaining disciplined production efficiency.

Illustrated dragons emerging from battle smoke clouds in the animated series Myths and Tales of Cyprus

ANIMATION APPROACH

The animated sequences combine character animation, illustrated environments and controlled camera movement to create moments of visual interpretation within the narrative.

Through animation, the narrative space of the series expands, allowing the story to unfold beyond the limits of filmed footage.

They allow the viewer to enter mythical landscapes, encounter legendary figures and experience the emotional tone of the stories in ways that live action alone could not fully convey.

The tone moves between mystery, drama and restrained humour, reflecting the diverse character of the stories themselves.

Cyclops carving stone beside a tent in an animated scene from Myths and Tales of Cyprus

THE SERIES

Myths and Tales of Cyprus unfolds across fourteen short episodes, each revisiting a different figure, legend or historical anecdote drawn from Cypriot folklore. Alongside the live-action narrative, the animated sequences offer a visual interpretation of these stories, bringing mythical characters and moments to life.

Following its release, the episodes were made publicly available through the Press and Information Office of Cyprus YouTube channel, allowing the series to reach audiences beyond its original screenings and broadcast contexts. The full episode list can be explored below.

THE SERIES

01 — The Iron Pig / Η Σιερόλοττα
02 — St. Helena And The True Cross / Η Αγία Ελένη, Ο Τίμιος Σταυρός
03 — Two Rivers / Δύο Ποταμοί
04 — Rocks Of Digenis / Πέτρες Του Διγενή
05 — The Knights' Wine / Το Κρασί Των Ιπποτών
06 — Kalikantzaroi / Καλικάντζαροι
07 — Trees Tell Their Tales / Δέντρα Που Αφηγούνται
08 — Rigena’s Castles / Τα Κάστρα Της Ρήγαινας
09 — Adonia / Αδώνια
10 — Stories Carved In Stone / Ιστορίες Λαξευμένες Στην Πέτρα
11 — Tales Of Salt / Ιστορίες Από Αλάτι
12 — Dragons / Δράκοντες
13 — The Great Flood / Ο Κατακλυσμός
14 — Arodafnousa / Αροδαφνούσα

Characters and creatures from Cypriot folklore featured in the animated series Myths and Tales of Cyprus

EXPANDING BEYOND THE SCREEN

Following its release, the project extended beyond its original broadcast context.

Additional public screenings were organised in Cyprus and in European cultural contexts.

The series later developed into a physical exhibition at Casteliotissa in Nicosia, where new visual material and animation were produced specifically for the space.

Characters and illustrations from the project were further adapted into educational and printed formats including a children’s book, colouring book and promotional material.

Sample photo of printed and educational material and free merchandise produced by the Press and Information Office of Cyprus

myths-and-tales-of-cyprus-printed-material-educational-merchandise.webp

CONTINUING DIRECTION

The series stands as one of the studio’s most visible and culturally resonant works to date, demonstrating how animation can support documentary, exhibition and narrative contexts at scale.

This project forms part of the studio’s broader body of work in narrative, documentary, cultural and public communication contexts.
Explore more projects on our Work page.

Project Credits

Client:
Press and Information Office of Cyprus

Director:
Markos Kassinos

Production:
Thelum.

Research / Writer / Presenter:
Iosif Hadjikyriacos

Animation Credits

Animation Direction:
Yiannis Philiastides

Animation Production:
one and a half

Animation and Illustration
Carlota Mas Campabadal
Artemis Pavlidou
Greg Pilava

 

Opening ceremony of the Myths and Tales of Cyprus exhibition at Casteliotissa Cultural Centre, Nicosia (2026). Video by the Press and Information Office of Cyprus.

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