Elpidio Valdés

Elpidio Valdés is a Cuban cartoon character and comic, who starred in a number of features, shorts and strips of the same name. He was created in 1970 by cartoonist and Cuban filmmaker Juan Padrón,^[1] 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.

Elpidio Valdes is 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.

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.

The following characters accompany Elpidio in his adventures.

his girlfriend and (later) wife.

his horse several shades of brown and orange.

his assistant. He died in combat in 1898.

their greatest enemy.

Resoplez assistant.

Resóplez nephew.

child soldier mambí.

girl and assistant Maria Silvia.

American landowner.

captain of the counterinsurgency.

inventor of the troops.

head of Elpidio.

Cara counterguerrilla.

The creator, writer and senior editor of the series is Juan Padrón. They have 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 about the music of Lucas de la Guardia. The theme of the second film and the second and third series of short films is 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.

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 accounts for the efforts of Cuba to carry a cargo of arms from the United States. It takes place between 1896 and 1897.

The adventures of Elpidio during the American intervention in the War of Independence. This film is formatted between fiction and documentary animation.

Extended version of Elpidio valdes contra el aguilla y el leon into 5 chapters.

The 1970s was the rising fame of Elpidio Valdes. the first film, Contra el tren militar, got massive popularity, leading Juan Padrón to make new films throughout the decade.

Elpidio valdes Contra el tren militar is the first film in the Elpidio valdes film series. it was first introduced to cinemas in 1974. the film is about Elpidio valdes' adventures.^[2]

The comic strip appeared in 1970 in the Pionero magazine. since 1980, it was published monthly in the magazine Zunzún.