Yossi Abulafia
Encyclopedia
Yossi Abulafia is a writer
and illustrator
of children's books, as well as a graphic artist, cartoonist
, director and screenwriter
of animation films.
as graphic artist and cartoonist.
In 1975 Abulafia illustrated the back cover for Kaveret
's third album "Crowded in the Ear" (צפוף באוזן) which was a collage of images illustrating the various songs on the album in the style of the famous Monty Python
illustrations done by Terry Gilliam
.
Towards the mid 1980s Abulafia moved to North America
, where he worked for six years as an animation producer and as a director in both Canada and the United States. During these years Abulafia began to illustrate and write children's books, both for Israelis and for Americans.
In 1990 Abulafia published the children's book "HaKina Nechama" which was written by Meir Shalev
and illustrated by Abulafia. The book, which describes the adventures of a Louse
named Nechama, became very popular and influential in Israel and was adapted to other media numerous times.
In 1999 Abulafia created all the transition animated clips of the 1999 Eurovision song contest held in Israel, which were based on the stories of the Bible
.
To date, Abulafia has illustrated more than 140 books (eight of them were written by him), and is widely known for illustrating the children's books written by Ephraim Sidon
and Meir Shalev
.
Abulafia used to illustrate for the Israeli newspapers "Hadashot
" and "Ma'ariv", and even was the head of the animation department in "Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design", which he established together with Hanan Kaminski.
Abulafia currently resides in Har Adar
, and serves as a senior lecturer in the animation department of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of children's books, as well as a graphic artist, cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, director and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
of animation films.
Biography
Abulafia was born in Tiberias in 1945 in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. At age 17, he was accepted to Israel's national school of art "Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design". He graduated from the school after majoring graphic design for 4 years. After his military service Abulafia began to work in the Israeli Channel 1Channel 1 (Israel)
Channel 1 is one of the oldest television channels in Israel and one of five terrestrial channels in the country...
as graphic artist and cartoonist.
In 1975 Abulafia illustrated the back cover for Kaveret
Kaveret
Kaveret , also known as Poogy , was an Israeli rock band in the mid-1970s that won much fame around the world for their often humorous songs and unique style of music. Their shows included many skits, among which are the Sipurey Poogy...
's third album "Crowded in the Ear" (צפוף באוזן) which was a collage of images illustrating the various songs on the album in the style of the famous Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
illustrations done by Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
.
Towards the mid 1980s Abulafia moved to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, where he worked for six years as an animation producer and as a director in both Canada and the United States. During these years Abulafia began to illustrate and write children's books, both for Israelis and for Americans.
In 1990 Abulafia published the children's book "HaKina Nechama" which was written by Meir Shalev
Meir Shalev
Meir Shalev is an Israeli writer. He is the son of the Jerusalemite poet Yitzchak Shalev. His cousin Zeruya Shalev is also a writer.- Biography :...
and illustrated by Abulafia. The book, which describes the adventures of a Louse
Louse
Lice is the common name for over 3,000 species of wingless insects of the order Phthiraptera; three of which are classified as human disease agents...
named Nechama, became very popular and influential in Israel and was adapted to other media numerous times.
In 1999 Abulafia created all the transition animated clips of the 1999 Eurovision song contest held in Israel, which were based on the stories of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
.
To date, Abulafia has illustrated more than 140 books (eight of them were written by him), and is widely known for illustrating the children's books written by Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon is a renowned Israeli author, playwright and satirist, cherished for both for his satirical work and his children's books.-Biography:...
and Meir Shalev
Meir Shalev
Meir Shalev is an Israeli writer. He is the son of the Jerusalemite poet Yitzchak Shalev. His cousin Zeruya Shalev is also a writer.- Biography :...
.
Abulafia used to illustrate for the Israeli newspapers "Hadashot
Hadashot
Hadashot was a Hebrew-language daily newspaper published in Israel between 1984 and 1993.-History:On 4 March 1984 Haaretz Group CEO Amos Schocken announced that a new daily newspaper, Hadashot was to be launched, with Yossi Klein as editor...
" and "Ma'ariv", and even was the head of the animation department in "Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design", which he established together with Hanan Kaminski.
Abulafia currently resides in Har Adar
Har Adar
-See also:* ....
, and serves as a senior lecturer in the animation department of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.
Notable books illustrated by Yossi Abulafia
- Am I Beautiful? (by Else Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund Minarik is the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which were successful as books, and were also made into a successful children's TV series...
) - Clean House (by Jessie Haas)
- Harry’s Pony (by Barbara Ann Porte)
- It’s Valentine’s Day (by Jack PrelutskyJack PrelutskyJack Prelutsky is an American writer of children's poetry. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Carolynn.-Early life:...
) - My Parents Think I’m Sleeping (by Jack PrelutskyJack PrelutskyJack Prelutsky is an American writer of children's poetry. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Carolynn.-Early life:...
) - Moving Day (by Robert Kalan)
External links
- Yossi Abulafia's Homepage
- Yossi Abulafia on dafdaf.co.il (Hebrew)
- Yossi Abulafia - on the Am OvedAm Oved-History:Am Oved was founded in 1942 by Berl Katznelson, who was its first Editor in Chief.It was created as an organ of the Histadrut, Israel's federation of Labor, with a goal of publishing books that would "meet the spiritual needs of the working public." Its most well-known series is "Sifriyah...
website (Hebrew) - Yossi Abulafia - review on The Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature (English)
- Yossi Abulafia also knows how to tell a story - article published on Nrg Maariv on May 11, 2009 (Hebrew)
- Interview with Yossi Abulafia - article published on Nrg Maariv on May 13, 2009 (Hebrew)
- Review of Yossi Abulafia's books on simania.co.il (Hebrew)