The Abduction of Balthazar Sponge

The Abduction of Balthazar Sponge (Polish: Porwanie Baltazara Gąbki) is a Polish-language fantasy animated series produced by Studio Filmów Rysunkowych from 1969 to 1970, that was based on 1965 children's book Porwanie Baltazara Gąbki by Stanisław Pagaczewski. The series had 1 season consisting of 13 episodes, each lasting from 6 to 7 minutes. The episodes were directed by Władysław Nehrebecki, Alfred Ledwig, Edward Wątor, Józef Byrdy, Bronisław Zeman, Wacław Wajser, and Stanisław Dülz, while the scrips were written by Zofia Olak and Leszek Mech. The series had a sequel ,Wyprawa profesora Gąbki, that was produced from 1978 to 1980.

Directed by —, The Abduction of Balthazar Sponge leans on a strong ensemble — Wiktor Sadecki, Roman Stankiewicz, Jerzy Nowak — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 1969.