Season 3 • Episode 7
LatestPan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a stroller, with an umbrella and a white carnation in the lapel. Foremost, he was famous for his magic bowler hat. By tapping on his hat, Pan Tau was able to change his appearance into a puppet, to conjure up miscellaneous objects or to do other magic. His most characteristically behavior is that he would help children who were experiencing some sort of difficulties in-between their dreams and reality, like finding a place for skiing, settling family problems on Christmas, and even give a boy a good time at a fair when he is supposed to have piano lessons. To adults, he usually remained invisible.
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI magic tricks that feel more special for being handmade.
Costume
That stroller and white carnation — iconic understated perfection.
Direction
Polák treats childhood wonder with total seriousness, zero condescension.
Creators
Ota Hofman, Jindřich Polák
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pan Tau was a rare Czechoslovak co-production with West German TV (ARD), smuggling Eastern Bloc creativity through children's programming during the Cold War.
The bowler hat trick was performed live by an actual magician — actor Otto Šimánek learned the basics but professional illusionists handled the complex transformations on set.
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