Czech animator and puppeteer Bretislav Pojar, a two-time Cannes winner known for his short films starring a teddy bear duo, died in Prague at the age of 89, according to a report by AFP.

Pojar, who died October 12, became a household name in the Czech Republic for the "Hey Mister, Let's Play" series he created in the 1960s and 1970s featuring one rather clever bear and his naive sidekick.

Born in the southwestern town of Susice in 1923, Pojar was author of about 70 animated films and recipient of several awards, including two Best Short Film prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2007, he received a crystal globe award for his contributions to world cinema at the Czech Republic's Karlovy Vary international film festival.