Elpidio Valdés is a 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, 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 slaves joined, and some landowners to form the 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. Plot 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. Reach 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. Characters The following characters accompany Elpidio in his adventures. Maria Silvia, his girlfriend and (later) wife. Palmiche, his horse several shades of brown and orange. Commander Marcial, his assistant. He died in combat in 1898. General Resóplez, their greatest enemy. Colonel Andaluz, Resoplez assistant. Colonel Cetáceo, Resóplez nephew. Pepito, child soldier mambí. Eutelia, girl and assistant Maria Silvia. Mister Chains, American landowner. Media Cara, captain of the counterinsurgency. Oliverio, inventor of the troops. General Pérez, head of Elpidio. Cortico, Media Cara counterguerrilla. Production 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 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