Although intended to avoid politics completely, the original short, "Kuťáci", drew the ire of Communist censors in Prague. The short was also screened abroad, where someone objected that the colours of the shirts, red and yellow, were chosen to make fun of the tense Soviet-Chinese relations, with red representing the USSR and yellow China. The authors were therefore forced to change Mat's shirt from red to a neutral grey until 1989, when the Communist regime collapsed and it was safe to make Mat's shirt red again. Although the authors wanted to continue shooting after the initial short, their studio Krátký film did not allow them to do so. The reason given was that "Kuťáci" were just ordinary entertainment not appropriate for the cultural policy of the time. However, as the Slovak Television in Bratislava showed interest in further episodes, twenty-eight episodes were produced for them instead, with great success. The series returned to Prague in 1989.