I've only just learned of the Japanese Karel Zeman collection, available as an 8 disc set or in separate volumes. Can anyone tell me the contents of each individual volume, in particular which one features his early short films.

I unwittingly acquired bootleg DVD-R copies of this set from an eBay seller, and I can tell you that -- based on the quality of these -- the originals must look exemplary. Thanks for bringing this legitimate release to my attention.

My discs came unnumbered, but by checking around on the internet and comparing what I've seen to what's pictured on the covers, I would venture to guess that the shorts are concentrated on Volumes 1, 2 and 6, and possibly 8. The 8th volume may just as well contain the documentary THE MAGIC WORLD OF KAREL ZEMAN, but I suspect it contains some shorts as well.

The Sinbad shorts in Vol. 6 are particularly wonderful, and I was surprised to find out that Zeman's daughter Ludmila has been publishing a series of children's books about Sinbad in recent years, which build upon the stories her father told in these shorts. She writes and illustrates these books, which have much of her father's signature style in them.

Here's a page from CD Japan, which lists the box set along with the individual discs and what's contained on them:

Japanese release Karl Zeman DVDs