Report Blog Entry
Continuing the series of lesser known/old animated shows I enjoyed as a kid which have largely been lost to the sands of time. This week, we have German animation!
Bibi Bloksberg (1995; Germany)
Adapted from a radio play (1980), the story of a young witch who tries to solve small-town problems using magic, often resulting in a bigger mess than the one she tried to fix. Outside of her mundane life, Bibi often visits the elder witches for apprenticeship, those tended to be my favourite episodes.
Includes a spin-off series named Bibi & Tina, for all you horse girls, as well as a few other sisterly franchises that share the background cast, most notably Benjamin Blumchen. Did you know there was even a manga spin-off?
Letters from Felix (2000; Germany)
Based on a book from 1994, follows the worldwide adventures of a rabbit plushie once lost during his former human family's flight, who now sends letters home from his travels. I read the book, not the cartoon nor the movie series.
Simsala Grimm (1999; Germany & France & Ireland)
An adaptation of tales written by Bothers Grimm, travelled through by a wise lizard and a blue coyote, eager to aid each story's protagonist to find the happy ending. Vaguely medieval rural fantasy and beautiful painted backgrounds!
Honorable mention goes to School for Little Vampires (2006; Germany & Italy), from which I watched a few episodes some years ago upon recommendation, but didn't find the time to refresh for this blog entry.
Have you watched/heard of any of these gems? Do you treasure any other German/adjacent cartoons from your childhood?
Comments
Displaying 1 of 1 comments ( View all | Add Comment )
forestmoth
i watched all of these when i was a kid! my favorite was simsala grimm, even though it did spook me a little occasionally!
Curious, I don't remember it as particularly spooky, though some episodes definitely felt dramatic to young me!
Were there any other German cartoons you liked? I'd love recommendations :3
by Lime; ; Report
wickie and yakari (even though it's definitely outdated…)! of course, we also had a lot of shows that were translated like zoés zauberschrank (original was chloes closet) as well as pettersson and findus and obviously, the moomins! i also loved little amadeus, hexe lilli and das sandmännchen (the sandman? sounds kinda scary in english lol). jonalu is one for really young kids but i was a huge fan lmao. but my strongest recommendation is definitely wickie or yakari.
by forestmoth; ; Report
I loved Yakari!! It's actually French & Belgian, though I didn't want to include it in the French volume without a rewatch since... yeah, couldn't say how outdated it was despite being very wholesome. I also watched Lilly the Witch and the Moomins!
The others I've only heard of, but looking them up, they all look adorable!! Petterson and Findus have the loveliest theme song, love the watercolour backgrounds and the serenity in the slice of life episodes <3 And oh am I fond of stopmotion cartoons, might watch and cover das sandmännchen in the later animation travel blog that's been brewing~
by Lime; ; Report
oohh i didn't know yakari was french and belgian!!
and yup, petterson and findus is such a comfort show :)
by forestmoth; ; Report