Hey. I know, a bit special interest and maybe not the right place for this but i was thinking about animated characters from europe as part of its cultural DNA and then startet to research them for all the countries including where to buy merch (to also support that industry). I will hopefully be able to comlete the list over time but i would be happy about help and feedback. So here is what i got so far:
European animation characters (sometimes with merch) in no particular order:
Finland - Moomins, Angry Birds adaptations: https://shop.moomin.com/collections/all
France - Asterix, TinTin, edit: + les Shadoks, OuiOui, Barbapapas, Yugo https://boutique.asterix.com/de/ https://thetintinshop.uk.com/
Belgium - lucky luke, edit: also TinTin, Spirou & Fantasio, The Smurfs, Marsupilami
Poland - Lolek and Bolek, edit: +Reksio, Koziołek matołek, Plastuś, Miś uszatek
Netherlands - Alfred j. Kwak, nijntje, edit: + Miffy: https://www.dewinkelvannijntje.nl/en/
Czech republic - krtek, edit: + Pat and Mat, Rumcajs: https://czechmovie.com/collections/little-mole-krtek?page=2 https://www.czech-stuff.com/krtek-little-mole/
Spain - Mortadelo and Filemón, Superlópez, Pocoyó, The Telerín Family
Switzerland - globi, pingu, edit: + Titeuf: https://globi.ch/ https://www.pingu-store.jp/ (can’t find a european one)
Portugal - tic tac tales
Italy - calimero, edit: + Corto Maltese, mio mao, La Linea, The Seagul and the Cat/Lucky and Zorbq (La Gabbianella e il Cato), Dylan Dog
Greece - Pandora and Plato
Sweden - Bamse, petterson and findus, the little ghost laban, editv + Lippi Longstocking, Arne Anka
Norway - Elias the little rescue boat, Ella Bella Bingo
Iceland - some lazy town characters
Denmark - Rita & Crocodile, Valiant Prince Ivandoe, edit: + The Child Who Wanted to Be a Bear (Drengen der ville gøre det umulige), John Dillermand
Germany - the mouse, bernd the bread, cptn. Blaubär, edit: + the sandman, Werner, the little Asshole: https://www.logoshirt-shop.de/en/COLLECTION/The-Show-with-the-Mouse/ https://mausundmehr.com/ https://www.spreadshirt.de/shop/bernd+das+brot/
UK - wallace and gromit, paddington bear, danger mouse edit: + postman pat, rupert bear, family ness, bananaman, bob the builder, the hurricanes, thomas the tank engine, captain pugwash, Dennis the Menace (the superior one): https://wallaceandgromitvmf.shop/ https://store.paddington.com/ https://www.truffleshuffle.co.uk/cartoons/dangermouse
Ireland - puffin rock, Kiva can do, edit: + the book of kells, song of the sea, and wolfwalkers
Luxembourg - ?
Malta - ?
Cyprus - ?
Lithuania - ?
Latvia - Flow
Estonia - ?
Slovakia - ?
Slovenia - Medved Bojan
Croatia - Profesor Baltazar, Little Flying Bears (Leteći Medvjedići)
Bulgaria - The Three Fools, The Blue Eyed Moon, The Little Girl, The Cat and the Clock, Anna Blume
Serbia - ?
North macedonia - ?
Montenegro - ?
Bosnia Herzegowina - ?
Albania - Nine Years, Nine Days
Romania - ?
Moldova - The Stairway (Letnistsa)
Austria - ?
Hungary - The rabbit with checkered ears, Frakk, pom pom, Mézga family, Szaffi, King Matthias, Magyar Népmesék, Ludas Matyi
Also nice read: animationineurope.eu
Poland: Rumcajs (actually Czech but still popular here), Miś uszatek, Pszczółka maja (Maya the bee), Koziołek matołek, Plastuś
If you use a VPN to Poland you can probably watch https://vod.tvp.pl/dla-dzieci (see the “retro kraina” section)
I will add some of them. Thanks :)
UK- postman pat, rupert bear, family ness, bananaman, bob the builder, the hurricanes, thomas the tank engine, captain pugwash
Wow. I missed a lot here. Thanks!
It should be noted that in the UK we have the superior Dennis the Menace
I can’t say for certain, but the US one is probably a Christo-fascist.
Allright, thanks :)
Does stop motion count?
John Dillermand from Denmark
Is that guy playing with what I think he’s playing with?
Yes, that’s the gimmick of the entire show basically.
Lol, will definately check that out
Ha this is cool! Please add Pippi Longstocking/Pippi Långstrump to swedish ones :)
I feel Sweden’s Arne Anka shouldn’t be missing…
Did not know about Arne Anka, cool!
🇮🇹Pippi Calzelunghe FTW
🇳🇱Pippi Langkous, as well!
🇫🇮Peppi Pitkätossu! Love this thread, our Pippi has many names :)
Belgium is an exceptionally big country in terms of comics, ranging all ages and a lot of styles
True. Belgium and France really stand out.
Belgium has also Tintin. I would argue its better overall and represents better Belgium than the cowboy.
Tintin is listed under France for some reason. Definitely should be swapped imo because the author was Belgian.
Tintin is fantastic. Lacking comic books, where I am now, I’m giving the 2011 movie a rewatch…
Italy also has Dylan Dog
I will check it out. Thanks :)
The list is missing Pat and Mat for Czechia. Which is a terrible overlook, because that cartoon is hilarious.
For Poland Reksio and probably a lot of others, but that’s not a big deal.
Thanks i will check them out
Croatia: Little Flying Bears (Leteći Medvjedići) which is a combined effort of Croatian and Canadian animators.
Thats cool. Canada is almost europe. Thanks i will check it out
Are you looking for animations only or are comics and childrens’ book characters also welcome?
Belgium - Spirou & Fantasio, The Smurfs
Italy - Corto Maltese
Germany - The Little Sandman (Unsere Sandmännchen)
Sweden - Peter-No-Tail
I think all kinds of art work would be nice but started at animations.
Croatia - Profesor Baltazar (eng. Professor Balthazar)
It aired from 1967 until 1978.
Thanks, i will look it up
Germany also has Werner and das kleine Arschloch.
The Marsupilami should probably be on the list for Belgium too.
Also, not sure if you just want animated ones or comics too but Franka and Yoko Tsuno are some comic book characters of European origin too.
Not really a character focus on these, but the book of kells, song of the sea, and wolfwalkers are Irish made movies, based on Celtic myth, with fantastic animation.
Thats also fine. I will check them out :)
