Ludwig (1977 TV series)

*Ludwig*
Ludwig
	The main Ludwig character
Genre	Animated series
Created by	Mirek and Peter Lang
Starring	Jon Glover (voiceover)
Music by	Ludwig van Beethoven
Opening theme	Symphony No.5/Symphony No.1
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	25
Production
Running time	5 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	1977 –; 1977

Ludwig is a surreal 1977 British-made children's animated television series featuring cutout animation. The TV series is about a magical egg-shaped gemstone who lived in a forest.^[1] 25 five-minute episodes were made.^[2]

Main character

The character's name came from Ludwig van Beethoven, whose music is played in the background. The series consisted of 25 five-minute episodes, in each of which something would happen to the animals of the forest and Ludwig would come to the rescue. His "body" facets would open up and out would pop arms, legs, gadgets or even a helicopter rotor blade when he needed to get somewhere fast. He was constantly watched by a human birdwatcher (voiced by Jon Glover) who had a deerstalker and large binoculars. This character was both the viewer's point of view and narrator, as no other character talked. Many of the musical phrases are the excerpts from Beethoven's famous Septet. At the end of every episode Ludwig played the final movement of Beethoven's first symphony through the credits.

Production

The programme was produced by father and son team, Mirek and Peter Lang. The Langs were immigrants from Czechoslovakia; they left the country in 1968 in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, as Mirek's films criticized the Czechoslovak regime. After unsuccessful attempts to find work in British current affairs broadcasting, Mirek moved into animation work.^[3]

Collaborating with his son Peter, they produced Ludwig, shooting it on 16 mm film on a wind-up Bolex camera. Filming took place in their spare bedroom at their flat in Buckland Crescent, Swiss Cottage in London. The episodes were written by Jane Tann, Susan Kodicek, and Michael Cole. The music was arranged and played by Paul Reade. Jon Glover provided the voice of the birdwatcher. The Langs shared the animation.^{[citation needed]}

Peter went on to animate Pigeon Street.^{[citation needed]}

Title music

The title music and opening theme of Ludwig is just 16 seconds long, and features first, a theme from the symphony No.5, followed by a small section of Beethoven's symphony No.1. It ends with the programme's narrator Jon Glover saying 'Ah, Ludwig' in an interested, well spoken manner.

Broadcast in the United States

In the United States, Ludwig was one of the cartoons featured in Captain Kangaroo.

List of episodes

"Arrival – Ludwig's here to stay"
"Hiccups"
"Hooter"
"Glue"
"Kites"
"Tennis"
"Sculptor"
"Skating"
"Umbrellas"
"Swing"
"Bubbles"
"Clock"
"Ball"
"Coin"
"Yo-Yo"
"Investigation - Research"
"Christmas"
"Home Sweet Home – Architect"
"Balloons"
"High Jump"
"Magician"
"Artist"
"Party"
"Nuts"
"TV - Western."

Parody

In 2011 Charlie Brooker showed a short spoof of Ludwig, called Orlov, in the first part of his series How TV Ruined Your Life.

References

^ Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 149–151. ISBN 1903111277.
^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 177. ISBN 9781476672939.
^ Lesnik-Oberstein, K. (13 June 2011). Children in Culture, Revisited: Further Approaches to Childhood. Springer. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-230-30709-4. Retrieved 18 October 2024.

External links

[1] Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 149–151. ISBN 1903111277.

[2] Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 177. ISBN 9781476672939.

[Oberstein-3] Lesnik-Oberstein, K. (13 June 2011). Children in Culture, Revisited: Further Approaches to Childhood. Springer. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-230-30709-4. Retrieved 18 October 2024.

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