Ludwig (cartoon)
Encyclopedia
Ludwig was a surreal 1977 British-made children's cartoon animation
about a magical egg-shaped gemstone
who lived in a forest
. Twenty-five 5-minute episodes were made.
The programme was produced by father and son team, Mirek and Peter Lang. Peter went on to animate Pigeon Street
. Mirek and Peter wrote the stories with Jane Tann and Susan Kodicek. The scripts were edited by Michael Cole. Peter did the artwork.The music was arranged and played by Paul Reade. Jon Glover provided the voice of the birdwatcher. Mirek and Peter shared the animation, with Mirek doing about 80%.
Peter writes:
"In the late seventies I made the series, Ludwig, for the BBC with my father, Mirek Lang. It was shown in the highly prized afternoon pre-news slot a number of times and those who still remember it seem to recall it with a befuddled fondness. It also did quite well abroad. I wrote and illustrated the "Ludwig 1979 Annual", SBN 7235 0476 8 and designed 4 x jigsaw puzzles for Ravensburger. An excellent soundtrack album, played and arranged by Paul Reade and friends was released."
"The series was shot on 16mm film, on a wind up Bolex camera in a spare bedroom in our flat in Buckland Crescent, Swiss Cottage, London NW3.
The quality of the prints was never very satisfactory but recently, I came across a company, Westpoint TV, who restore film at a relatively reasonable cost and had the series digitised. I felt I owed it to my late father, Mirek died 16/12/2005, to keep it from deteriorating even further.
I don't think I've watched the programmes since making them, but while I was archiving them I did, and was surprised at how fresh, funny and watchable they are."
"Before coming to England in 1968 my father worked in Newsreel and then in Czech Television, writing and directing current affairs programmes. What is interesting about Ludwig is that it is just that - an animated "fly on the wall" documentary.
Ludwig, a mysterious mischievous being with a love of classical music contrives situations for the animal inhabitants of the wood, sees how they handle them and ultimately sorts out the mess he caused."
"I am now toying with the idea of a sequel."
The character's name came from Ludwig van Beethoven
, whose music he played in the background of each episode. 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. At the end of every episode Ludwig played the final movement of Beethoven's first symphony through the credits.
In the USA, Ludwig was one of the cartoons featured in Captain Kangaroo
.
In 2011 Charlie Brooker
showed a short spoof of Ludwig, called Orlov, in the first part of his series How TV Ruined Your Life
.
Thirteen Ludwig episodes have been released on a stand-alone VHS video.
All 25 episodes are now available to buy via download at iludwig.co.uk - they are remastered for quality.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
about a magical egg-shaped gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
who lived in a forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
. Twenty-five 5-minute episodes were made.
The programme was produced by father and son team, Mirek and Peter Lang. Peter went on to animate Pigeon Street
Pigeon Street
Pigeon Street was an animated children's television series originally shown on the BBC in 1981 as part of its 'See-saw' strand for pre-schoolers. There were two series with eight and five episodes respectively, each programme lasting fifteen minutes...
. Mirek and Peter wrote the stories with Jane Tann and Susan Kodicek. The scripts were edited by Michael Cole. Peter did the artwork.The music was arranged and played by Paul Reade. Jon Glover provided the voice of the birdwatcher. Mirek and Peter shared the animation, with Mirek doing about 80%.
Peter writes:
"In the late seventies I made the series, Ludwig, for the BBC with my father, Mirek Lang. It was shown in the highly prized afternoon pre-news slot a number of times and those who still remember it seem to recall it with a befuddled fondness. It also did quite well abroad. I wrote and illustrated the "Ludwig 1979 Annual", SBN 7235 0476 8 and designed 4 x jigsaw puzzles for Ravensburger. An excellent soundtrack album, played and arranged by Paul Reade and friends was released."
"The series was shot on 16mm film, on a wind up Bolex camera in a spare bedroom in our flat in Buckland Crescent, Swiss Cottage, London NW3.
The quality of the prints was never very satisfactory but recently, I came across a company, Westpoint TV, who restore film at a relatively reasonable cost and had the series digitised. I felt I owed it to my late father, Mirek died 16/12/2005, to keep it from deteriorating even further.
I don't think I've watched the programmes since making them, but while I was archiving them I did, and was surprised at how fresh, funny and watchable they are."
"Before coming to England in 1968 my father worked in Newsreel and then in Czech Television, writing and directing current affairs programmes. What is interesting about Ludwig is that it is just that - an animated "fly on the wall" documentary.
Ludwig, a mysterious mischievous being with a love of classical music contrives situations for the animal inhabitants of the wood, sees how they handle them and ultimately sorts out the mess he caused."
"I am now toying with the idea of a sequel."
The character's name came from Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, whose music he played in the background of each episode. 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
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
rotor blade when he needed to get somewhere fast. He was constantly watched by a human birdwatcher (voiced by Jon Glover
Jon Glover
Jon Glover is a British actor. He has appeared in various television programmes including Play School, Survivors, the Management consultant in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Casualty, Bodger and Badger and Peak Practice....
) who had a deerstalker
Deerstalker
A deerstalker is a type of hat that is typically worn in rural areas, often for hunting, especially deer stalking. Because of the hat's popular association with Sherlock Holmes, it is also a stereotypical hat of a detective.-Construction:...
and large binoculars
Binoculars
Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
. This character was both the viewer's point-of-view and narrator, as no other character talked. At the end of every episode Ludwig played the final movement of Beethoven's first symphony through the credits.
In the USA, Ludwig was one of the cartoons featured in Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
.
In 2011 Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
showed a short spoof of Ludwig, called Orlov, in the first part of his series How TV Ruined Your Life
How TV Ruined Your Life
How TV Ruined Your Life is a six-episode BBC Two television series written and presented by Charlie Brooker. Charlie Brooker, whose earlier TV-related programmes include How to Watch Television, Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe and You Have Been Watching, examines how the medium has bent reality to fit...
.
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.
Thirteen Ludwig episodes have been released on a stand-alone VHS video.
All 25 episodes are now available to buy via download at iludwig.co.uk - they are remastered for quality.
External links
- Little Gems - Ludwig
- Toonhound - Ludwig(1977)
- Facebook fan page
- 'iLudwig Website download all 25 Cartoons at - http://www.iLudwig.co.uk