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| Die Sendung mit der Maus | |
|---|---|
| Show name | Die Sendung mit der Maus |
| Genre | Children's television, Educational |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Company | WDR |
| Network | ARD, WDR |
| First aired | 1971 |
Die Sendung mit der Maus Die Sendung mit der Maus is a German children's television series featuring short animated sequences and explanatory documentaries. It premiered in 1971 and combines comedy, animation, and factual reporting aimed at preschool and school-age audiences. The program has been produced by broadcasters affiliated with Westdeutscher Rundfunk, distributed via ARD, and referenced in discussions involving ZDF, BBC, Sesame Workshop, NHK, Canal+, and Rai. It has influenced public broadcasting policy debates in Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Munich, and Hamburg.
The series was conceived amid programming reforms associated with Westdeutscher Rundfunk initiatives and collaborative efforts involving producers from ARD affiliates, with creative input from figures linked to German television in the early 1970s. Early production involved staff connected to WDR, SWR, and personnel who had worked on projects related to Kinderfernsehen and public service broadcasting in North Rhine-Westphalia. The program's launch coincided with broader cultural shifts after events like the 1968 protests in Germany and the reorganization of media law in Bonn. Over decades the show intersected with milestones such as negotiations with ZDF affiliates, anniversaries observed by municipal authorities in Cologne and visits by representatives from institutions like the Bundestag and European Parliament.
Each episode interleaves animated shorts with documentary reports produced by teams who have previously collaborated with entities such as Westdeutscher Rundfunk, NDR, MDR, and international partners like BBC and NHK World. Segments often explain processes linked to businesses and institutions in Dortmund, Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main, and Leipzig, using a didactic approach similar to productions by Sesame Workshop and series shown on PBS. The structure includes recurring cartoons alongside one-off features, musical interludes, and live-action demonstrations referencing companies and sites such as Volkswagen, BASF, Deutsche Bahn, Siemens, and museums in Berlin and Munich. Episodes adopt narrative devices reminiscent of animated works associated with studios in Hamburg and cinematic traditions traced to festivals like the Berlinale.
Iconic animated characters coexist with presenters drawn from regional media networks including alumni of WDR, NDR, and SWR. The program's animation style echoes lineage from European creators involved in festivals at Annecy and institutions like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospectives. Presenters and contributors have come from backgrounds connected to German television presenters who also appear on channels such as ZDF, RTL, and public events at venues like Deutsche Oper and cultural institutions in Cologne Cathedral precincts. Guest appearances have included figures associated with organizations like the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Max Planck Society, and universities in Heidelberg and Tübingen.
Production is headquartered at facilities of Westdeutscher Rundfunk in Cologne, with recording and post-production drawing on technical collaborations with studios that serviced projects for ARD, ZDF, and international co-productions for festivals in Venice, Cannes, and Locarno. Broadcast scheduling is coordinated among regional networks under the umbrella of ARD and syndicated via partners including cable platforms operating in Berlin and satellite links serving audiences in Austria and Switzerland. The program's archival management interfaces with institutions like the German National Library and broadcasting archives in München to preserve film elements and documentation.
The series has been the subject of critical appraisal in outlets referencing awards bestowed by institutions such as the Grimme-Preis, Deutscher Fernsehpreis, Bambi Awards, and recognitions from cultural bodies in Cologne and Bonn. Academic commentary from scholars affiliated with Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, and University of Cologne has examined its pedagogical effects in relation to programming from BBC and PBS. Public honors have included commendations from municipal governments in Cologne and appearances at exhibitions hosted by the German Historical Museum and cultural festivals like the Documenta.
The brand expanded into books, audio recordings, and home media distributed by publishers linked to networks operating in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Licensed products have been sold through retailers and outlets associated with firms based in Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf. Adaptations include stage productions performed at venues such as the Cologne Philharmonic, touring exhibitions co-curated with museums in Munich and Hamburg, and educational materials used by institutions like the Goethe-Institut and schools in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The program is cited in analyses by cultural institutions including the Deutsches Filminstitut, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, and media studies departments at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Leipzig University for shaping generations of viewers alongside series from BBC and Sesame Street. Commemorative events have involved partnerships with civic bodies in Cologne and retrospective screenings at festivals such as the Berlinale and exhibitions at the Museum Ludwig. Its characters and motifs appear in public art projects, academic curricula, and media policy discussions in forums convened by European Broadcasting Union and national bodies in Berlin.
Category:German children's television series Category:Westdeutscher Rundfunk productions