Children’s program: The blue eminence in the shadow of the mouse: The elephant turns 50

The story begins with an overestimation of oneself, perhaps also with arrogance and arrogance. Definitely with a cheek. The year 1975 had just begun when an unknown character appeared on the “Sendung mit der Maus”: a little elephant. With a sign he de facto announces to the mouse that he is taking over his job: “The show with the elephant” can be read on it. Pretty bold for its modest size – and pretty unsuccessful. Because the mouse is not just a mouse, but also the top dog. She trims the intruder and keeps her show.

What started out as a relatively controversial affair has now become one of the most famous friendships on television. The elephant didn’t get its own show – initially – but it became an integral part of the “Sendung mit der Maus”. He can be congratulated these days: his first appearance, which Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) dates to January 5, 1975, was exactly half a century ago. The elephant is 50 years old.

The Blue Tröter is something like the most famous second-born of German children’s television. A kind of Prince Harry, only completely scandal-free. Because even if a relationship can be ruled out biologically, the relationship between the elephant and the mouse is similar to that of a little brother and a big sister. The elephant is more playful, more clumsy, more intuitive. The mouse is more planned, more thoughtful and sometimes a bit more nerdy.

The mouse was missing a friend

The elephant was invented by the famous mouse animator Friedrich Streich (1934-2014). He is said to have drawn it for the first time in July 1974. The idea had previously come up on WDR to develop a “playmate” for the mouse, which had been on the air since 1971.

“The mouse had to keep itself busy for four years,” says elephant expert and WDR editor Heike Sistig. “She had many wonderful adventures, but it was also a bit sad at times because she lacked a friend to play with and interact with.”

In one spot – as the short cartoons in the show are called – the mouse, for example, split itself into two halves using a zipper so that it could rock on a seesaw. We know the phenomenon: those who are alone for a long time sometimes become strange.

Friedrich Streich deliberately chose the color blue for his new creation. It is the complementary color to orange – the color of the mouse. “It should be something opposite. The mouse’s new friend should be a completely different character, also aesthetically,” says expert Sistig.

“Things happen to him”

The mouse is essentially a primary school child, says the WDR editor, who started as an intern at “Sendung mit der Maus” in 1988. She thinks and comes to solutions through her knowledge. She can get a ball out of a glass by filling it with water until the ball floats to the top.

The elephant, on the other hand, is clearly a daycare child, says Sistig. “Things happen to him.” He is very social, very lovable, very naive and open. “He goes through the world unbiased,” she says. A certain down-to-earth attitude is also part of his character.

At times, Friedrich Streich let the trunk bearer walk upright on two legs. “But that was changed again because the elephant is much more grounded on four feet,” says Sistig.

Not much has changed in these character traits of the mouse buddy over the decades. Only his status was raised slightly. Although there was a lot of crunch when they first got started, the two child stars soon became steadfast friends. The little troublemaker from the beginning has increasingly become a figure on an equal level in the stories. Even if the mouse’s superstar status remains untouched. Nobody stands in the second row as admirably confidently as the elephant.

It wasn’t until 2007 that his dream came true

The WDR noticed in its public mail that the figure was well received. In July 1975, the broadcaster informed the public that the mouse had “accepted” the elephant – which again sounds a bit like royalty. “The loving relationship and mutuality will now be expanded,” the announcement said. According to WDR, there are now 620 spots from “Sendung mit der Maus”. 359 of them are with the elephant.

In 2007, the dream of having her own show finally came true. “The Show with the Elephant” was created, which completely fits his profile. It is aimed at smaller children than the “Show with the Mouse”. Heike Sistig is the responsible editor. To mark the anniversary, WDR is, in addition to a number of other activities, hosting a birthday episode (KiKA, January 3rd, 6:55 a.m.; WDR television, January 4th, 7:35 a.m.; ARD media library from January 2nd).

It wasn’t until 1987 that the mouse and elephant got another friend: a yellow duck. But that’s a completely different story.