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, W.i.t.c.h., 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, Winx
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
W.I.T.C.H is French and Winx is Italian I believe!
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
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!
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 :)
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!
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 :)
Belgium has also Tintin. I would argue its better overall and represents better Belgium than the cowboy.
Italy also has Dylan Dog
I will check it out. Thanks :)
France: OuiOui, Barbapapas
Netherlands: Miffy
Switzerland: Titeuf
Thanks, added. Will check them out later
For Hungary there is also the Mézga family, Szaffi, the King Matthias series and Magyar Népmesék, also Ludas Matyi
Wow seems like Hungary has a lot to explore
A Mézga család / The Mézga Family is actually three separate series, the original one is about an ordinary 80s Hungarian family with a genius son who invents a time-telephone that they use to talk to their great-great-great-son. They ask him to send things back in time to help with their problems, but they inevitably use them wrong, and chaos ensues.
There are two spinoffs, one which is about the same genius son making an inflatable spaceship and going on adventures in space with the family dog, and one where the whole family goes on a trip around the world.
Szaffi / The Treasure of Swamp Castle is an animated movie set in 18th century Hungary, the story based on a novel The Gypsy Baron. It’s a cute and charming romance story. There is an English dub since it was made as a Canadian collab.
Mesék Mátyás királyról / Tales of King Matthias is a series about King Matthias (1458-1490), revered in Hungary as the “just king”, going incognito in his kingdom and righting wrongs.
Magyar népmesék / Hungarian Folk Tales is another series, with each episode being an adaptation of a Hungarian folk tale. Fun fact, the series does not shy away from animated female full frontal nudity despite being from the 80s.
Ludas Matyi - the title being the name of the protagonist - is the adaptation of a popular story about a young shepherd vowing revenge being caned by the local landlord for insubordination - the landlord stole his geese. He says he will return the favour threefold, and accomplishes his goal with guile, beating up the landlord three times.
Sounds really entertaining. Especially the time telefone :)
Isn’t Xilam french? If that’s the case, there is a lot to add there.
Also for italy there is mio mao,if you count claymation as animation.
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.
Germany also has Werner and das kleine Arschloch.
If you want to include CGI Latvia is going through a Flow-mania after winning the Oscars. I would be surprised if they don’t have merchandise for it already.
Croatia - Profesor Baltazar (eng. Professor Balthazar)
It aired from 1967 until 1978.
Thanks, i will look it up