Hallo aus Berlin facts for kids

Hallo aus Berlin (which means "Hello from Berlin" in English) is a fun British TV show. It was created by the BBC and the Goethe-Institut. This miniseries helps students learn German in many countries. These include the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. The show has 10 episodes. They first aired on BBC Schools TV starting September 19, 1996.

The series is like a lively magazine. It features real-life stories, interviews, exciting music, and animated parts. It was made for students aged 11 to 14 who are just starting to learn German. The main characters are Marko, Jessica, Daniel, Esther, Thomas, and Miriam. They are young people who share what daily life is like for them in Berlin. Each episode also has a cartoon sketch and a song. These are performed by the animated hosts, Rolli and Rita.

You can watch the episodes online. They are available on YouTube or the BBC website.

Episodes: Learning German with Fun

The show has 10 episodes. Each one focuses on a different topic. This helps you learn new German words and phrases.

Episode 1: "Wir" (Us)

In the first episode, the characters introduce themselves. They talk about what they look like, their height, and their age. Rolli and Rita appear for the first time. Their cartoon sketch is set in a funhouse mirror hall. It teaches German words for colors and parts of the face. Thomas enjoys cycling. Daniel shows his cartoons. Jessica goes shopping. Marko talks about his guinea pig. Miriam introduces her pet dog. Esther is seen doing athletics. Rolli and Rita sing the song 'Hallo aus Berlin'.

Episode 2: "Familie" (Family)

Daniel and his family visit his grandparents. The other characters talk about their brothers, sisters, and pets. People in Berlin are asked about their families. Thomas visits the Berlin Zoo. He talks about the different animals there. The Rolli and Rita sketch shows Rita with a math-solving snake at Rolli's house. The snake gets confused and messes up the room. Rolli and Rita then try to fix broken family photos. Nada, a 17-year-old, talks about living with other young people. He shares his chores and jobs. Rolli and Rita perform the song 'Meine Familie'.

Episode 3: "Zu Hause" (At Home)

Marko describes his house. Miriam has breakfast with her family. She talks about common breakfast foods. People in Berlin are asked about their homes. Rolli shows his morning routine. He forgets to finish his chores before his mother comes home. Marko talks about his clothes and wardrobe. He then leaves for school. The episode also shows different types of houses in Berlin. Jessica and Daniel share their addresses. Homeless people are seen receiving food in a small restaurant. Esther visits Jessica's house. They talk about Take That and listen to CDs. Rolli and Rita sing 'Wo Wohnst Du'.

Episode 4: "In der Stadt" (In the City)

Wolfgang, Jessica's cousin, travels to Berlin by train. He talks to Jessica and her mother on a payphone. Then he takes the U-Bahn (subway). Thomas meets a fellow Star Trek fan at a shop. Wolfgang gets lost and asks for directions. The Rolli and Rita sketch shows Rita giving Rolli confusing directions on a mobile phone. He ends up on top of a building under construction. Thomas and his friend buy food. Daniel, Miriam, Marko, and Esther are asked for directions in Berlin. Wolfgang calls Jessica again, and she comes to meet him. Rolli and Rita perform "Ist eine Post hier?". Thomas, his friend, Jessica, and Wolfgang are seen at a soccer match.

Episode 5: "Essen und Trinken" (Food and Drink)

Thomas goes to a grocery store to buy things for his favorite aunt. Miriam and Jessica plan to go to McDonald's. Thomas and his aunt go to a cafe for ice cream and cake. Rolli and Rita try to cook at home, but it goes wrong when Rita covers the room with whipped cream. A Turkish market is shown, along with traditional Turkish food. Rolli and Rita perform the song "Eis, bitte" (Ice cream, please).

Episode 6: "Schule" (School)

Jessica and Marko talk about their schools. Different lessons are shown. Lunch break activities are seen. Arno gets into trouble at school and has to clean as punishment. An English lesson is also shown. The Rolli and Rita sketch shows Rolli not doing his homework. Rita tries to help him from a computer screen. Students tell Esther, their class representative, that they want less German homework. Esther discusses this with their German teacher. Jessica talks about after-school clubs. A montage of various after-school activities is shown. Rolli and Rita then perform 'Was ist dein Lieblingsfach?' (What is your favorite subject?).

Episode 7: "Freizeit" (Free Time)

Students talk about their weekend plans. Miriam talks about her horse and how she rides and cares for it. Arno is seen sleeping. Daniel, Thomas, and Esther meet in a music shop. Jessica is seen doing ballet. The Rolli and Rita sketch shows them causing mischief in a music shop with expensive instruments. A traditional Turkish festival is shown. The main characters dance in a disco. Rolli and Rita perform "Was machst du am Wochenende?" (What do you do on the weekend?).

Episode 8: "Gesundheit" (Health)

Marko plays volleyball and gets hurt. Esther gets ready for sports. Healthy and unhealthy foods and activities are discussed. Marko sees a doctor for his injury. In the Rolli and Rita sketch, they go bowling, but it doesn't go well. Jessica, Marko, and Esther talk about their favorite sports. Karate lessons are shown. Thomas, Daniel, and Miriam talk about their favorite activities. Children in wheelchairs are seen playing basketball. Rolli and Rita perform 'Ich habe zehn Finger' (I have ten fingers). The characters are then seen at an indoor water park.

Episode 9: "Ferien und Feste" (Holidays and Festivals)

Daniel's mother reserves hotel rooms near the Ostsee for their family holiday. A Turkish festival is shown. Jessica has her Confirmation at church. Miriam celebrates her 14th birthday with her family and friends. In the Rolli and Rita sketch, they are on holiday and get caught in a storm. Daniel is with his family on the Baltic Sea Coast, and they ride a boat. Rolli and Rita perform 'Wann hast du Geburtstag?' (When is your birthday?).

Episode 10: "Unser Berlin" (Our Berlin)

The last episode explores the culture of Berlin. Jessica goes shopping in Berlin, including the famous KaDeWe department store. Thomas talks about the history of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a reminder of World War 2. Daniel eats in a Berlin restaurant. Esther talks about her neighborhood, Kreuzberg, and explores its shops and restaurants. Marko talks about the history of the Berlin Wall. He also discusses the plans for Potsdamer Platz, which were new at the time. The characters say goodbye in a theme park. Rolli and Rita perform the song 'Das ist unser Berlin' (This is our Berlin), which ends the series.

Rolli and Rita: The Animated Hosts

Rolli and Rita are two animated teenage characters. They appear in a sketch and perform a song in every episode of the series.

When the show first aired in 1996, these characters were considered very advanced for their time. An independent company called Baxter Hobbins Slides created them. They used special 3D motion-capture suits with sensors. These suits allowed the animated 3D models to move just like real actors. The models started as wireframes, then skin and clothes were added. The characters' lip movements were made by filming real actors' lips against a blue screen.

The voices for the sketches were later changed for other language versions. For example, there was a French version called Quinze Minutes Plus (Juju et Juliette). There was also a Spanish version called Revista (Julio y Julia).

Rolli (especially his dance moves) and the music videos for 'Wann Hast Du Geburtstag?' and ‘Was Ist Dein Lieblingsfach?’ later became popular online.

Frido Ruth voiced Rolli. Nina Hamm voiced Rita, but the singing parts were done by Christina Fry. Christina Fry is a professional actress, singer, and voice-over artist.