Ludwig (cartoon) facts for kids
Ludwig is a unique and magical British cartoon from 1977. It's about a special egg-shaped gemstone named Ludwig who lives in a peaceful forest. This animated show was made up of 25 short episodes, each lasting about five minutes.
Contents
About the Show's Creators
The Ludwig cartoon was created by a father and son team, Mirek and Peter Lang. They worked together to bring Ludwig's world to life. Peter Lang also went on to animate another well-known children's show called Pigeon Street.
The stories for Ludwig were written by the Langs along with Jane Tann and Susan Kodicek. Michael Cole helped edit the scripts to make sure they were just right. Peter Lang was also responsible for all the artwork you see in the cartoon. The music, which often features classical tunes, was arranged and played by Paul Reade.
Who is Ludwig?
Ludwig's name comes from the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven. You can hear Beethoven's music playing in the background throughout the show. In each of the 25 episodes, something interesting or tricky happens to the animals in the forest. That's when Ludwig steps in to help!
Ludwig is a very special character. His "body" is made of different parts that can open up. From inside, he can make arms, legs, or even cool gadgets appear. If he needs to get somewhere really fast, he can even pop out a helicopter rotor blade!
The Birdwatcher and Music
Throughout all of Ludwig's adventures, a human birdwatcher is always watching him. This character wears a deerstalker hat and uses large binoculars. He is voiced by Jon Glover. The birdwatcher is important because he acts as the narrator for the show. He's the only character who talks, giving viewers a peek into Ludwig's world.
At the end of every episode, as the credits roll, Ludwig plays the final part of Beethoven's first symphony. The show's opening music is very short, only 16 seconds long, and also features a small piece of Beethoven's Symphony No.1. It finishes with the narrator, Jon Glover, saying "Ah, Ludwig" in a curious and friendly way.
Ludwig in the USA
In the USA, Ludwig was shown as part of a popular children's television show called Captain Kangaroo. This helped more children get to know the magical egg-shaped hero.
List of Episodes
Here are the names of all 25 Ludwig 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
