Squirrel and Hedgehog

Squirrel and Hedgehog (Korean: 다람이와 고슴도치) is a North Korean animated series made by SEK Studio (조선4.26만화영화촬영소). Squirrel and Hedgehog is one of the most popular animated series in North Korea. The show was supposedly discontinued in 2012, which was around the time North Korean state television changed its broadcasting schedule, which cut several animated programs along with it.
The first episode of the show, produced in 1977, is based on a short novel published in a North Korean children's magazine in the 1970s. The short film was so popular with the public that the crew decided to turn the show into a series. In 2006, the producers said the show would be in production.
The series is currently being re-aired on Korean Central Television since July 2023 for the show's 46th anniversary.
The main character's hometown. Squirrels, hedgehogs, ducks, rabbits and small animals live in this village.
There is speculation among overseas critics that the squirrels and hedgehogs are the North Koreans, the mice are the South Koreans, the bear is the Soviets, the weasels are the Japanese, the wolves are the Americans and the foxes are United States working class and minorities, which are argued to coincide with metaphorical interpretations of the country's geopolitical environment. But, this allegorical interpretation is never revealed in the series, and staff at the SEK Studio claimed that this allegorical interpretation is not true. They repeatedly alleged that this animation was created to teach love, friendship, and patriotism to children. However, Choi Sung-guk, a North Korean defector who worked at SEK Studio as an animator for several years, said that "weasels, mice, and wolves symbolize foreign invaders (imperialists)."
Jajusibo, South Korea's leading far-left and pro-North Korea media outlet, ran a column criticizing Westerners' allegorical interpretations of the show. Citing interviews with SEK staff, they pointed out that such political speculation about the show was "exaggerated by Westerners". One Yanbian Korean-Chinese netizen said, "I have loved this show since I was a child, but I never thought that such an allegorical interpretation exists in the show.".
Meanwhile, The Chosun Ilbo, a conservative South Korean media outlet, criticized the show for being very violent, brutal, and blatantly allegorical propaganda.
There are no known official records of merchandise, but brands of toothpaste and backpacks depicting the main characters have been sold in North Korean stores, along with toy guns and figurines. There are also several statues in children's parks that are located in Pyongyang.
A few Squirrel and Hedgehog video games are known to exist such as the 2018 mobile game Brave Scouts (용감한 정찰병), which is described as a 3D shooter starring a squirrel and a hedgehog carrying out missions in the Weasel Den. Two unnamed arcade shooters have also been documented: both games have the player shoot weasels and mice, with at least one of them using a rifle as controller, and the other one featuring the heroes of the television series in the HUD.
Alongside the television show, a manhwa called Brave Hedgehog (용감한 고슴도치) was released in 1991. The story follows Detective Hedgehog who searches for an infiltrator from Manure Mountain in Flower Hill. There were several key differences between it and the television series, such as the character "Lt. Fox Vixen" originally being depicted as male. It is unknown why this change occurred, but it could be to acknowledge that the United States Armed Forces had allowed women to fight alongside male soldiers. A second issue of Brave Hedgehog was published the following year of 1992.
Another North Korean children’s comic series with funny animals called Fighting Wisdom Hill (싸우는 지혜동산) features characters from Squirrel and Hedgehog like Commander Darami and Goseumdochi, the hedgehog unit and the wolves.
The SEK Studio, the North Korean studio that produced this series, has also produced a number of stand-alone short cartoons with funny animal characters. Some of them are part of a large series named the Clever Raccoon Dog (령리한 너구리). Unlike Squirrel and Hedgehog, they are focused primarily on road safety education, science, sport, summer volunteer work etc.
The series was released in English and Spanish by Mondo TV, titled Brave Soldier and Soldados Valientes respectively. The series' plot was changed in the dubs, so that subtle references to North Korea or blatant propaganda would end up removed. This translation is often criticized by the show's cult following for having generic voice actors and out of place audio dubbing. The second season was never dubbed due to licensing issues, as Mondo TV only owns the rights to the first selection of episodes.