Pingu

***Pingu*** is a Swiss stop-motion animated series for children about a penguin called Pingu. The series is popular in many countries because the characters only make sounds instead of saying words.

## History

_Pingu_ was made in Switzerland on May 28, 1986. The show was co-created by Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann. It aired on CBBC from 1990 to 2002 and CBeebies from 2002 to 2015. From 1993 to 2003, VHS releases were by BBC's Toybox line. As of 2003, all releases for DVD's are by HIT Entertainment.

## Characters

The cast of _Pingu_ includes the family and friends of Pingu.

- **Pingu** is the main character of the cartoon. He is a cheerful and bright emperor penguin. When he makes loud noises, his beak looks like a trumpet. Pingu is shown to dislike green vegetables. His favorite toy is a bear doll.
- **Pinga** is the younger sister of Pingu. She is playful and enjoys Pingu's antics. Her favorite toy is a rabbit doll.
- **Papa** is Pingu and Pinga's father. He is a postal worker, and sometimes lets Pingu help him deliver mail.
- **Mama** is Pingu and Pinga's mother. She is usually seen at home, taking care of her children.
- **Robby** is a seal and a friend of Pingu. He is very clever and an artist.
- **Pingi** is Pingu's love interest.
- **Pingo**, **Pingg**, **Pongi** and **Punki** are friends of Pingu.

#### Series 1 (1990)

1. Pingu is Introduced
1. Pingu Helps with Incubating
1. Pinga is Born
1. Pingu Goes Fishing
1. Pingu Helps to Deliver Mail
1. Pingu is Jealous
1. Pingu and the Snowball Fight
1. Pinga is Left Out
1. Pingu Plays Fish Tennis
1. Pingu and the Avalanche Incident
1. Pingu Plays Ice Hockey
1. Pingu and Pinga Don't Want to Go to Bed
1. Pingu on Makeshift Skis
1. Pingu Runs Away from Home
1. Pingu Builds an Igloo
1. Pingu has Music Lessons
1. Pingu in the Ice Cave
1. Pingu's Tobogganing
1. Pingu's Lavatory Story
1. Pingu at School
1. Pingu's Grandfather is Ill
1. Pingu and Pinga Play Circus
1. Pingu and the Organ Grinder
1. Pingu and his Friends Play Too Loudly
1. Pingu's Parents Go to a Concert
1. Pingu's Dream

#### Series 2 (1991–1994)

1. Pingu at the Doctor
1. Pingu's Admirer
1. Pingu and the Seagull
1. Pingu Surfing on the Ice
1. Pingu's First Kiss
1. Pingu's Curling Party
1. Pingu as an Icicle Player
1. Pingu as a Chef
1. Pingu's Family Celebrate Christmas
1. Pingu's Outing
1. Pingu and the Camera
1. Pingu's Parents Have No Time
1. Pingu and the Packing Material
1. Pingu and the Apprentice Magician
1. Pingu's Birthday
1. Pingu at the Fairground
1. Pingu as Babysitter
1. Pingu Cannot Lose
1. Pingu and the Disabled Penguin
1. Pingu and the Gift
1. Pingu's Hospital Visit
1. Pingu on the School Trip
1. Pingu Visits the Kindergarten
1. Pingu and the Stranger
1. Pingu Helps Around the House
1. Pingu Builds a Snowman

#### Series 3 (1995–1996)

1. Pingu the Cross Country Skier
1. Pingu's Museum Visit
1. Pingu's Grandfather Comes to Visit
1. Pingu's Big Trip
1. Pingu Pretends to be Ill
1. Pingu the Painter
1. Pingu's Prank
1. Pingu and the Bird's Mother
1. Pingu Argues with his Mother
1. Pingu and the Message in a Bottle
1. Pingu has an Idea
1. Pingu and the Broken Vase
1. Pingu and the Paper Plane
1. Pingu Seeks Revenge
1. Pingu and the Mix Up
1. Pingu and the Toy
1. Pingu Plays Superman
1. Pingu has a Fishing Competition
1. Pingu Hides a Letter
1. Pingu is not Allowed to Join in the Games
1. Pingu Draws a Winner
1. Pingu and the Ghost
1. Pingu and the Postcard
1. Pingu and the Discovery
1. Pingu Steals
1. Pingu and the Lost Ball

#### Series 4 (1998–2000)

1. Pingu's Disadvantage
1. Pingu Refuses to Help
1. Pingu the Mountaineer
1. Pingu and the Big Fish
1. Pingu Shows What He Can
1. Pingu Clears the Snow
1. Pingu has a Day Off
1. Pingu the Archer
1. Pingu gets a Warning
1. Pingu and the Magnet
1. Pingu gets Help
1. Pingu in Paradise
1. Pingu's Dangerous Joke
1. Pingu the Pilot
1. Pingu Teases Pinga
1. Pingu's Wish
1. Pingu is Curious
1. Pingu gets Organaised
1. Pingu Builds a Tower
1. Pingu the King
1. Pingu the Baker
1. Pingu and the Doll
1. Pingu Helps Grandfather
1. Pingu on a Bad Day
1. Pingu Loses the Bet
1. Pingu and his Cup

#### Series 5 (2003–2004)

1. Pingu's Bouncy Fun
1. Pingu Finishes the Job
1. Pingu Dig a Hole
1. Pingi's Valentine Card
1. Pingu Wants to Fly
1. Pingu's Windy Day
1. Pinga's Lost Rabbit
1. Pingu's Moon Adventure
1. Pinga's Sleepwalks
1. Robby the Snowboarder
1. Pingu has the Hiccups
1. Like Father, Like Pingu
1. Pingu's Ice Sculptures
1. Pinga's Balloon
1. Pingu and the Knitting Machine
1. Pingu's Balancing Act
1. Pingu Gets Lost
1. Pingu and Pinga Go Camping
1. Stinky Pingu
1. Pingu and the Band
1. Pingu and the Snowball
1. Pingu's Stick Up
1. Pingu and the Doorbell
1. Pingu Plays Tag
1. Pingu's Pancakes
1. Pingu's Bedtime Shadow

#### Series 6 (2005–2006)

1. Pingu's Sledge Academy
1. Pingu and the Hose
1. Pottery Pingu
1. Pingu and the Litter
1. Mother's New Hat
1. Poor Pinga
1. Pinga in a Box
1. Pingu and the Present
1. Pingu and the Toy Shop
1. Pingu and the Paper Mache
1. Sore Tummy Pingu
1. Pingu gets Carried Away
1. Pingu and the School Pet
1. Pampering Pingu
1. Green Eyed Pingu
1. Pingu Wraps Up
1. Pingu and the Fish Flute
1. Pingu Boogaloo
1. Pingu and the Daily Igloo
1. Pingu and the Rubberband Plane
1. Pingu and the Braces
1. Pingu's Big Catch
1. Pingu and the New Scooter
1. Pingu and the Paint
1. Pingu Makes a Big Splash
1. Pingu and the Abominable Snowman

## Broadcast

In the United Kingdom, the BBC aired the original version of _Pingu_ on the Children's BBC slot on BBC One from 1990 onwards. In 2002, when the BBC created the CBBC channel, it was moved to its preschool channel CBeebies. They used the original cartoon title card for series 1-2, and the first 13 episodes of series 3 used the claymation-inspired intro. JimJam contains all of the show's 156 episodes and _Pingu at the Wedding Party_, but it contains the re-dubbed versions of series 1-2, and contains the original version of the special, without the titles and credits.

## Reception

_Pingu_ received mostly positive reviews, Common Sense Media rated the show a 4 out of 5 stars stating "Parents need to know that this claymation series is funny, endearing, and entertaining. Although the series is appropriate for all ages, the plots might be difficult for the youngest viewers to follow".

## Other websites

- _Pingu_ official website
- _Pingu_ at Toonopedia

## Infobox (television)

- **genre**: Children's television series
Clay animation
Comedy
Stop motion
Surreal humour
- **runtime**: 5 minutes
- **creator**: Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann
- **director**: Nick Herbert
- **starring**: Carlo Bonomi (series 1-4)
Marcello Magni
David Sant (series 5 and 6)
- **composer**: Keith Hopwood
- **company**: Trickfilmstudio (1990-2000)
The Pygos Group (1990-2000)
HiT Entertainment (2003-2006)
Hot Animation (2003-2006)
- **num seasons**: **Original series**: 4
**Revived series**: 2
6 (total)
- **num episodes**: **Original series**: 105
**Revived series:** 52
157 (total)
- **list episodes**: List of Pingu episodes
- **executive producer**: Theresa Plummer Andrews (BBC)
- **producer**: Bella Tomlinson