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Unless you frequently watch Germany’s second television program (ZDF, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), you may not be familiar with six charismatic celebrities. Every German child and adult know the humorous cartoon characters that are celebrating their 62nd birthdays April 2.
The Mainzelmännchen have also starred in children’s books, radio dramas and in merchandise, such as in a store in Mainz. The troop is commonly referred to as the Mainzels (best translated as little men of Mainz) and are also featured on some traffic lights at pedestrian crosswalks in the city.
The Mainzelmännchen debuted April 2, 1963, on ZDF, the second German public television network. Wolf Gerlach, a German graphic designer and television director, created them as short, amusing animations to serve as buffers between TV programs and commercials. These little gnomes quickly gained popularity and became a beloved part of German television culture.
The full names of the colorful troop are Anton, Berti, Conni, Det, Edi and Fritzchen and their most famous line is “Gud’n Aamd”, a dialect version of “Guten Abend” (Good evening).
Their playful interactions and distinct personalities make them dear to audiences of all ages. Whether they’re embarking on a small adventure or engaging in everyday tasks, the Mainzels always bring a smile to viewers’ faces. So, let’s meet our little heroes:
Anton is definitely the handyman and very practical among the Mainzelmännchen. Whether gardening and field work, carpentry and painting, or chopping wood and clearing snow: when DIY becomes a challenge, you can always rely on Anton’s craftsmanship. Anton is the only Mainzel who wears an overall with his brown cap. He can easily attach his tool belt there and has enough storage space for his equipment.
Anton’s favorite place is outdoors: he feels just as at home on construction sites as he does on farms, and he loves his commercial vehicles such as tractors and sweepers just as much as the farm animals he looks after.
Berti is the communications professional, the specialist for new technologies and digital issues. The hobby gamer prefers to be in the virtual world. As an innovative inventor, Berti naturally has a smart home system and operates all his devices via his cell phone, tablet or smartwatch. And with the latest game consoles and the most powerful computers, every trip into virtual reality becomes an experience.
And when Berti isn’t sitting at the computer in a video booth with his yellow cap, he strolls around IT trade fairs, plays the electric guitar or hunts for subjects with the latest digital SLR camera. In short: technology without Berti is possible, but Berti without the latest technology – unthinkable!
Conni is the innovative, spontaneous, universal all-rounder. Known as a trendsetter and trend hunter, that is precisely why he is the influencer among the Mainzels: The Mainz Fluencer. Conni’s favorite hobbies are new and creative projects: sometimes he is a sculptor, a painter or sometimes a musician. When it comes to trends, Conni is always in tune with the times and wants to try out new things. Among the Mainzels, he is the only astronaut who was on the ISS with German astronaut Alexander Gerst in 2018.
But environmental issues are also dear to Conni’s heart, easily recognizable with his blue cap. It’s not uncommon to see him shopping in unpackaged stores, carrying his fruit in the shopping bag he brought with him or picking up plastic bottles on the beach.
Clever Det is undisputedly the good-natured and fatherly Mainzel. Since he gets most of his knowledge from books and always prefers an encyclopedia by the fireplace in a comfortable armchair to internet research, the more traditional Det always has good advice at hand. If the Mainzels were a band, Det would certainly be the frontman. Therefore, it is probably no coincidence that Det is repeatedly seen as a serious weather presenter, news anchor or popular show host.
Det’s white cap and glasses are truly a symbol of his personality, and he always keeps an eye on things.
Sensitive and dreamy Edi represents the gourmet, sophisticated spirit. It is the beautiful things in life that fascinate the passionate aesthete: He not only loves dancing but has mastered all dance styles. He loves going to the hairdresser and always wears the hippest hairstyles. The fashion Mainzel with body awareness really lives life to the fullest.
But for him lifestyle and aesthetics mean more than just wellness, massages and body care. Edi is considered a big nature fan and loves animals as well as plants and flowers. The cheerful redhead is most happy when he can make others happy, but he does tend to be somewhat forgetful and must have lost his cap a while back….
Fritzchen is the active, dynamic trend athlete. From classic gymnastics to the trendiest cult sports – he makes every discipline his own. Whether ice climbing, kickboxing, jumping fitness, squash or motorcross: the more diverse it is, the more exciting it becomes for Sports-Mainzel!
Fritzchen’s racing bike hangs under the ceiling and he owns all sorts of training and fitness equipment. And, as a sports guru, he always wears functional clothing, such as cool sports sneakers or baseball caps.
The sextet can easily adapt to changing situations and seasons, you may see them dressed in silly costumes around Fasching, relaxing on the beach with a cool refreshment in summer or battling wind and leaves flying around in fall. During the holiday season, they have been spotted wrapping and delivering gifts. Currently, they are busy tidying up gardens and planting flowers in spring.
Nowadays, there is a team of 30 members at ZDF who hand draw new clips, then process them in six stages until the animated 2-5 second cartoons are completed for viewers to admire.
If you haven’t experienced the cult troop yet, turn on your TV to channel ZDF in the early evening and meet these lovable characters. Even if you don’t speak or understand a word of German, their messages are sure to come across and bring some cheer after a busy or challenging day!
