Fabeltjeskrant (or De Fabeltjeskrant, Dutch for “The Fables Newspaper”) is a Dutch children’s television series featuring puppetry and stop motion. Created in 1968 by Leen Valkenier and produced by Thijs Chanowski (1st series) and Loek de Levita (2nd series), it ended in 1989 and was broadcast on the Dutch channels NOS, RTL 4 and RTL 8[1] and on Belgian channel VRT. From 1973 to 1975 it was broadcast also in the United Kingdom, on ITV, with the title The Daily Fable.
Plot
Each episode is based upon fables of Jean de La Fontaine, Aesop, Phaedrus and also by the series’ scenographer Leen Valkenier. The main character, the owl “Meneer de Uil”, introduces each episode reading a fable to other characters upon a tree. The scene is a forest inhabited by different anthropomorphic paper animals and the first episode was broadcast on 29 September 1968 on NOS.
Characters
All character surnames are referred to their species.
Meneer de Uil (Mr Owl), or Jacob de Uil, is an owl and the main character of the series. In British version its name is “Mr. Owl”.
Other characters: Juffrouw Ooievaar, Lowieke de Vos, Crox de Raaf (or Meneer de Raaf), Bor de Wolf, Ed Bever, Willem Bever, Zoef de Haas, Stoffel de Schildpad, Momfer de Mol, Truus de Mier, Gerrit de Postduif, Meindert het Paard, Myra Hamster, Martha Hamster, Woefdram, Isadora Paradijsvogel, Droes de Beer, Jodocus de Marmot, Chico Lama, Zaza Zebra, John Maraboe, Greta Bontekoe, Teun Stier, Oléta Vulpécula, Harry Lepelaar, Piet de Pad, Tijl Schavuit, Sjefke Schelm, Rocus de Vrije Vogel, Pepijn de Kater, Timme de Hond, Plons de Kikvors, Blinkert de Bliek, Arthur de Leeuw, Flora Nachtegaal, George de Wezel, Stokebrand de Mug, Mia de Muilezel, Maup de Muis, Marius de Bok, Irma de Krekel, Orm de Aap, Toeter de Olifant, Kirreke de Tortelduif, Koer de Tortelduif, Frija Forel, Greta 2, Hondje Woef, Wasa de Beer, Melis Das, Lamaar Snoespoes, Woef Hektor, Wip de Eekhoorn, Gies de Vlieg, Arie de Rat, Borita, Cas de Kraai and Asa de Spin.