Fix and Foxi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fix & Foxi is the most successful, best known German comic and the most published work of comic artist Rolf Kauka. It was published for more than 40 years (between 1953 and 2000). The series is currently published in the comic album format, though it has been published as comic books in the past. The most recent publications are the anniversary edition 50 Jahre Fix & Foxi (50 Years of Fix & Foxi) in 2003 and Der Raketenblitz in 2004.
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[edit] Characters
The two main characters of the comic are the twin fox brothers, Fix and Foxi, who live in Fuxholzen (Foxburg in the TV series). They are open, active and social and, therefore, serve as role models for their young audience.
Important characters in Fuxholzen:
- Lupo (Wolf) - a bit of a slacker who lives in the tower - a gluttonous ne’er-do-well, who is a true master at the art of enjoying life.
- Oma Eusebia (Wolf) - an “old maid”, who is also somewhat of a mother-figure for the others.
- Lupinchen (Wolf) - Eusebia’s granddaughter, cousin to Fix, Foxi and Lupo.
- Uncle Fax (Fox) - Fix and Foxi’s bachelor uncle, with whom they live. He dabbles in second-hand items.
- Professor Knox (Parrot) - the typical absent-minded professor and inventor.
- Hops (Rabbit), Stops (Hedgehog) and Stoepsel (Hedgehog)
- Fridolin (Cat), Daggi (Goose) and Pieps (Mouse)
- In nearby Maulwurfhausen: Pauli (Mole), Mausi (Mouse), Mimi (Pauli’s girlfriend).
[edit] History of the Comic
In 1951, Rolf Kauka founded Kauka Publishing and found experienced illustrators in Yugoslavia, Italy and Spain. In May of 1953 his first comic book, Till Eulenspiegel, appeared. The characters in the comic book were loosely based on German folklore. Besides the eponymous characters, others such as Reinecke Fox and Isegrim Wolf appeared. In issue number 6 the fox characters Fix & Foxi first appeared in a short comic story. They soon became the favorites of the readers and appeared in issue number 10 on the title page. From issue number 29 forward the series was retitled Fix & Foxi.
Fix & Foxi was published weekly in Germany with a circulation up to 400,000 per week. A total of over 750 Million comic books were sold. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kauka sold his publishing house and Fix & Foxi was published by others, though he retained creative control. Bauer/VPM eventually became the publisher.
In 1994 the comic series was retooled by the publishers into an adolescent tabloid magazine and the publication was changed from weekly to monthly. It is at this point that Rolf Kauka withdrew the publishing rights and stopped all publication of the series.
From 1993 to 1998 Norbert Hethke Verlag produced reprints of the first 50 comic books. From 1997 to 1999 seven comic albums of classic comics were produced by Ehapa, the erstwhile Kauka rival. In 2000 there was a short-lived revival of the comic book by Ehapa, but it was discontinued after the third issue due to insufficient sales.
In 1982, Rolf Kauka founded Kauka Promedia, Inc. and began planning the Fix & Foxi TV series together with his wife, Alexandra Kauka. The Fix & Foxi TV series began brodacasting in Germany beginning in March 2000. He also planned (in collaboration with the Ravensburger Corporation) Fix & Foxi Adventure Land in the Ravensburger Spieleland theme park.
The characters are also still active in reprints, as audio and video cassettes, merchandising figures and as a TV series in 30 countries. A new Fix & Foxi monthly comic magazine will be available beginning October 25, 2005 and a Fix & Foxi feature film is currently in the planning stage at Bavaria studios. The “Bild” Newspaper will publish on October 10, 2005 a complete comic book, which will announce the return of the Kauka comic production.
[edit] Other
The German slang expression “Ich bin Fix und Foxi” is a variation of the phrase “Ich bin fix und fertig”.
The character Lupo lives in an old windmill, which has had the blades removed and is often referred to as the tower. The tower was originally portrayed as a windmill - with a goblin in residence. It first appeared in the story “the magic mill” in “Fix & Foxi” issue 4 from 1960. Lupo later took over the tower and it has since been located in the outskirts of Fuxholzen. Since Lupo has taken up residence the character of the tower has changed to reflect its resident the furnishings are spartan and the condition of the tower has deteriorated, for example the weathervane is crooked. Aside from the futuristic villa of Professor Knox and Pauli’s house in the hillock, Lupo’s tower is the most representative structure in the Kauka universe.
