Pingu in the City

Lore & Background

The series was adapted from the famous stop-motion animated series Pingu, created in 1986 by Otmar Gutmann and Erika Brueggemann for the SRF in Switzerland. In this spin-off, Pingu and his family move from their home in the Antarctic to a large city, where the inhabitants are all very different. The mischievous and curious Pingu makes a big effort to help the citizens with their jobs, but his attempts often result in trouble.

Reader's Guide

Pingu in the City represents a significant transition for the Pingu franchise, moving from traditional stop-motion to computer animation while maintaining the visual style of the original. Co-produced by American and Japanese companies, it reflects the global reach of the brand. The series aired for two seasons on NHK Educational TV in Japan and was distributed internationally by Sony Creative Products. Its premiere at MIPJunior 2017 in Cannes and subsequent broadcasts in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Israel demonstrate its wide appeal. The show's legacy lies in updating a classic children's property for a new generation while preserving the core character and humor of the original.

Did You Know?

• The series is a spin-off of the stop-motion television series Pingu, which was created in 1986.
• It was co-produced by Mattel Creations, NHK, NHK Enterprises, and Polygon Pictures.
• The series first aired on NHK Educational TV in Japan from October 7, 2017 to March 30, 2019.
• In the United Kingdom, the show premiered on February 25, 2019 on ITVBe's preschool block LittleBe.