Benjamin the Elephant (original German name: Benjamin Blümchen; "Benjamin Small Flower") (1988–2002) is an animated children's television show produced by Kiddinx Studios in Berlin. The show is based on audio stories by Elfie Donnelly.World Screen - Property Profile The audio series has been running since 1977 and has 142 stories as of 2019. On the show, the eponymous main character resides at the Newtown Zoo, with friends Otto and Stella. The adventures Benjamin gets involved in often require slipping into various roles, learning new jobs, or discovering new and distant places.
Characters Benjamin - an African Elephant, is big and strong, cuddly and good-natured. He loves lazing around. But when something is going on around him, he is on his feet in a trice and ready to act. He is known for his unmistakable "Toroo!" call. He is very helpful and reliable. Benjamin's home is Neustadt Zoo, and the Zoo Director Herr Tierlieb, Karl the Keeper and all the animals are his family. His best friend of all is a boy named Otto. Benjamin spends nearly every afternoon with him and every weekend, and together they have many adventures. Voiced by Dave Pettitt (English) and Edgar Ott (until his death in 1994), Jürgen Kluckert (until his death in 2023) and Matti Klemm respectively (German). Otto - Benjamin's best friend. He is nice, polite, friendly and a very sensible boy. Since Otto knows a lot for a boy his age, he is able to explain things to Benjamin at times when he gets stuck. Otto visits Benjamin in the zoo just about every afternoon after school. They also spend nearly every weekend and the holidays together. From time to time, they even go on their travels together. Voiced by M.J. McCann (English) and Katja Primel (German). Stella Stellini - Otto's classmate and also a friend of Benjamin's. Stella is cheeky, energetic, adventurous and very sporty. Unlike Otto, Stella is very independent and often starts something on her own. When she is dealing with injustice or being headstrong, she often runs at brick walls. If Stella can't make any headway with a problem, or something goes wrong, then Benjamin and Otto are by her side to help out. Stella didn't make her first appearance until very late in the series. The Zoo Director, Herr Tierlieb - a good-natured, friendly elderly man. He lives and breathes his job as zoo director. Nothing is more important to him than the well-being of his animals. He is in charge of Neustadt Zoo and looks after all its inhabitants as if they were his children. It often troubles him that the zoo isn't making as much money as it should in order to provide food for all animals. The Zoo Director trusts Benjamin completely. If ever he needs his help, he is always able to count on his talking elephant. Voiced by Dean Galloway (English) and Hermann Wagner and Eric Vaessen respectively (German). Karl the Keeper - the zoo director's right hand, is well loved by all zoo animals. He looks after them with great love and care, keeps the enclosures in good repair, mends fences, fixes the heating when it breaks down and also orders the animal's food. Karl the Keeper loves his job. It is from Karl that Benjamin always finds out the latest news about the zoo and the animals. Voiced by Dan Gascon (English) and Til Hagen (German). Gulliver - the cheerful yet cheeky raven who thinks he knows everything and can do everything better than the others. The odd misfortune here or there does nothing to change his impetuous character. Gulliver only appears in the TV show, where he replaces the narrator. Voiced by David Lawrence Brown (English) and Wolfgang Ziffer (German). Karla Kolumna - Benjamin is friends with Karla Kolumna, a somewhat overexcitable reporter. Everyone in Neustadt knows her cheery "Hello there!" and her famous "Sensationnel!" ("Sensational!"). She is always on hand to help, especially when it's a matter of publicizing any scandals or injustices hatched by the Mayor of Neustadt. In such cases, Benjamin, Karla and Otto all work together. Voiced by Debbie Munro (English) and Gisela Fritsch (German). The Mayor - carries weight as Neustadt's premier citizen, as well as on his person. His name is Bruno Presssack (A Presssack is a German type of sausage.), but he is usually referred to as "the Mayor". He is rather vain and high-handed and is therefore often unjust. However, Benjamin, Otto and Karla always manage to make him change his attitude with their clever ideas. In the end, they find a fair solution for everything. Voiced by Doug de Nance (English) and Heinz Giese (German). After Giese's death, Roland Hemmo has been narrating him in the audio series since. Secretary Pichler - the Mayor's secretary. Although he always conforms to duty, he is a clever man with a sense of justice. When Benjamin and his friends are able to assert themselves against the Mayor, he is always secretly pleased. On a few occasions, he even secretly undermines the Mayor's plans. Voiced by Dean Galloway (English) and Wilfried Herbst (German). Baron Blunderbuss - a haughty aristocrat. He lives in a villa with enormous grounds right next to Newtown Zoo. The Baron has close contact to the Mayor and they support each other when it comes to promoting their interests. The Baron doesn't have much good to say about Benjamin the Elephant. His loud "Toroo!", which often reverberates around the zoo walls, disturb his peace and quiet. Voiced by Clark Robertson (English) and (German). Hinky and Pinky - two crooks from Newtown. Hinky is tall and thin and a bit stupid, Pinky is fat and much cleverer. Wherever the pair appear, they are up to no good. But Benjamin and Otto are always on the spot and are able to get the pair arrested in the end. Voiced by Ben Jeffrey and Kevin Tokarsky (English) and Michael Pan and Andreas Mannkopff (German). In the audio series, Pinky has been narrated by Joachim Kaps since Mannkopff's death. Do not appear until very late in the series. Mr. Flatterer (?, Herr Schmeichler in the original) is a businessman in different professions (real estate, computer-selling, etc.; apparently he frequently runs down his businesses but always starts a new one). He uses flattery methods to trick people into deals, ranging sometimes to outright fraud (but not force). Usually among the villains of the story (much more so than the Mayor). Voiced by Klaus Miedel Otto's Mother - in the audio series, her name is revealed to be Ortrud.
Book Series 1. Wo ist Winnie Waschbär? ("Where is Winnie Raccoon?") 2.
Audio drama 1. Benjamin Blümchen als Wetterelefant ("Benjamin Blossom as Weather Elephant") 2. Benjamin Blümchen rettet den Zoo ("Benjamimn Blossom Saves the Zoo") 3. Benjamin Blümchen Kampf dem Lärm ("Benjamin Blossom Fight the Noise") 4. Benjamin Blümchen in Afrika ("Benjamin Blossom in Africa") 5. Benjamin Blümchen auf Hoher See ("Benjamin Blossom on the High Seas)" 6. Benjamin Blümchen und die Schule ("Benjamin Blossom and the School") 7. Benjamin Blümchen Verliebt Sich ("Benjamin Blossom Fall in Love") 8. Benjamin Blümchen auf dem Baum ("Benjamin Blossom on the Tree") 9. Benjamin Blümchen hat Geburtstag ("Benjamin Blossom has Birthday") 10. Benjamin Blümchen und das Schloss("Benjamin Blossom and the Castle") 11. Benjamin Blümchen auf dem Mond("Benjamin Blossom on the Moon") 12. Benjamin Blümchen als Briefträger ("Benjamin Blossom as a Postman") 13. Benjamin Blümchen im Krankenhaus ("Benjamin Blossom in the Hospital") 14. Benjamin Blümchen als Filmstar ("Benjamin Blossom as a Movie Star") 15. Benjamin Blümchen im Urlaub ("Benjamin Blossom on Holiday") 16. Benjamin Blümchen Träumt ("Benjamin Blossom Dreams") 17. Benjamin Blümchen Der Skiurlaub ("Benjamin Blossom the Ski Vacation") 18. Benjamin Blümchen als Schornsteinfeger ("Benjamin Blossom as a Chimney Sweep") 19. Benjamin Blümchen als Fussballstar("Benjamin Blossom as a Football Star") 20. Benjamin Blümchen und Bibi Blocksberg ("Benjamin Blossom and Bibi Blocksberg") 21. Benjamin Blümchen als Weihnachtsmann ("Benjamin Blossom as Santa Claus") 22. Benjamin Blümchen als Kinderarzt ("Benjamin Blossom as a Paediatrician") 23. Benjamin Blümchen als Koch ("Benjamin Blossom as a Cook") 24. Benjamin Blümchen als Detektiv ("Benjamin Blossom as a Detective") 25. Benjamin Blümchen auf Kreuzfahrt ("Benjamin Blossom on Cruise") 26. Benjamin Blümchen als Bademeister ("Benjamin Blossom as a Lifeguard") 27. Benjamin Blümchen auf dem Bauernhof ("Benjamin Blossom on the Farm") 28. Benjamin Blümchen Rettet den Kindergarten ("Benjamin Blossom Saves the Kindergarten") 29. Benjamin Blümchen auf dem Rummel ("Benjamin Blossom at the Fair") 30. Benjamin Blümchen als Pilot ("Benjamin Blossom as a Pilot") 31. Benjamin Blümchen als Feuerwehrmann (" as a Firefighter") 32. Die Verkehrsschule ("The Traffic School") 33. Das Osterfest ("Easter") 34. Benjamin Blümchen als Lokomotivführer ("Benjamin Blossom as a Locomotive Driver") 35. Benjamin Blümchen hat Zahnweh ("Benjamin Blossom has Toothache") 36. Benjamin Blümchen wird Verhext ("Benjamin Blossom is Bewitched") 37. Der Gorilla ist Weg ("The Gorilla is Gone") 38. Der Zoo zieht Um ("The Zoo is Moving") 39. Benjamin Blümchen Kauft Ein ("Benjamin Blossom Buys") 40. Benjamin Blümchen Zieht Aus ("Benjamin Blossom Moves Out") 41. Benjamin Blümchen als Pirat ("Benjamin Blossom as a Pirate") 42. Benjamin Blümchen als Ritter ("Benjamin Blossom as a Knight") 43. Benjamin Blümchen und die Autorallye ("Benjamin Blossom and the Car Rally") 44. Benjamin Blümchen als Bäcker ("Benjamin Blossom as a Baker") 45. Benjamin Blümchen als Zirkusclown ("Benjamin Blossom as a Circus Clown") 46. Benjamin Blümchen ("Benjamin Blossom Helps the Animals") 47. Benjamin Blümchen als Gärtner ("Benjamin Blossom as a Gardener") 48. Benjamin Blümchen Kriegt ein Geschenk ("Benjamin Blossom Gets a Present") 49. Benjamin Blümchen als Müllmann ("Benjamin Blossom as a Garbage Man") 50. Benjamin Blümchen als Sheriff ("Benjamin Blossom as Sheriff") 51. Der Weihnachtsabend ("The Christmas Eve") 52. Der Weihnachtstraum ("The Christmas Dream") 53. Benjamin Blümchen Wird Reich ("Benjamin Blossom Gets Rich") 54. Benjamin Blümchen ist Krank ("Benjamin Blossom is Sick") 55. Benjamin Blümchen und die Astrofanten ("Benjamin Blossom and the Astrophants") 56. Benjamin Blümchen als Reporter ("Benjamin Blossom as a Reporter") 57. Benjamin Blümchen als Bürgermeister ("Benjamin Blossom as Mayor") 58. Die Wünschelrute (The Divining Rod") 59. Benjamin Blümchen Findet einen Schatz ("Benjamin Blossom Finds a Treasure") 60. Der Doppelgänger ("The Lookalike") 61. Otto ist Krank ("Otto is Ill") 62. Benjamin Blümchen in der Steinzeit ("Benjamin Blossom in the Stone Age") 63. Der Computer ("The Computer") 64. Benjamin Blümchen als Butler ("Benjamin Blossom as a Butler") 65. Wo ist Otto? ("Where is Otto") 66. Benjamin Blümchen als Ballonfahrer ("Benjamin Blossom as a Balloonist") 67. Meine Schönsten Lieder ("My Most Beautiful Songs") 68. Benjamin Blümchen als Taxifahrer ("Benjamin Blossom as a Taxi Driver") 69. Benjamin Blümchen als Zoodirektor ("Benjamin Blossom as a Zoo Director") 70. Benjamin Blümchen und Bibi in Indien ("Benjamin Blossom and Bibi in India") 71. Alle Meine Freunde ("All My Friends") 72. Benjamin Blümchen und Bino ("Benjamin Blossom and Bino") 73. Benjamin Blümchen und der Weihnachtsmann ("Benjamin Blossom and Santa Claus") 74. Benjamin Blümchen Singt Weihnachtslieder ("Benjamin Blossom Sings Christmas Carols") 75. Der Geheimnisvolle Brief ("The Mysterious Letter") 76. Benjamin Blümchen als Förster ("Benjamin Blossom as a Forester") 77. Benjamin Blümchen und die Eisprinzessin ("Benjamin Blossom and the Ice Princess") 78. Benjamin Blümchen und der Kleine Hund ("Benjamin Blossom and the Little Dog") 79. Die Zirkuslöwen ("The Circus Lions") 80. Die Neue Zooheizung ("The New Zoo Heater") 81. Das Geheimnis der Templkatze ("The Secret of the Temple Cat") 82. Der Weisse Elefant ("The White Elephant") 83. Benjamin Blümchen als Gespenst ("Benjamin Blossom as a Ghost")