Reksio is a Polish animated children's adventure-comedy theatrical and later television series created by Polish director Lechosław Marszałek. Its 65 episodes were designed and produced from 1967 to 1990 in a Polish animated films studio, more specifically in Studio Filmów Rysunkowych (situated in the city of Bielsko-Biała) which also created Bolek and Lolek (there are even cameo appearances of Bolek and Lolek in Reksio).
All episodes describe the adventures of a friendly and courageous piebald terrier dog named Reksio along with his human owners (a middle class Polish family throughout most of the main series) and his animal friends, mostly living in the same courtyard as him, namely hens, cats, or other dogs (and their owners as well). Along with Lolek and Bolek, Reksio has achieved cult status in Poland. Additionally, there is even a crisps brand named after him in Poland. Furthermore, a series of educational, adventure, and puzzle video games for children were also created by Aidem Media from Gdańsk which are based on and star Reksio.
These educational video games were distributed even outside Poland, to other Central European and Eastern European countries (even to Russia) during the early to mid 2000s. In Romania, for example, they were distributed in educational gaming magazines for children by Erc Press. There was an additional second wave of video games developed by Aidem Media throughout the late 2000s and even early 2010s.
In the U.S., it was aired on Disney Channel in 1990 to 1997.
History
The history of Reksio began when the idea of Reksio was first thought of by the creator of the series who was Polish animated film director and screen writer Lechosław Marszałek. The inspiration for the character Reksio came from a female rough-haired fox terrier dog named Trola. She belonged to the creator, main producer, and writer of the series. The first episode of the series, Reksio poliglota, which was produced by Lechosław Marszałek and Studio Filmów Rysunkowych released in 1967 in theaters as part of children's matinees. This episode had poorer graphics and set design compared to the episodes that would be later produced throughout the 1970s. In addition, Reksio also looked different, sporting a collar that he did not wear in later episodes. While a noticeable improvement in terms of graphics can be clearly seen throughout the late 1960s, it was later during the early 1970s (more specifically in 1972) that the animated series would significantly evolve, also with a better intro with its own music theme.
All episodes that were produced until 1971 were produced by Lechosław Marszałek. In total, Marszałek directed 19 episodes and co-directed 1 episode, the most of any other director involved in the production of the animated series. Almost all of the episodes of the animated series can be watched on YouTube on the official channel of Studio Filmów Rysunkowych. The years 1972 and 1974 were the most productive ones for the main series, throughout which 7 new episodes were produced and released during each year. Each episode ends with 'Koniec' (which is Polish for '(The) End').
Media appearances
The character of Reksio has appeared not only in television, but also in various computer games, as statue or mascot, and other related media. These include the following:
A "Reksio" television series consisting of 65 episodes. A series of educational video games that star the character of Reksio which was produced by Aidem Media in Poland. This series of educational video games had also been exported to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, such as in Romania, where they have been distributed by Erc Press. A series of adventure and puzzle games produced by Aidem Media that star Reksio. These games include the "City of Secrets" series. A bronze statue of Reksio situated in a square named "Plac Reksia" located in the Polish city of Bielsko-Biała. Reksio is pointing towards a fountain next to the statue.
Video games
Over time, there have been various video games developed and released by Aidem Media starring Reksio (for both PC and iOS). They are the following ones:
Liczę z Reksiem/I Count with Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2001 Abc z Reksiem/ABC with Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2001 Reksio i Skarb Piratów/Reksio and the Pirates' Island (adventure game) - 2003 Wesołe przedszkole Reksia/The Merry Kindergarten of Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2003 Reksio i UFO/Reksio and the UFO (adventure game) - 2003 Reksio i ortografia/Reksio and spelling (educational puzzle game) - 2003 Reksio i Czarodzieje/Reksio and the wizards (adventure game) - 2004 Reksio i Wehikuł Czasu/Reksio and the Time Machine (adventure game) - 2004 Reksio i kapitan Nemo/Reksio and Captain Nemo (adventure game) - 2006 Reksio i Kretes w Akcji!/Reksio and Kretes in action! (arcade game) - 2007 Reksio i Kretes: Tajemnica Trzeciego Wymiaru/Reksio and Kretes - The Mystery of the Third Dimension (arcade game) - 2007 Łamigłówki Reksia: Wielki Odkrywca/Reksio's puzzles: great explorer (puzzle game) - 2008 Reksio i Miasto Sekretów/Reksio and the City of Secrets (adventure game) - 2009 for PC and 2011/2012 for iOS
Full list of episodes № Year ofproduction Original titlein Polish English title Director Main series (1967–1986) 1 1967 Reksio poliglota Reksio Polyglot Lechosław Marszałek 2 1969 Reksio marzyciel Reksio is a dreamer 3 1969 Reksio wychowawca Reksio the Educator 4 1970 Reksio obrońca Reksio the Defender 5 1970 Reksio dobroczyńca Reksio the Benefactor 6 1971 Reksio domator Reksio as a Homebody 7 1972 Reksio strażak Reksio the Fireman Józef Ćwiertnia 8 1972 Reksio sportowiec Reksio, an Athlete Edward Wątor 9 1972 Reksio taternik Reksio, a Mountaineer Lechosław Marszałek 10 1972 Reksio wędrowiec Reksio the Wanderer Józef Ćwiertnia 11 1972 Reksio aktor Reksio the Actor 12 1972 Reksio telewidz Reksio watches TV Edward Wątor 13 1972 Reksio kosmonauta Reksio the Astronaut Lechosław Marszałek 14 1973 Reksio magik Reksio the Magician Edward Wątor 15 1973 Reksio pielęgniarz Reksio the Nurse Lechosław Marszałek 16 1973 Reksio racjonalizator Reksio's Busy Day Edward Wątor 17 1973 Reksio rozbitek Reksio, a survivor Lechosław Marszałek 18 1973 Reksio malarz Reksio the Painter Marian Cholerek 19 1973 Reksio poszukiwacz Reksio the Seeker Edward Wątor 20 1974 Reksio ratownik Reksio the Rescuer Józef Ćwiertnia 21 1974 Reksio detektyw Reksio the Detective Marian Cholerek 22 1974 Reksio czyścioch Reksio gets Fleas Józef Ćwiertnia 23 1974 Reksio pogromca Reksio the Tamer Marian Cholerek 24 1974 Reksio żeglarz Reksio the Sailor Józef Ćwiertnia 25 1974 Reksio medalista Reksio and the Dog Show Marian Cholerek 26 1974 Reksio rozjemca Reksio the Peacemaker Józef Ćwiertnia 27 1975 Reksio Robinson Reksio the Robinson 28 1975 Reksio pocieszyciel Reksio, the Comforter Romuald Kłys,Edward Wątor 29 1975 Reksio śpiewak Reksio the Singer Lechosław Marszałek 30 1975 Reksio swat Reksio the Matchmaker Józef Ćwiertnia 31 1976 Reksio dentysta Reksio the Dentist 32 1976 Reksio sadownik Reksio the Orchardist Lechosław Marszałek 33 1976 Reksio kompan Reksio, companion 34 1977 Reksio nauczyciel Reksio the Teacher Edward Wątor 35 1977 Reksio wybawca Reksio the Savior Romuald Kłys 36 1977 Reksio przewodnik Reksio the Guide Lechosław Marszałek 37 1978 Reksio gospodarz Reksio the Host Józef Ćwiertnia 38 1978 Reksio i jamnik Reksio and the Dachshund Lechosław Marszałek 39 1979 Reksiowa jesień Reksio's Autumn Józef Ćwiertnia 40 1979 Reksio i UFO Reksio and the U.F.O. Lechosław Marszałek 41 1979 Reksio terapeuta Reksio the Therapist 42 1979 Reksio kompozytor Reksio, composer Józef Ćwiertnia 43 1980 Reksio remontuje Reksio Renovates Lechosław Marszałek 44 1980 Reksiowa wiosna Reksio's Spring Józef Ćwiertnia 45 1981 Reksio i nośna kura Reksio and the Carrying Hen Halina Filek-Marszałek 46 1981 Reksio łyżwiarz Reksio, the Skater Józef Ćwiertnia 47 1981 Reksiowa zima Reksio's Winter Romuald Kłys 48 1981 Reksio i wrona Reksio and the Crow Halina Filek-Marszałek 49 1981 Reksio i koguty Reksio and the Rooster Józef Ćwiertnia 50 1982 Reksio i świerszcz Reksio and the Cricket Halina Filek-Marszałek 51 1985 Reksio i sroka Reksio and the Magpie Romuald Kłys 52 1986 Reksio i mrówki Reksio and the Ants Reksio and the Birds series (1987–1990) 53 1987 Reksio i bocian Reksio and the Stork Romuald Kłys 54 1987 Reksio i papuga Reksio and the Parrot Ryszard Lepióra 55 1987 Reksio i gołąb Reksio and the Pigeon 56 1987 Reksio i szpaki Reksio and the Starlings 57 1987 Reksio i gąsior Reksio and the Gander 58 1988 Reksio i drozd Reksio and the Thrush 59 1988 Reksio i dzięcioł Reksio and the Woodpecker Ryszard Lepióra,Lechosław Marszałek 60 1988 Reksio i kruk Reksio and the Raven Lechosław Marszałek 61 1989 Reksio i kawki Reksio and the Jackdaws Ryszard Lepióra 62 1990 Reksio i kukułka Reksio and the Cuckoo 63 1990 Reksio i paw Reksio and the Peacock 64 1990 Reksio i pelikan Reksio and the Pelican Andrzej Flettner 65 1990 Reksio i sowa Reksio and the Owl
Reksio's profile as main character
As the main character of his own series, Reksio is clearly the protagonist. Throughout the main series, he is depicted as a responsible, dutiful, loving, caring, and respectful dog to both his owner, a blonde Polish kid, as well as to his family and the other animals with which he lives in the same courtyard. Sometimes though, he is a little bit mischievous and short-tempered (but only in rare contexts) with his older owners or other humans with whom he interacts. In addition, Reksio also has a special bond with a female dog with red-haired ears. His owner is almost always good or very good to him.
Most of the time, however, he is portrayed as a saviour, helper, rescuer, and peacemaker (and occasionally as a wanderer across the neighbourhood or his home town). In these regards, he is seen protecting the hens in his courtyard against foxes who want to steal their eggs as well as managing or peacefully settling conflicts between other animals who live in the same courtyard with him. He is courageous enough to even save or aid some humans in some dangerous situations as well, most notably his young owner, a blonde Polish kid, from gas intoxication in his kitchen in one episode.
Yet his help is not only limited to his young owner or the animals in his courtyard, as in the second series, more specifically in Reksio and the birds series, Reksio can be seen as an empathetic saviour for a stork and a cuckoo (originally 'pigeon' in the title of that episode), outside animals/birds. While he is mostly friendly towards all animals living in the same courtyard as him, Reksio has occasional skirmishes or quarrels with the rooster (more specifically throughout the main series). In addition, several times during the Reksio and birds series, Reksio has occasional problems or scuffles with the gander living in his courtyard as well. Last but not least, he is a great friend to the owl who shares with him music that relaxes him. Furthermore, the owl eventually convinces him not to leave the courtyard at the end of the second series.
Gallery
Notes
References
External links SFR - Studio Filmów Rysunkowych Bielsko Biała