All episodes describe the adventures of a friendly and courageous piebaldterrier 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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3] 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 aired in 1967 on the national Polish television. 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.[4] 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 TV series would significantly evolve, also with a better intro with its own music theme.[5]
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.[6] 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').
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.[7][8] 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.[9]
A series of adventure and puzzle games produced by Aidem Media that star Reksio. These games include the "City of Secrets" series.[10][11]
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
In the passing of 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:[12]
Liczę z Reksiem/I Count with Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2001[13]
Abc z Reksiem/ABC with Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2001[14]
Reksio i Skarb Piratów/Reksio and the Pirates' Island (adventure game) - 2003[15]
As the main character of his own animated TV 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 (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.[26][27] 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.[28]
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.[29]
Gallery
Reksio's statue in Bielsko-Biała (November 2018)
An illuminated, bigger Christmas statue for Reksio in his native Bielsko-Biała (December 2018)
^For example, there is an episode of Reksio in which the two cartoons overlap, in the sense that Reksio is watching Bolek and Lolek on TV along with his owner, a blonde Polish kid, and one of his dog friends.
^At the end of the episode of Bolek and Lolek "Morska wyprawa" at 9:33, when Bolek, Lolek and the sailor are watching TV, they watch a clip where Reksio in a boar suit scares Bolek, then Tola scares Reksio the same way as Reksio did to Bolek.
^In episode 50 of the main series, there is yet another Bolek and Lolek reference which is represented by a book titled with the names of the two characters that Reksio has in his little dog house.
^Seria: Reksio is the original title of the series in Polish
^Reksio i ptaki is the original title of the series in Polish
