One spin-off character, Little Ice Bear Lars, which originally started out in the "Maus" programme, is currently one of the most popular merchandise brands in Germany. A movie based on the bear is a box office hit.Lars, an extraordinary little polar bear, lives with his parents in the widespread landscape of the North Pole.
One day, something strange happens: Lars makes
friends with the seal Robbie, who saves his life. Lars'and Robbie's parents are shocked. Because polar bears normally love to eat seals. The animals start an argument. Lars, Robbie and the Walrus Sopho find a solution. The seals are to provide the polar bears with fish, and in return the polar bears let the seals be.
But suddenly the peace between the animals is threa-tened: The seals can no longer find any fish.
In an adventurous way, Lars comes to a small village and there he meats the Inuit girl Manili, who understands the language of the animals. Manili tells Lars, that the Inuits cannot find any fish either. The animals
and the people are all in the same situation...
Lars, Robbie and Manili discover a black ship and
manage to get on board. The ship turns out to be a
gigantic swimming high tech fish catching plant.
However, the three friends do not have much time to
investigate.
About 3,1 million cinemagoers have seen the film in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Little Polar Bear
is consequently the most successful German animated
film for children. The film was launched in Belgium, the Netherlands and Great Britain at Easter in 2003.
The audio adaptation of the motion picture received a golden CD in June 2002, from the German "Bundes-verband der Phonografischen Wirtschaft e.V." for over 150.000 copies sold.
"The Little Polar Bear" was awarded "DVD Champion
2002" for being the most successful animated film for children on DVD in the category "Family Entertain-
ment" at the "DVD Night" in Munich on the 22nd of October 2002.
The episode "The Little Polar Bear : The Big Harbour" won a world Medal inthe "InternationalTelevision Programming and Promotions Awards Competition" in the category "Children's Program".
"Die Maus" is but one channel for brand sales. There is also the "Diddl" mouse, which can be found as an icon on young kids' schoolbags, with a massive 6,000 different products available in 26 countries.
Diddl mice generate an estimated Euros 150 million (US$180 million) in annual turnover for brand owner Depesche Verlag, and its creator Thomas Goletz.
Depesche Verlag holds the Diddl mouse brand rights from design to distribution.
March 2005
