Mõmmi ja Aabits (partially found Estonian children's TV series; 1973-1979): Difference between revisions
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|title=<center>''Mõmmi ja Aabits''</center> | |title=<center>''Mõmmi ja Aabits''</center> | ||
|image= | |image=MommijaAabits.jpg | ||
|imagecaption=The title | |imagecaption=The title card of the series. | ||
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Mõmmi ja Aabits''''' (''Teddy’s ABC’s'') is an Estonian children’s television series that aired from 1973-1976 in black and white, and from 1976-1979 in color. Despite the series' ongoing popularity in its home country, the series has not resurfaced in its entirety. | |||
==Background== | |||
== | |||
''Mõmmi ja Aabits'' debuted on Eesti Television (ETV) in 1973. It was based on a children’s book called ''Karu-Aabits'' (The Bear’s ABC’s) written by Heljo Mänd in 1971.<ref>[https://www.postimees.ee/1526691/viiskummend-aastat-kasvanud-kirjanik Info on the author of the book and co-creator of the series]</ref> At the time, Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union and, while it had color television, many programs at the time were still broadcast in black and white as a budgetary measure. The series features a bear couple as they teach their child, Teddy (“played” by a stuffed teddy bear), the Estonian alphabet.<ref>[https://etv2.err.ee/v/videod/lastesaade/d552707d-ee15-4e18-9aa4-a61cfdf3f1d3 Episode 11 of the color series]</ref> | ''Mõmmi ja Aabits'' debuted on Eesti Television (ETV) in 1973. It was based on a children’s book called ''Karu-Aabits'' (The Bear’s ABC’s) written by Heljo Mänd in 1971.<ref>[https://www.postimees.ee/1526691/viiskummend-aastat-kasvanud-kirjanik Info on the author of the book and co-creator of the series]</ref> At the time, Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union and, while it had color television, many programs at the time were still broadcast in black and white as a budgetary measure. The series features a bear couple as they teach their child, Teddy (“played” by a stuffed teddy bear), the Estonian alphabet.<ref>[https://etv2.err.ee/v/videod/lastesaade/d552707d-ee15-4e18-9aa4-a61cfdf3f1d3 Episode 11 of the color series]</ref> | ||
Not much is known about the black and white version, as it is completely lost. | Not much is known about the black and white version, as it is completely lost. However, it is known that 17 episodes were produced in black and white. The story from 1976-1977 features Teddy on a journey to collect stars based on the letters of the Estonian alphabet. Sixteen episodes were produced in this version. Another seven episodes were produced in 1979, featuring Teddy in primary school, but these episodes are also lost.<ref>[https://www.postimees.ee/2553445/kultusseriaal-mommi-ja-aabits-taas-eetris An article announcing the 1998 series]</ref> | ||
==Notoriety== | ==Notoriety== | ||
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The series is also incredibly low budget, featuring random errors. One error of note is in the intro to Episode 15, when the Papa Bear character shows the back of the very large Karu-Aabits book, instead of the front, before quickly flipping the book over during a pause in the song.<ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/vaata/mommi-ja-aabits-g Episode 15 of the color series]</ref> | The series is also incredibly low budget, featuring random errors. One error of note is in the intro to Episode 15, when the Papa Bear character shows the back of the very large Karu-Aabits book, instead of the front, before quickly flipping the book over during a pause in the song.<ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/vaata/mommi-ja-aabits-g Episode 15 of the color series]</ref> | ||
When YouTuber blameitonjorge collaborated with another fellow YouTuber PhantomStrider <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22y-Tg4D8GQ&t=683s PhantomStrider's Top 10 Creepiest Kids' Show Characters]</ref>on his "Top 10 Creepiest Kids' Show Characters" list, Strider described the characters as "making ''Five Nights at Freddy's'' look like preschool daycare". | |||
However, in Estonia, the series is considered a classic TV series. A continuation of the series was produced from 1998-1999, called “Mõmmi ja Aabits: 20 Years Later”, featuring much higher production values, better costumes, and less frightening characters (but still featuring a teddy bear as the Baby Bear character).<ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/seeria/mommi-aabits/lavastuslik/31 The ETV archive of the 1998 series]</ref> The characters from the series have maintained popularity in Estonia, continuing to make the occasional appearance in various media in the country, including a stage play produced in 2016.<ref>[https://www.tallinn.ee/est/033-Mommi-ja-aabits.jpg-2?vanaleht=1 A slideshow showing a recent stage production based on the series]</ref> | However, in Estonia, the series is considered a classic TV series. A continuation of the series was produced from 1998-1999, called “Mõmmi ja Aabits: 20 Years Later”, featuring much higher production values, better costumes, and less frightening characters (but still featuring a teddy bear as the Baby Bear character).<ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/seeria/mommi-aabits/lavastuslik/31 The ETV archive of the 1998 series]</ref> The characters from the series have maintained popularity in Estonia, continuing to make the occasional appearance in various media in the country, including a stage play produced in 2016.<ref>[https://www.tallinn.ee/est/033-Mommi-ja-aabits.jpg-2?vanaleht=1 A slideshow showing a recent stage production based on the series.]</ref> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
The sixteen episodes from 1977 and 1978 are available on ETV’s archive <ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/seeria/mommi-ja-aabits/lavastuslik/31/default/2 The entire ETV archive of the 1976-1977 series | The sixteen episodes from 1977 and 1978 are available on ETV’s archive.<ref>[https://arhiiv.err.ee/seeria/mommi-ja-aabits/lavastuslik/31/default/2 The entire ETV archive of the 1976-1977 series.]</ref> and on DVD (split into two volumes) <ref>[https://pood.err.ee/mommi-ja-aabits-ii-osa-dvd An ETV page selling copies of the Volume 2 DVD.]</ref> However, every episode of the black and white series is lost, as are the seven episodes produced in 1979. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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|service1 =youtube | |service1 =youtube | ||
|id1 =lV1jtuiqlOA | |id1 =lV1jtuiqlOA | ||
|description1 =The intro of ''Mõmmi ja Aabits'' | |description1 =The intro of ''Mõmmi ja Aabits''. | ||
|service2 =youtube | |service2 =youtube | ||
|id2 =hgYnRFLMqVA | |id2 =hgYnRFLMqVA | ||
|description2 =Episode 2 of ''Mõmmi ja Aabits'', with English subtitles | |description2 =Episode 2 of ''Mõmmi ja Aabits'', with English subtitles. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 00:19, 8 July 2021
The title card of the series.
Status: Partially Found
Mõmmi ja Aabits (Teddy’s ABC’s) is an Estonian children’s television series that aired from 1973-1976 in black and white, and from 1976-1979 in color. Despite the series' ongoing popularity in its home country, the series has not resurfaced in its entirety.
Background
Mõmmi ja Aabits debuted on Eesti Television (ETV) in 1973. It was based on a children’s book called Karu-Aabits (The Bear’s ABC’s) written by Heljo Mänd in 1971.[1] At the time, Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union and, while it had color television, many programs at the time were still broadcast in black and white as a budgetary measure. The series features a bear couple as they teach their child, Teddy (“played” by a stuffed teddy bear), the Estonian alphabet.[2]
Not much is known about the black and white version, as it is completely lost. However, it is known that 17 episodes were produced in black and white. The story from 1976-1977 features Teddy on a journey to collect stars based on the letters of the Estonian alphabet. Sixteen episodes were produced in this version. Another seven episodes were produced in 1979, featuring Teddy in primary school, but these episodes are also lost.[3]
Notoriety
The series is known in the Western world for its strange-looking characters, created by having the actors wear large animal-themed masks, which leave the mouth visible so the actors can be seen speaking. The appearance and movements of the characters can be seen as off-putting or even outright disturbing to Western audiences.
The series is also incredibly low budget, featuring random errors. One error of note is in the intro to Episode 15, when the Papa Bear character shows the back of the very large Karu-Aabits book, instead of the front, before quickly flipping the book over during a pause in the song.[4]
When YouTuber blameitonjorge collaborated with another fellow YouTuber PhantomStrider [5]on his "Top 10 Creepiest Kids' Show Characters" list, Strider described the characters as "making Five Nights at Freddy's look like preschool daycare".
However, in Estonia, the series is considered a classic TV series. A continuation of the series was produced from 1998-1999, called “Mõmmi ja Aabits: 20 Years Later”, featuring much higher production values, better costumes, and less frightening characters (but still featuring a teddy bear as the Baby Bear character).[6] The characters from the series have maintained popularity in Estonia, continuing to make the occasional appearance in various media in the country, including a stage play produced in 2016.[7]
Availability
The sixteen episodes from 1977 and 1978 are available on ETV’s archive.[8] and on DVD (split into two volumes) [9] However, every episode of the black and white series is lost, as are the seven episodes produced in 1979.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Info on the author of the book and co-creator of the series
- ↑ Episode 11 of the color series
- ↑ An article announcing the 1998 series
- ↑ Episode 15 of the color series
- ↑ PhantomStrider's Top 10 Creepiest Kids' Show Characters
- ↑ The ETV archive of the 1998 series
- ↑ A slideshow showing a recent stage production based on the series.
- ↑ The entire ETV archive of the 1976-1977 series.
- ↑ An ETV page selling copies of the Volume 2 DVD.
