Äffle & Pferdle – The Exhibition!

Äffle & Pferdle – Two Swabian cattle enthusiasts travel to the Black Forest

Neuenbürg Castle will be showing an exhibition about the cult figures from 25 July

Thin, silent, and colorless—that's how unspectacular the little horse trotted across the Süddeutsche Rundfunk television screen shortly after its birth in 1960. That would soon change, as not only the monkey, but also color, music, and humorous dialogues came into play. With profound sayings like "Better to chatter than to say nothing at all" and "Creatures are just human," the animal duo soon achieved cult status.

Starting Sunday, July 25, the Swabian cult characters Äffle & Pferdle will be guests at Neuenbürg Castle. The opening, featuring surprise guests, will take place at 11 a.m. in the castle courtyard. In this newly designed exhibition, adults and children can learn more about Armin Lang, the creator of the funny team, and their television history until November 7.

According to museum director Jacqueline Maltzahn-Redling, the castle's 2021th anniversary in 20 – XNUMX years of the Neuenbürg Castle Museum – provided the occasion to invite the cheerful friends from Swabia to the old Württemberg residence. After all, who doesn't enjoy celebrating with old friends who also create a good atmosphere?

There's probably hardly anyone between the Northern Black Forest and Lake Constance who hasn't been amused by the two likeable cartoon characters' pithy remarks. Since the 1960s, the duo has enjoyed a meteoric career.

When commercial advertising television was launched, the then Süddeutsche Rundfunk wanted interstitial spots to carefully separate the commercials for dog food, sunscreen or washing powder and thus make them more attractive to viewers.

The “Rössle” – the Stuttgart heraldic animal – was supposed to gallop across the screen for this purpose.

Stuttgart-based animation pro Armin Lang was responsible for the television adaptation of the landmark. This marked the birth of the Pferdles (horse). In 1963, the Äffle (a kind of animal) was added, and in 1987 – since Baden also plays a certain role in Baden-Württemberg – the poodle Schlabbinchen (a female poodle).

"You just have to open your eyes and ears and gather impressions to get an idea," said its inventor, Armin Lang (1928-1996), a native of Upper Bavaria who came to Swabia as a child, learned Swabian in Stuttgart, and later studied painting and graphic design at the Stuttgart Art Academy. In 1962, he founded his own film production company, LANG-FILM, in Stuttgart, which is still run today by his son, Armin Lang Jr.

Neuenbürg Castle has now conceived the exhibition with Armin Lang Jr., featuring original drawings, media stations, and scenes with Äffle & Pferdle. On Sunday, October 10, from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m., Äffle & Pferdle's illustrator, Alexander Linke, will let visitors look over his shoulder. And what do the two friends think of the Black Forest? Äffle: "Hey, why is the Black Forest actually called the Black Forest?"

Pferdele: “Ha, because you can romdippla until it turns black!”

 Opening: Sunday, July 25, 2021, 11 a.m., Castle Courtyard/Prince's Hall + Foyer (in case of inclement weather). With surprise guests.