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stories he acts independently and is practically "ageless". Soon Lurchi's world developed into a fictional pseudo-human society of small creatures (animals and dwarfs) who had cars and other technology fitting their size, but still lived in mushroom and trees trunk houses (~issues 4–10, and once again in issue 22 "The
Olympiad"). In the "classic" era, Lurchi and his friends were anthropomorphic animals only slightly smaller than humans, and travelled the human world.
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mentioned, however, that the "mammal" protagonists (the mouse, the hedgehog and the dwarf) always had worn at least pants, and the amphibian protagonists of course had no visible reproductive organs. But more essential to the series was the change of roles the protagonists went through (e. g. Piping had been the group's elder before, since 2000 he is a child). Moreover, the text is in prose now.
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Very popular were the toy figures: Lurchi as an articulated figure (rubber with intern metal wire), the six friends as rubber figurines (with squeaking valve), and the six friends as large (around 1 ft) articulated plastic figures. There have been some smaller and less popular series of figures.
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In the first issues (~1-3) Lurchi was still basically a salamander, very "humanized" in form, but in its natural size and confronted with nature life dangers such as predators (stork, hedgehog, owl) etc. In these issues he is also clearly an adolescent, living with his parents, whereas in later
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In 2000, all protagonists of the series underwent a major "brushup" at the request of the company's management. Most remarkably, they became fully clothed, whereas in their classic form they had been mostly nude except for some accessories, and, of course, their
Salamander shoes. It should be
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and writer Erwin Kühlewein took over, and shaped the style of Lurchi as it became known by generations of readers. Schubel retired in 1972, and various artists tried to keep up his standards - unsuccessfully, in the opinion of the majority of fans. In 1995
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While
Salamander issued some newspaper advertisements featuring an anonymous anthropomorphic salamander in early 20th century, the character Lurchi was introduced in 1937. The name of the artist of the pre-war booklets is
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Lurchi's adventures ceased publication in 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II. They were continued only in 1951, starting with redrawn remakes of the prewar issues 1–5. Then, artist
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Many adventures include exotic places, fairytales and sporting competitions. In the 1973-95 period, "political correct" subjects were preferred, mainly environment related.
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In the 1930s, Salamander did not even produce children's shoes. The booklets were rather meant to keep youngsters quiet while parents would buy shoes.
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The adventures always have a happy ending, thanks to the (sometimes unconventional) use of
Salamander shoes. They always end with the rhyme:
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There are many other (but mostly short-lived) merchandising articles, including colouring books, plush toys, stickers, postcards,
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After 2000, the classic figure series were discontinued and replaced by hard plastic figures of the "new" characters.
38:(Lurchi's adventures). They are targeted mainly at primary schoolers, written in calligraphic handwriting in simple
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Lurchi, and, in the shoe shops, rockinghorses and small merry-go-rounds.
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in the 1960s, at least three on vinyl single disc around 1970, six on
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Some audio plays have been produced: at least five episodes on
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in the early 1990s, and a running series on CD since 2000.
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Lurchi's adventures (official site of
Salamander company)
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where XXX is the name of the current adventure's scene.
209:(some parts translated in English and other languages)
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took over and returned to a more "Schubelian" style.
137:Lurchi has met these friends during issues 1 to 5.
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75:Five friends help Lurchi in his adventures:
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253:Comics characters introduced in 1937
196:Fansite, very detailed information
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278:Comics adapted into radio series
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273:Male characters in advertising
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157:"In … it's heard long after
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283:Anthropomorphic amphibians
190:Sources and external links
228:German comics characters
30:shoe factories. He is a
26:character of the German
243:Comics about amphibians
159:Long live Salamander!",
268:Advertising characters
155:Salamander lebe hoch!"
153:"Im … tönts lange noch
233:Fictional amphibians
258:1939 comics endings
223:German comic strips
124:Yellow-bellied toad
22:is the advertising
263:1951 comics debuts
248:1937 comics debuts
36:Lurchis Abenteuer
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175:Compact Cassette
62:Dietwald Doblies
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184:jumping jack
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207:(in German)
199:(in German)
165:Other media
217:Categories
171:Flexi disc
141:Adventures
71:Characters
28:Salamander
100:Mäusepiep
120:Unkerich
114:hedgehog
110:Igelmann
46:History
122:, the
90:Piping
20:Lurchi
131:Trine
104:mouse
94:dwarf
80:Hopps
51:lost.
24:comic
112:the
102:the
92:the
84:frog
82:the
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