Reksio
Statue of Reksio in Bielsko-Biała, southern Poland (August 2018)
Genre	Children's animated TV series, comedy, and adventure
Created by	Lechosław Marszałek
Written by	Lechosław Marszałek
Theme music composer	Zenon Kowalowski
Country of origin	Poland
No. of episodes	65
Production
Producer	Studio Filmów Rysunkowych
Running time	8–10 minutes
Original release
Network	Telewizja Polska
Release	1967 (1967) – 1990 (1990)

Reksio is a Polish cartoon character who is the protagonist of the children's animated adventure-comedy Polish TV series of the same name. Reksio was created by Polish director Lechosław Marszałek. Its 65 episodes were designed and produced from 1967 to 1990 in a Polish animated films studio, more specifically in Studio Filmów Rysunkowych (situated in the city of Bielsko-Biała) which also created Bolek and Lolek (there are even cameo appearances of Bolek and Lolek in Reksio).^[a][b][c]

All episodes describe the adventures of a friendly and courageous piebald terrier 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.

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').

Media appearances

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]
• Wesołe przedszkole Reksia/The Merry Kindergarten of Reksio (educational puzzle game) - 2003^[16]
• Reksio i UFO/Reksio and the UFO (adventure game) - 2003^[17]
• Reksio i ortografia/Reksio and spelling (educational puzzle game) - 2003^[18]
• Reksio i Czarodzieje/Reksio and the wizards (adventure game) - 2004^[19]
• Reksio i Wehikuł Czasu/Reksio and the Time Machine (adventure game) - 2004^[20]
• Reksio i kapitan Nemo/Reksio and Captain Nemo (adventure game) - 2006^[21]
• Reksio i Kretes w Akcji!/Reksio and Kretes in action! (arcade game) - 2007^[22]
• Reksio i Kretes: Tajemnica Trzeciego Wymiaru/Reksio and Kretes - The Mystery of the Third Dimension (arcade game) - 2007^[23]
• Łamigłówki Reksia: Wielki Odkrywca/Reksio's puzzles: great explorer (puzzle game) - 2008^[24]
• Reksio i Miasto Sekretów/Reksio and the City of Secrets (adventure game) - 2009 for PC and 2011/2012 for iOS^[25]

Full list of episodes

Reksio's profile as main character

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)
• 
  Reksio's statue in Bielsko-Biała (November 2009)
• 
  Reksio's statue in Bielsko-Biała (August 2009)
• 
  Reksio's statue in Bielsko-Biała (January 2018)
• 
  Reksio as the official mascot of BKS Stal Bielsko-Biała