Alfred J. Kwak (1989–1991) User Reviews

A show for kids, but clever and mature

[marioreds-40453 · 9/10 · 12 September 2022]

It is a show for kids, but surprisingly mature: we can see the psychological progression of a character from self-loathing in childhood to tyrannic and evil behaviour as an adult, and also themes such as racial discrimination, illness, doping in sport, and others. All of this is beautifully packaged in something a child can understand. So that's what I love about Alfred Kwak: unlike most children's shows, it doesn't treat children like little idiots, it gives them credit and believes in their ability to understand good and evil in contexts that are fairly close analogies to what happens in the real world. Also, i like that the characters grow up. In short, a clever and educational cartoon.

Great TV-series

[arjanpelle · 25 January 2002]

Alfred J. Kwak was created in the late 1980's by the Dutch writer, performer, musician, composer Herman van Veen. He made up the character and the stories for comic books for Unicef. They'd ordered him to create a serie of comic books to point the reading children at the bad things in the world and in the past, but without boring them. The comics became such a hit in the Netherlands, that Unicef and a Japanese producer decided to make a animation series out of it. The stories are about the same as in the (now rare to find) comics, but they are animated in Japan. But Herman van Veen did had a big influence in the direction of the episodes and about the way some of his characters should be drawn. He also wrote the music, which became very popular music for children here in The Netherlands, and was also translated to lots of other languages. If you haven't seen it yourself, please let your children watch it: it deals with racism, poverty, etc. without boring your children, or making it all to obvious.

Prepared kids for the real world

[VeronicaJ · 10/10 · 7 August 2006]

Alfred J. Kwak is most likely the series that had the greatest influence on who I have become and who I am now. As a child I always enjoyed watching the show over and over again, my Mum taped the better part of the series so I could watch it over and over again. Even when I was older that the average AJK viewer I remained a huge fan. It was later when I started to realize that some of the episodes are simple versions of what happens in real life. Examples enough: Dolf, his roots and his 'kraaienpartij' refer to the Nazi's and the Second World War; the poverty in Africa is also a subject, as well as the ever-raging conflict in Isreal (nowadays it is still the same as when Herman van Veen described it, except for the invasion) and many other subjects. I think this is one of the few shows that I, as a cheap Dutch Girl, and others in my county can be PROUD of. It makes me feel good about education through television and learning kids something about the fearful grown-up world.

For once, Holland has with some help delivered a masterpiece!

Pinnacle of Dutch children shows

[nistuk · 10/10 · 5 May 2022]

This shows has amazing storytelling, blending world history, human rights and justice, and learning to look beyond stereotypes, all told from the perspective of an adopted duckling who comes of age in a fictive Netherlands. It starts out focussing on the difficulties of growing up and develops towards major historical events, such as the second world war or the forging of universal human rights by the UN. It is incredibly well written and (for its time) animated. I truly hope they revisit this show so everyone on the globe can enjoy Alfred.

My favourite childrens anime

[stephen-63 · 21 September 2001]

Excellent childrens animation, animated in Japan, and associated with Dennis Livson who brought us The Moomins. Follow Alfred from hatching and the early death of his parents, through political and environmental adventures. In due course Alfred falls in love with a wonderful black duck called Winnie.

Lots of allusions to the real world of the time and no holds barred presentation of apartheid and environmental damage. Intelligent, well drawn and animated, a delight (but be warned- some episodes have rather sad / down beat endings).