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''Schloss Einstein'' is a long-running, popular German
television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...
which is designed as a teenage
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
. It portrays the lives of teenagers in Schloss Einstein (Castle Einstein), a fictional
boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
. The intended audience is 10- to 14-year-olds. The series combines the
genre Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other fo ...
s of
comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...
,
action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...
,
drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
(e.g., first love, problems with parents and schoolmates), and
natural science Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer ...
. Scripts for the series are written by prominent television script writers.


Current air times

New episodes of ''Schloss Einstein'' are currently shown on Mondays at 8:10 p.m. on channel
KiKA Kika may refer to: People * Kika de la Garza (1927–2017), American politician * Kika Edgar (born 1985), Mexican actress and singer * Kika Karadi (born 1975), American contemporary artist * Kika Markham (born 1940), English actress * Kika M ...
. Older episodes are shown regularly from Monday to Friday at 2:10 p.m. on KiKA.


History

''Schloss Einstein'' was developed and produced by by order of the ARD under the auspices of the
MDR MDR may refer to: Biology * MDR1, an ATP-dependent cellular efflux pump affording multiple drug resistance * Mammalian diving reflex * Medical device reporting * Multiple drug resistance, when a microorganism has become resistant to multiple drugs ...
and
WDR WDR may refer to: * Waddell & Reed (stock ticker: WDR), an American asset management and financial planning company * Walt Disney Records, an American record label of the Disney Music Group * WDR neuron, a type of neuron involved in pain signalli ...
. Starting in September 2007, took over production of the series. Because the show has its own genre as a ''Kinder-Weekly'' (children's weekly), the producers had had no experience with this kind of series. Originally, only 76 episodes were planned. ARD went to yearly sequels after they knew it was a success. Since then, each season of production has consisted of 52 episodes, which are shot in 13 blocks of four episodes each. The first episode was aired September 4, 1998, on channel KiKA. Prior to the show's eleventh season (which began in January 2008), a total of 480 episodes had been produced. Episode 480 was the last episode that was set in the fictional village of Seelitz. Up to March 2016, a total of 870 episodes in 19 seasons had aired. This was a milestone in German television programming. Worldwide, ''Schloss Einstein'' is the longest-running fictional children's television series (among those that employ child actors).askania-media.de
Presseinformation – ''Schloss Einstein feiert einen runden Geburtstag: Am 20. Mai 2006 geht die 400. Folge im KI.KA über den Bildschirm!''
/ref>


Concept

''Schloss Einstein'' is a television show intended for an audience of children. The show guides its viewers through the entire school year and offers characters with whom children can identify. Because the actors are the same age as their viewers, their actions look authentic. In its representation of classroom lessons, real knowledge is taught. Thus the show provides both entertainment and instruction. It provides education in a relaxed way. Because it has implemented this concept, ''Schloss Einstein'' is unique worldwide and has been made the object of several scientific studies.


Storyline

Dr. Stollberg realizes a dream. He establishes a private school in an old castle and names his school "the Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium, Internat Schloss Seelitz". The school bears the name of the founder of the
theory of relativity The theory of relativity usually encompasses two interrelated physics theories by Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity, proposed and published in 1905 and 1915, respectively. Special relativity applies to all physical ph ...
because it teaches
natural science Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer ...
. Its students shorten the long name, and it is thereafter known as "Schloss Einstein". Dr. Stollberg wants to provide an education for his students by using his best strength — personal tutoring. Violence is forbidden in the school. Problems that arise must be solved peacefully and, if possible, by the children themselves. Newcomers are given an older student who acts as a "godparent". Of course, this does not always go smoothly, but the teachers and students must master their everyday life under a common roof. At the center of the show are the personal responsibilities of teenagers from class 6 to class 8. Because there are no parents present, the children must make decisions for themselves and be prepared for the consequences. A few adults appear as advisers or counselors. The students experience problems such as grades,
clique A clique (AusE, CanE, or ; ), in the social sciences, is a small group of individuals who interact with one another and share similar interests rather than include others. Interacting with cliques is part of normative social development regardles ...
s, envy, friendships, puberty, first love, career hopes, alcoholism, and the divorce or unemployment of their parents. In many episodes, the students have adventures and learn how to manage conflicts. They also have fun with all kinds of jokes and pranks. There is tension between the Schloss Einstein students and the students who attend public schools. They do not like each other but have to get along. Compromise and tolerance are important in these relationships. In the later episodes, which are set in the city of Erfurt, no public school students are present. However, students who attend other private schools are present from time to time.


Setting and cast

The first ten seasons were set in the fictional village of Seelitz, near
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
. With the advent of the eleventh season on January  5, 2008, (episode 481) the setting was transferred to the real city of
Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital (political), capital and largest city of the Central Germany (cultural area), Central German state of Thuringia, with a population of around 216,000. It lies in the wide valley of the Gera (river), River Gera, in the so ...
.


In Seelitz

''Schloss Einstein'' was shot from 1998 to 2007 (episodes 1–480) on the grounds of the
Babelsberg Studios Babelsberg Film Studio () (also known as Studio Babelsberg), located in Potsdam-Babelsberg outside Berlin, Germany, is the oldest large-scale film studio in the world, producing films since 1912. With a total area of about and a studio area of a ...
in
Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and largest city of the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the Havel, River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
. The
Jagdschloss Grunewald The Jagdschloss Grunewald, a hunting lodge, is the oldest preserved castle of Berlin, Germany. It is on the south waterfront of the Grunewaldsee and is part of the locality Dahlem (Berlin), Dahlem in the borough Steglitz-Zehlendorf. The Jagdsc ...
in Berlin served as backdrop. Outdoor filming was done in the
Klein Glienicke Klein Glienicke (literally ''Little Glienicke'') was an independent village and is now part of Potsdam. It lies on the south-western part of Berlin's Wannsee Hamlet (place), Hamlet. In the center of the original village is the building Jagdschlos ...
quarter of Potsdam and in surrounding villages.


Main cast

; Students ; Teachers and Staff ; Village Youth


In Erfurt

Since September 2007, ''Schloss Einstein'' is produced by Saxonia Media Filmproduktion and filmed at the Kindermedienzentrum
Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital (political), capital and largest city of the Central Germany (cultural area), Central German state of Thuringia, with a population of around 216,000. It lies in the wide valley of the Gera (river), River Gera, in the so ...
. The school has two different buildings: the school building and the dormitory building. The Kindermedienzentrum
Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital (political), capital and largest city of the Central Germany (cultural area), Central German state of Thuringia, with a population of around 216,000. It lies in the wide valley of the Gera (river), River Gera, in the so ...
contains all the sets for the school. The set for the school building has classrooms, a cafeteria, hallways, stairs, and a gymnasium. It also contains all the sets used for the dormitory building. Outside filming is done in the , in other places in
Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital (political), capital and largest city of the Central Germany (cultural area), Central German state of Thuringia, with a population of around 216,000. It lies in the wide valley of the Gera (river), River Gera, in the so ...
, and in Schlosspark
Arnstadt Arnstadt () is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, on the river Gera (river), Gera about south of Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. Arnstadt is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia, and has a well-preserved historic centre with a partially ...
.


Main cast

; Students ; Teachers and Staff


Awards and success

The show has received three awards. *In March 1999, a jury of 32 children awarded it the ''Goldener Spatz'' (Golden Sparrow) in the category ''Fiktion kurz'' (short fiction). This was at the eleventh ''Deutsches Kinder-Film und Fernseh-Festivals'' (German Children's Film and Television Festival). *In July 1999, ''Schloss Einstein'' won the ''Goldener Telix'' from the TV guide ''Gong'' in the category ''Serie oder Film mit Schauspielern'' (television series or film with actors). *In 2010, it won the ''Goldener Spatz'' award again in the series category. The popular success of the show has resulted in high TV ratings. ''Schloss Einstein'' is shown not only in Germany but also in many other countries: in
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
,
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
,
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
,
Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
,
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
,
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
,
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a Landlocked country#Doubly landlocked, doubly landlocked Swiss Standard German, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east ...
,
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, and the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. A textbook for use in German schools, containing themes from ''Schloss Einstein'', has been published.


Opening credits

From the first season to the end of the eighth season, there were always new, but similar,
opening credits In a motion picture, television program or video game, the opening credits or opening titles are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank scree ...
. In all opening credits, some current actors who play the students are shown with their respective character names. In the background, the viewers can hear the song "Die Einsteins feat. Julian  — Alles ist relativ". All opening credits until the end of the fourth season had a duration of 47 seconds. As of the fifth season, the opening credits and background music were prolonged by seven seconds to a total length of 54 seconds. This was done so that a few more actors could be presented. The ninth season featured a completely redesigned opening credits sequence, which lasts 54 seconds. The 19 main characters from classes 6 to 9 are presented on-screen in 13 short scenes, which show several characters at once. Teachers, other adults, and children who are not students at ''Schloss Einstein'' are omitted.


Current opening credits

Starting with the tenth season, completely new opening credits were again developed. The background music was slightly modified, and the duration of the credits was lengthened. All main characters are presented along with their character names.


Seasons of production


Events

At irregular intervals, events featuring the actors of ''Schloss Einstein'' take place in Germany. Among these events were: *the ''Gi’me-5-KI.KA-Party'' (day for friendship and tolerance, August 31, 2003) *the international children's party (''23 Nisan'') in Berlin (April 24, 2004) *the ''KI.KA-Party'' for the 300th episode of ''Schloss Einstein'' (June 7, 2004) *the ''Schloss-Einstein-Sommerparty'' (''Schloss Einstein'' summer party, June 27, 2005) *the KiKA summer tours, which take place annually On June 10, 2007, there was a ceremony in Potsdam-Babelsberg on the occasion of the last shooting day.


Books

In 2000, the book ''Schloss Einstein — Das Klassenbuch: 100 Folgen Schloss Einstein'' (''Schloss Einstein — The Classbook: 100 Episodes of Schloss Einstein'') was published. It presents the main actors in the show and the contents previous episodes. It was published by ''vgs verlagsgesellschaft''. A poster book and an
autograph book An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. '' Webster's Third New Inter ...
have also been published. In 2003, a cookbook ''Schloss Einstein — Kochen mit Einstein'' (''Cooking with Schloss Einstein'') was published. It was written by Peter Brandt and Dieter Saldecki, and published by ''vgs verlagsgesellschaft''. Sixteen novels about ''Schloss Einstein'' have been published. *Volumes 1 to 5 were written by Simon Hauser *Volumes 6 to 11 and 15 were written by Uschi Flacke *Volumes 12 to 14 and 16 were written by Dana Bechtle-Bechtinger The titles of the novels are: Besides the novels, there are three ''Schloss Einstein Exklusiv'' books in which the further histories of the main actors of the first season are told. These were written by Uschi Flacke and published by ''vgs verlagsgesellschaft''. They are: * ''Katharina — Modelträume werden wahr'' * ''Kleine Prinzen'' * ''Nadines Story''


Other media

In 2004, a music album was published, which included many bands. A "Best of" DVD, several radio dramas on cassettes and CDs, and a magazine about the show covering the years 2001 to 2003, have also been released.


References


External links

*
Official website of the production company ASKANIA MEDIA Filmproduktion GmbH
(includes press reports for the television program)
Official website of the production company Saxonia Media Filmproduktion GmbH
* {{Authority control German children's television series 1998 German television series debuts 2000s German television series 2010s German television series 2020s German television series German-language television shows High school television series Television series about teenagers German teen drama television series German educational television series Fictional schools Westdeutscher Rundfunk Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk