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Bolek and Lolek (Polish: Bolek i Lolek), also known in English as Benny and Lenny, Jym and Jam and Tim and Tom, are two Polish cartoon characters from the children's animated comedy television series by the same name.[1] The series was created, written and directed by Władysław Nehrebecki and designed by Nehrebecki, Template:Ill and Template:Ill. The series is about two brothers and their fun (and sometimes silly) adventures which often involve spending a lot of time outdoors.
History and background
The characters were first introduced in 1962. Their names are diminutives of Bolesław and Karol. In English, the cartoon was distributed as Benny & Lenny, Jym and Jam and Tim & Tom. In 1973, at the requests from female viewers, a girl character by the name of Tola was added; she lives in the forest and meets the brothers there. Her first appearance was in the episode "Tola". In total, Tola appeared in 30 episodes.
In a similar vein to The Pink Panther theatrical cartoons, most episodes do not have dialogue. Exceptions are feature-length films and the series from the 1980s, where the main characters' voices were done by: Bolek – Ewa Złotowska, Ilona Kuśmierska; Lolek – Danuta Mancewicz, Danuta Przesmycka.
During the period of the Polish People's Republic, Bolek and Lolek were reproduced in a large quantity of toys: action figures, movies, postcards, online arcades, puzzles, etc., which can be seen in the Museum of Dobranocki (bed-time stories) of the PRL. They are also currently made in computer programmes, colouring books, general picture books and games.
The series was popular in many countries, and was one of the few animated films allowed to be broadcast by Iranian television, along with other popular Polish animated cartoon Reksio, just after the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
In 2011, the Bolek and Lolek Monument was erected in Bielsko-Biała.
Characters
- Bolek (voiced by Ewa Złotowska and Ilona Kuśmierska) - Lolek's big brother.
- Lolek (voiced by Danuta Mancewicz and Danuta Przesmycka) - Bolek's little brother.
- Tola - An ordinary girl who lives deep in the forest and has red hair in pigtails. She wears a white shirt, a blue jumper, white socks and black shoes. In her first appearance in the episode "Tola", Tola is leaving the forest and moved to Bolek and Lolek's house and met them for the first time. According to the episode "Zgubiony Ślad", Tola lives in a wooden cottage in the forest. She is a supporting character in the series.
Telecast and home release
In the U.S., some episodes were seen as part of Nickelodeon's Pinwheel from 1977 to 1990, In Canada, the show reran on the French-speaking TVJQ (now Vrak) in the 1980s. For several years, it released videotapes and DVDs. In Catalonia, it was aired on TV3 in Catalan in 1990.[2] It was broadcast in Czechia in 1963 to 2000s as part of Vecernicek cycle.Template:Cn
Television series
1. Bolek i Lolek
Bolek and Lolek - 13 Episodes, 1962–1964. Template:Collapsible list
2. Bolek i Lolek na wakacjach
Benny and Lenny on Vacation - 13 episodes, 1965–1966.
3. Bolek i Lolek wyruszają w świat
Benny and Lenny travel the world - 18 episodes, 1968–1970.
4. Bajki Bolka i Lolka
The Tales of Bolek and Lolek - 13 episodes, 1970–1971.
5. Bolek i Lolek na Dzikim Zachodzie
Benny and Lenny in the Wild West - 7 episodes, 1972.
6. Przygody Bolka i Lolka
The Adventures of Bolek and Lolek - 63 episodes, 1972–1980.
7. Zabawy Bolka i Lolka
Fun with Bolek and Lolek - 7 episodes, 1975–1976.
8. Wielka podróż Bolka i Lolka
Bolek and Lolek's Great Journey - 15 episodes, 1978.
9. Bolek i Lolek wśród górników
Benny and Lenny Among the Miners - 7 episodes, 1980.
10. Olimpiada Bolka i Lolka
Olympics with Bolek and Lolek - 13 episodes, 1983–1984.
11. Bolek i Lolek w Europie
Benny and Lenny in Europe - 5 episodes, 1983–1986.
Films
Feature films
- Wielka podróż Bolka i Lolka – Bolek and Lolek's Great Journey (adapted into the 15-episode series of the same name) – 16 September 1977
- Kawaler Orderu Uśmiechu – The Knight of the Order of the Smile (sequel to "Great Journey") – 1979
- Kosmiczna podróż Bolka i Lolka – The Cosmic Journey of Bolek and Lolek (Returns in 3D) – 2011 ( unreleased due to not enough funds )
Episodes edited into films
- Bolek i Lolek na Dzikim Zachodzie (Bolek and Lolek in the Wild West) – 5 December 1986
- Sposób na wakacje Bolka i Lolka (How Bolek and Lolek Do Vacations) – 1986
- Bajki Bolka i Lolka (Tales of Bolek and Lolek) – 1986