Wolf Gerlach

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Mainzelmännchen Det - bronze sculpture in the spa gardens of Bad Zwischenahn in memory of Wolf Gerlach

Wolf Theodor Gerlach (born April 17, 1928 in Stolp , Province of Pomerania , † November 12, 2012 in Bad Zwischenahn ) was a German set designer, film architect, caricature artist, painter and author. He invented the Mainzelmännchen ( ZDF ), Ute, Schnute, Kasimir ( WDR ) and Leo and Leo ( BR ).

Life

Wolf Gerlach first grew up in his native city of Stolp, where his father worked as an interior designer. In 1938 the family moved to the North Sea island of Langeoog . Here, shortly before the end of the Second World War , Wolf Gerlach was still deployed as an air force helper.

The skilled art director , stage and costume designers had the Oldenburg State Theater his first engagement as a stage designer. Then he moved to Braunschweig as chief set designer . In the early 1960s, Wolf Gerlach became a film architect for advertising films in Wiesbaden . In 1963 he invented the six Mainzelmännchen for the start of ZDF, through which he became famous. The name Mainzelmännchen was based on Mainz , the seat of the ZDF, and the legendary Heinzelmännchen , because the ZDF employees worked equally non-stop, diligently and hidden from the public for the start of the ZDF on April 1, 1963. One day later, on April 2, 1963, the Mainzelmännchen went “on air” for the first time. Gerlach also gave the males his distinctive voice in the early years. He also worked on cartoon series such as Benjamin Blümchen and Bibi Blocksberg and developed the characters Ute, Schnute, and Kasimir for WDR, whose spots were used there from 1978 to 1989 as commercial separators.

From 1958 to 1988 Gerlach lived in Wiesbaden . His wife Lisa wrote the first two children's books about the Mainz male. In order to be able to distinguish the Mainzelmännchen, each of which represents its own character, they were also given names according to the alphabet.

Gerlach turned his hobby caricature drawing into a profession. In retirement, he returned to his roots as a painter and mainly painted in watercolor.

Wolf Gerlach had four children and six grandchildren. He lived with his partner in Bad Zwischenahn in the Ammerland district near Oldenburg . Gerlach died on November 12, 2012 at the age of 84.

He had exhibitions in Oldenburg, Rastede, Bremen, Bonn and Mainz.

Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Hanfeld : Wolf Gerlach has died. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , November 12, 2012.
  2. ^ The Pomeranian Newspaper . No. 47/2012, p. 3.
  3. ↑ Wolf Gerlach, father of the Mainzel males, in conversation with Dr. Ellen Norten , in α-Forum , broadcast on June 30, 2009, 8.15 p.m. ( PDF )
  4. ↑ The Mainzelmännchen mourn their "father" In: Stern , November 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Mainzerkunst [1]
  6. ↑ Information from the Federal President's Office
  7. ↑ Angelika Wende : Fun with optimistic Wichteln In: Nordwest-Zeitung, May 19, 2008
personal data
SURNAME Gerlach, wolf
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gerlach, Wolf Theodor (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German film architect and inventor of the Mainzelmännchen
DATE OF BIRTH April 17, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Stolp , Pomerania Province
DATE OF DEATH November 12, 2012
Place of death Bad Zwischenahn