Brummkreisel (Spinning Top) was an East German children's TV series that ran from 1982 to 1991. The show starred Joachim Kaps as Achim, a man with red dungarees and possible magic powers, and Hans-Joachim Leschnitz as Kunibert, a small faerie type creature, who get up to hijinks and teach kids everything from courtesy to the weather.
This show provides examples of:
- '80s Hair: Achim's other distinguishing figure, besides his dungarees.
- Agent Scully: Achim doesn't believe in the supernatural and spends an episode convincing Kunibert that his house isn't haunted.
- Ambiguously Human: Achim is the Token Human of the show, but he has a magic book and seems to have magical powers, so he may be some sort of clown wizard.
- Anti-Role Model: Kikifax, Kunibert's Lazy Bum great-great grandson.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: Achim is a bit on the hyperactive side but he really shows a short attention span when he visits Kunibert's attic, which to Kuni is a sort of ancestral museum.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Achim is a downplayed example. He's incredibly patient, but sometimes he can be pushed too far, not in a violent way but a sneaky, mischievous way. In "Kunibert and the Story Thief", he gets sick of Kunibert sorting stories from the kids by computer without taking the time to read them first so he disguises himself as a robber and steals them.
- Break the Haughty: Happens to Kunibert soon after one of his arrogant moments. Notably in Episode 79, he's ungrateful after winning a prize in a fairytale contest and is sent to a dungeon, learning his lesson about gratitude the hard way.
- Dogs Are Dumb: Mops is a bit ditzy.
- The Fair Folk: Kunibert is some sort of fairy or goblin.
- Gossipy Hens: Hops and Mops in the episode Rumors, after hearing that Achim "passed by with a monkey tooth", meaning that he's always on the move. This episode shows how hurtful rumors can be as they misinterpret the saying and think that Achim has actual monkey teeth.
- Iconic Outfit: Achim's red dungarees.
- Identical Grandson: Kikifax, Kunibert's great-great nephew.
- In-Series Nickname: Kunibert is often called "Kuni". Achim's name itself is a nickname, being short for "Joachim".
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Kunibert is bossy, loud, demanding, but loves Achim and depends on him.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Achim and Kunibert are close friends, although sometimes Achim gets annoyed with Kunibert's bluster and at one point steals the letters he demanded to organize to teach him a lesson.
- Large Ham: Kunibert likes to yell and complain a lot.
- A Rare Sentence: Achim says this bizarre phrase in "Story of Sleeping Beauty"Achim: Nonsense. Sleeping Beauty won't explode.
- Signing Off Catchphrase: The characters have a tandem one:Achim: Farewell until next time from...Kunibert: Kunibert and...Achim:... Achim. Bye!
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Both Achim and Kunibert dress up as female fairy tale characters. In the episode Winter Achim dresses up as Mother Hulda while singing an ode to her, while in another episode Kunibert dresses up as a princess to walk like one.
- Your Size May Vary: Kunibert's size changes from thirty centimeters to a foot and a half in between scenes.
