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“Bienenkino” is improvised live animation, music and narration for kids. The ensemble is part of Tetete, a group of artists aiming to provide quality off-mainstream children’s entertainment. Here are three videos from a concert on May 2nd 2010 at Theater Comedia in Cologne (photos here), featuring old and new characters from the Tetete universe. Even if you don’t speak German, the clips are worth checking out for the sounds and visuals.

Christian Reiner – voice
Philip Zoubek – piano
Mathias Koch – drums
Maki Dorninger – drawing
Mathias Fritz – animation

Die Sache mit dem Maulwurf – Teil 1
(The Story with the Mole – Part 1)

A bee by the name of Seppi encounters a talking tree in the garden. Their conversation is interrupted by a grumpy nameless mole – it drops a bone and disappears. Puzzled, Seppi goes underground to investigate, and finds the remains of Horst, the skeleton clown. Horst has long given up circus life in favour of making movies. He was lured below earth by the mole, who claimed to be a famous director but then abandoned the movie. In the underground caverns, watched by the stones, Seppi further discovers that the mole has trapped Jean-Paul, the rocket. He manages to free him, and together they wonder – why is the mole causing all this trouble?

Die Sache mit dem Maulwurf – Teil 2
(The Story with the Mole – Part 2)

Seppi finds Barbara, who is usually inseparable from Jean-Paul, but got away when he was trapped, hiding under a cup. Meanwhile the mole decides to cut the talking tree’s roots, which are disturbing him. One of the roots confronts him, and together with Seppi it can convince the troublemaker to stop his senseless hooliganism. They realise loneliness is the reason of the moles behaviour – their friendship is the cure. Finally he agrees to go ahead with shooting the movie – featuring Horst, Seppi, Jean-Paul, Barbara and the root.

Tanz das Krokodil
(Do the Crocodile Dance)

A kid in the audience asks for “Kasperl”… the German equivalent of Punch & Judy. In fact, he wants “a beautiful Kasperl”… an that’s what he gets. Kasperl’s traditional sidekick, the Crocodile, is less esthetically pleasing. But it dresses up all lovely, and together they dance till late at night.