The Autocrats ( fi, Itse valtiaat) was a

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

political satire Political satire is satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where s ...

TV series, which takes the viewer behind the scenes of the

politics of Finland The politics of Finland take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. Finland is a republic whose head of state is President Sauli Niinistö, who leads the nation's foreign policy and is the supreme commander of ...

. The series is produced by Filmiteollisuus and is made using

3D computer animation Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anim ...

. The original idea for the series came from producer Olli Haikka. As of 5 January 2008, 233 episodes – comprising approximately 30 hours of footage – have been aired.

Politicians that appear in the series

Tarja Halonen Tarja Kaarina Halonen (; born 24 December 1943) is a Finnish politician who served as the 11th president of Finland, and the first woman to hold the position, from 2000 to 2012. She first rose to prominence as a lawyer with the Central Organisa ...

Pentti Arajärvi Dr. Pentti Ilkka Olavi Arajärvi (born 2 June 1948, Helsinki) is a Finland, Finnish Doctor of Law, Professor Emeritus and Docent of the University of Helsinki, a former civil service official and a Social Democratic Party of Finland, Social Democr ...

Paavo Lipponen Paavo Tapio Lipponen (; born 23 April 1941) is a Finnish politician and former reporter. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1993 to 2005. He also served as Speaker of t ...

* Erkki Tuomioja *

Antti Kalliomäki Antti Kalliomäki (born 8 January 1947) is a Finnish politician and former athlete. Kalliomäki is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) and was a member of the Parliament of Finland from 1983 until 2011. He retired from polit ...

Eero Heinäluoma Eero Olavi Heinäluoma (born 4 July 1955 in Kokkola) is a Finnish politician who has been serving as Member of the European Parliament since 2019. A former chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party, he was replaced in the party's leadership ...

* Presidents

Mauno Koivisto Mauno Henrik Koivisto (; 25 November 1923 – 12 May 2017) was a Finnish politician who served as the ninth president of Finland from 1982 to 1994. He also served as the country's prime minister twice, from 1968 to 1970 and again from 1979 to 1 ...

and

Martti Ahtisaari Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (; born 23 June 1937) is a Finnish politician, the tenth president of Finland (1994–2000), a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a United Nations diplomat and mediator noted for his international peace work. Ahtisa ...

– appear as an epilogue to every episode, sitting on a park bench. * Mauri Pekkarinen *

Seppo Kääriäinen Seppo Arimo Kääriäinen (born 29 March 1948 in Iisalmen maalaiskunta) is a Finnish politician of the Centre Party and Doctor in Social Sciences. He served as the Minister of Defence of Finland between from 24 June 2003 to 19 April 2007. He ...

Anneli Jäätteenmäki Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki (born 11 February 1955) is a Finnish politician who was the first female Prime Minister of Finland from 17 April 2003 to 24 June 2003. From 2004 until 2019, she served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) ...

Esko Aho Esko Tapani Aho (born 20 May 1954) is a Finnish politician who was prime minister of Finland from 1991 to 1995. Early life and career Aho was born in Veteli, Finland. Prior to attending university, he began a career in politics. From 1974 t ...

Matti Vanhanen Matti Taneli Vanhanen (; born 4 November 1955) is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2003 to 2010. He was also Chairman of the Centre Party and President of the European Council in 2006. In his earlier career, he ...

Tanja Karpela Tanja Tellervo Karpela (''née'' Vienonen; ''previously'' Karpela and Saarela; born 22 August 1970) is a Finnish former politician. As a beauty queen, she was Miss Finland in 1991. She was a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2011 and served in ...

(Tanja Saarela) *

Paavo Väyrynen Paavo Matti Väyrynen (born 2 September 1946) is a Finnish politician and former member of the Finnish Parliament who has represented the Seven Star Movement, the Citizen's Party and Centre Party. He is currently member of Centre Party. Väyryn ...

Sirkka-Liisa Anttila Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (born 20 December 1943, Marttila) is a Finnish politician and was the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet and Mari Kiviniemi's cabinet. She represents the Centre Party. Political career * ...

* Sauli Niinistö *

Ben Zyskowicz Ben Berl Zyskowicz (born 24 May 1954) is a Finnish politician and member of parliament. Zyskowicz was chairman of the Finnish National Coalition Party's (Finnish: Kansallinen Kokoomus) parliamentary group from 1993 to 2006, and has been a member o ...

* Suvi Lindén * Ville Itälä *

Jyrki Katainen Jyrki Tapani Katainen (born 14 October 1971) is a Finnish politician who served as the European Commission's Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness from 2014 until 2019. Katainen was previously Prime Minister of Finland fr ...

Ilkka Kanerva Ilkka Armas Mikael Kanerva (28 January 1948 – 14 April 2022) was a Finnish politician and a member of the Parliament of Finland. He was born in Lokalahti, now a part of Uusikaupunki in Southwest Finland. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs ...

* Suvi-Anne Siimes *

Päivi Räsänen Päivi Maria Räsänen, née Kuvaja (born 19 December 1959, in Sonkajärvi, Finland), is a Finnish politician. The chairwoman of the Christian Democrats from 2004 to 2015, she was the Minister of the Interior of Finland between 2011 and 2015. A ...

Anni Sinnemäki Anni Milja Maaria Sinnemäki (born 20 July 1973) is a Finnish politician and a member of the Finnish Parliament between 1999 and 2015, representing the Green League. Biography She was first elected to the parliament in 1999 and served as the M ...

Episodes 2001–2008

(Original airdate)

The Autocrats pilot

*Demo: Eskon lähtö (14.4.)

Spring 2001 (1st season)

*1. Pääministerin mahtikäsky (14.4.) *2. Erkki vastaan Paavo (21.4.) *3. Saukko älä jännitä (28.4.) *4. Lex Niinistö (5.5.) *5. Niinistön paha uni (12.5.) *6. Käyrä (19.5.) *7. Arajärven lista (26.5.) *8. Aate hukassa (2.6.) *9. Aho vastaan Aho (9.6.) *10. Lindenin tulikaste (16.6.) *11. Laulava oppositio (23.6.) *12. Poliitikot vastaan kansa (30.6.)

Fall 2001 (2nd season)

*13. Hirviövoimala (11.8.) *14. Lipposen burnout (18.8.) *15. Ben loikkaa (25.8.) *16. Lemmikkiä elvytetään (1.9.) *17. Räsänen ja pojat (8.9.) *18. Tupakkalaki (15.9.) *19. Puheripuli (22.9.) *20. Lipposen ja Niinistön näytösriita (29.9.) *21. Meteoriitti (6.10.) *22. Riidankylväjä (13.10.) *23. Lapsi eduskunnassa (20.10.) *24. Kassakaappisopimus (27.10.) *25. Lipponen ja isot pojat (3.11.) *26. Lipponen Mr. Niceguy (10.11.) *27. Autoilun vapaus (17.11.) *28. Rajaton oikeus (24.11.) *29. Esko Shakespeare (1.12.) *30. Niinistön lähtö (8.12.) *31. Aimo porvari (15.12.) *32. Ydinkeskusta (22.12.) *33. Suomea ei voi tuoda (29.12.)

Spring 2002 (3rd season)

*34. Sponsoroitua politiikkaa (5.1.) *35. Demarien puheenjohtajakisa (12.1.) *36. Tuomioja joutuu vastaamaan sanoistaan (19.1.) *37. Ville Itälä - pehmoporvari (26.1.) *38. Valtion kassa (2.2.) *39. Äärilipponen (9.2.) *40. Kriisialue Presidentinlinna (16.2.) *41. Räsänen ja keskeinen ongelma (26.2.) *42. Naisverkosto (2.3.) *43. Ahon läksiäiset (9.3.) *44. Riihen kaihoisa kutsu (16.3.) *45. Kokoomuksen puheenjohtajan toimenkuva (23.3.) *46. Ahon perintö (6.4.) *47. Autiosaari (13.4.) *48. Lottovoitto (20.4.) *49. Halosen kansansuosio (27.4.) *50. Hallitustunnusteluja (4.5.) *51. Jäätteenmäki vs. Rehn (11.5.) *52. Being Ben Zyskowicz (18.5.) *53. Kääriäinen puheenjohtajaksi (25.5.)

Fall 2002 (4th season)

*54. Voittajien paluu (7.9.) *55. Keskusta käy vaalitaistoon (14.9.) *56. Halonen vastaan Jäätteenmäki (21.9.) *57. Keskustan kannatus (28.9.) *58. Entiset johtajat (5.10.) *59. Lipponen näkee unia (12.10.) *60. Vähemmistöhallitus (19.10.) *61. Taksvärkki (26.10.) *62. Poliittinen keskustelu (2.11.) *63. Kaksi poikaa ja tyttö (9.11.) *64. Julkkisehdokkaat (16.11.) *65. Puolueet kuriin (23.11.) *66. YKsta päivää (30.11.) *67. Erkkiä masennetaan (7.12.) *68. Benin talli (14.12.) *69. Marginaalit haltuun (21.12.) *Itse valtiaat – Avaruusmusikaali (31.12.)

Spring 2003 (5th season)

*70. Yhtiöitystä (18.1.) *71. Ryhdy itselliseksi (25.1.) *72. Holhousyhteiskunta (1.2.) *73. Noottikriisi (8.2.) *74. Moses goes Jesus (15.2.) *75. Supersankareita (22.2.) *76. Hallitus-Popstars (1.3.) *77. Henkilövaalit (8.3.) *78. Herää pahvi! (15.3.) *79. Viimeiset kiusaukset (22.3.) *80. Takaisin luontoon (29.3.) *81. Öljylähde (5.4.) *82. Koukussa (12.4.) *83. Mauri palaa loppuun (19.4.) *84. Vaihtokauppa (26.4.) *85. Ollaan kavereita (3.5.) *86. Mestarit areenalla (10.5.) *87. Operation ESC (17.5.)

Fall 2003 (6th season)

*88. Ruusunnuppu (13.9.) *89. Vahva pääministeri (20.9.) *90. Kokoomuksen ahdinko (27.9.) *91. Omakotitalo rules! (4.10.) *92. Luihin ja ytimiin (11.10.) *93. Ongelma: alkoholi (18.10.) *94. Tarja vs. Matti (25.10.) *95. Poliittisten ruumiiden yö (1.11.) *96. Antti puolittaa (8.11.) *97. Paavon Babylon (15.11.) *98. Uusille urille (22.11.) *99. Uraani halkeaa (29.11.) *100. 200 apinaa (6.12.) *101. Toveri Mauri (13.12.) *102. Ihmeellinen on eduskunta (20.12.) *Näin tehdään Itse Valtiaat (29.12.) *Itse valtiaat – Kuningasmusikaali (31.12.)

Spring 2004 (7th season)

*103. Tappajatomaatit (10.1.) *104. Demareiden imu (17.1.) *105. Eurovaalihuumaa (24.1.) *106. Rati riti ralla! (31.1.) *107. Minne menet, Nato? (7.2.) *108. Poikien välisestä ystävyydestä (14.2.) *109. Lähtölaskenta (21.2.) *110. ÄKS-arkisto (28.2.) *111. Loppusijoitus (6.3.) *112. Parkkipaikka (13.3.) *113. Erkki vs. Erkki (20.3.) *114. Antin kalansaalis (27.3.) *115. Pena ja Eki - Auringonlaskun ratsastajat (3.4.) *116. Tanjan työpäivä (10.4.) *117. Rankka päivä (17.4.) *118. Kiina-ilmiö (24.4.) *119. Seksiä ja väkivaltaa (1.5.) *120. Yhteistyö on voimaa (8.5.)

Fall 2004 (8th season)

*121. Pohjoinen ulottuvuus (4.9.) *122. Matin painajainen (11.9.) *123. Kuka lohduttaisi Tanjaa? (18.9.) *124. Operaatio Helsinki (25.9.) *125. Matti Vanhasen lentävä sirkus (2.10.) *126. Kieltolaki (9.10.) *127. Terrorismin vastainen sota (16.10.) *128. Kultainen kaatopaikka (23.10.) *129. Paavon Zen (30.10.) *130. Paavon seuraaja (6.11.) *131. Brysselin raakit (13.11.) *132. Paavo ja Nato (20.11.) *133. Lopullinen ratkaisu (27.11.) *134. Antin verovähennys (4.12.) *135. Rajaton valta (11.12.) *136. Jyrki, joulun lapsi (18.12.) *Itse valtiaat – Urheilumusikaali (26.12.)

Spring 2005 (9th season)

*137. Jyrki Boy (15.1.) *138. Tohtori Frankenmauri (22.1.) *139. Korpilammen kutsu (29.1.) *140. Keskiyön Mauri (5.2.) *141. Star Trip (12.2.) *142. Tarjan korvanappi (19.2.) *143. Verotus kevenee (26.2.) *144. Tarjan valinta (5.3.) *145. Annin pöksylähetys (12.3.) *146. Puhemiehen edustusauto (19.3.) *147. Evan salaseura (26.3.) *148. Suvi-Anne meklarina (2.4.) *149. Putin tarjoaa (9.4.) *150. Yhdistynyt oppositio (16.4.) *151. Mahdoton tehtävä (23.4.) *152. Perintö (30.4.) *153. Viimeinen taisto (7.5.) *154. Kepulin asteen yhteys (14.5.)

Fall 2005 (10th season)

*155. Vaalitaiston virallinen aloitus (3.9.) *156. Punakoneen liittymätarjous (10.9.) *157. Päivä peruskoulussa (17.9.) *158. Vihreiden puiseva peruna (24.9.) *159. Titanic (1.10.) *160. Loanheiton SM-kisat (8.10.) *161. Mafiaveljet (15.10.) *162. Lintukodossa kuohuu (22.10.) *163. Presidenttiyden hinta (29.10.) *164. Presidenttiehdokkaat karkuteillä (5.11.) *165. Muunnellun totuuden hetki (12.11.) *166. Viimeinen lupaus (19.11.) *167. Kova vai pehmeä Sauli? (26.11.) *168. Demarihengen joululahja (3.12.) *169. Uusi tuleminen (10.12.) *170. Hyvinvoinnin lähteillä (17.12.) *Itse valtiaat – Agenttimusikaali (30.12.)

Spring 2006 (11th season)

*171. Viimeinen sanasota (14.1.) *172. Mihin menet, Suomi-neito? (21.1.) *173. Kepun miesten luonto (28.1.) *174. Naisverkosto lasikatolla (4.2.) *175. Stokka-syndrooma (11.2.) *176. Poliittinen eläin (18.2.) *177. Hedelmällinen juttu (25.2.) *178. Työväen budjetti (4.3.) *179. Benin uusi elämä (11.3.) *180. Matin syöksykierre (18.3.) *181. Päiväni vasemmistojohtajana (25.3.) *182. Kakkoskauden kriisi (1.4.) *183. Suvi-Anne kulissien takana (8.4.) *184. Rakas johtaja Eero (22.4.) *185. Politiikan myytinmurtajat (29.4.) *186. Puuta heinäsuopaa (6.5.)

Fall 2006 (12th season)

*187. Yksi pieni kysymys (9.9.) *188. Eeron imagokampanja (16.9.) *189. Erkin poliittinen historia (23.9.) *190. EU-spesiaali (30.9.) *191. Päivin luusoppa (7.10.) *192. Ruusun nimi (14.10.) *193. Poliittisen kulttuurin kaanon (21.10.) *194. Paavon viimeiset kiusaukset (28.10.) *195. Tietomurto presidentinlinnassa (4.11.) *196. Menokehys pettää (11.11.) *197. Jyrkin radikaali veto (18.11.) *198. Lausuntoautomaatin aika (25.11.) *199. Sähköinen tapaaminen (2.12.) *200. On totuuskomission aika (9.12.) *201. Idän ihme puhuu (16.12.) *Itse valtiaat -länkkäri: Haaveratsastajat (30.12.)

Spring 2007 (13th season)

*202. Vaalien pelko (6.1.) *203. Kassakaappisopimus (13.1.) *204. Vallankaappaus (20.1.) *205. Ylähuone (27.1.) *206. Parantumaton tauti (3.2.) *207. Työn orjat (10.2.) *208. Uusi kieltolaki (17.2.) *209. Eero Tavaa jo (24.2.) *210. Skuru Sörkkään (3.3.) *211. Demokratian itsepuolustus (10.3.) *212. Eläinten valtakunta (17.3.) *213. Kuninkaat ja moukat (24.3.) *214. Lautasellinen vaalilupauksia (31.3.) *215. Mafian oppitunti (14.4.) *216. Vessallakin on korvat (21.4.) *217. Paras iskupaikka (28.4.) *218. Demarien syntilista (5.5.) *219. Totuuskomissio (19.5.) *220. Kymmenes käsky (26.5.) *221. Biomassaa massoille (2.6.)

Fall 2007 (14th season)

*222. Puppusanageneraattori (20.10.) *223. Via dolorosa Lipponensis (27.10.) *224. Pyydä anteeks! (3.11.) *225. On totuuden aika (10.11.) *226. Tapaus 141 (17.11.) *227. Hybris Politus Renesansius (24.11.) *228. Kadonneen aatteen metsästäjät (1.12.) *229. Sosialidemokratian lapset (8.12.) *230. Sananvapauden tuulimyllyt (15.12.) *231. Listojen yö (22.12.) *232. Eduskunnan karnevaalipäivä (29.12.) *233. Vieroitusklinikka (5.1.)

Extra episode

*Itse valtiaat – Matkustusturvallisuus (2008)

Other ''The Autocrats'' publications

In addition to the TV series, ''The Autocrats'' series also includes:

Movie

* ''

The Emperor's Secret ''The Emperor's Secret'' ( fi, Keisarin salaisuus), released on 8 September 2006, is the first Finnish computer-animated feature film. Plot The film stars the familiar characters from the Finnish TV show '' The Autocrats'' (a political satire of ...

'' (''Keisarin salaisuus'', 2006)

TV-movies

* Avaruusmusikaali (2002) * Kuningasmusikaali (2003) * Urheilumusikaali (2004) * Agenttimusikaali (2005) * Länkkäri: Haaveratsastajat (2006)

Documentary

* Näin tehdään Itse Valtiaat (2003)

Pilot episode

* Itse valtiaat pilotti – Demo: Eskon lähtö (2001)

Extra episode

* Matkustusturvallisuus (2008)

CD-albums

* Menneisyyden vangit (2002) * 200 apinaa – Paavo kuninkaaksi (2003) * Luuserien olympialaiset (2004) * Kun mikään ei riitä (2005)

CD-singles

* Jätä rauhaan mun siili!/Pahat pojat (2002) * 200 apinaa (2003) * My Heart Bleeds For You (2003)

DVD

* The Autocrats #1: Avaruusmusikaali + Operation ESC (2003) * The Autocrats #2: 6th season (fall 2003) + Näin tehdään Itse Valtiaat (2004) * The Autocrats #3: Kuningasmusikaali + 7th season (spring 2004) (2004) * The Autocrats #4: Urheilumusikaali + 8th season (fall 2004) (2005) * The Autocrats Arkistojen aarteita: Spring 2001 and from fall 2001 episodes 1 to 17 (2005) * The Autocrats Arkistojen aarteita: Fall 2001 episodes 18 to 33 (2005) * The Autocrats Arkistojen aarteita: Spring 2002 episodes 34 to 50 (2005) * The Autocrats #5: Agenttimusikaali + 13 best voted episodes (2006)

Comic books

* Three The Autocrats -comic book albums (2002–03) * Kuningassatu - festschrift (2004)

Other

* Masks of Tarja Halonen, Erkki Tuomioja, Paavo Lipponen, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Ben Zyskowicz and Sauli Niinistö (2003) * A wall calendar (2005)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Autocrats, The 2001 Finnish television series debuts 2000s Finnish television series Finnish adult animated comedy television series Animated satirical television series Finnish political satire Political satirical television series Yle original programming