''Sender Nordlicht'' is a German

children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television show, television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during ...

that aired on German TV station

ZDF ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...

in the late 1970s. It features the ''Mainzelmännchen'', the TV station's popular mascots who are similar to

Heinzelmännchen The Heinzelmännchen () are a mythical race of creatures, appearing in a tale connected with the city of Cologne in Germany akin to gnomes, or elves. The little house gnomes are said to have done all the work of the citizens of Cologne during t ...

(their name is a pun between ''Heinzelmännchen'' and ''

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Ma ...

'', the hometown of ZDF) and combines live-action and animation.

Plot

The evil boss of a pirate TV station located on a ship orders two dim-witted employees of his to kidnap the Mainzelmännchen in order to improve his channel's program.

Plot

See also