Fix und Foxi

Fix und Foxi is a longrunning German comic series about two anthropomorphic foxes and their adventures created by Rolf Kauka. Originally created as side characters in another magazine (Till Eulenspiegel) they soon went on to become fan favourites. Their magazine was published without interruption from 1953 to 1994 (when some Executive Meddling caused Kauka to withdraw the rights to the characters) and was subsequently relaunched multiple times in the 2000s (although none of these tries seemed to stick...).

The adventures center mostly on adolescent foxes Fix and Foxi who live with their uncle in a small town of unspecific location called Fuxholzen. Other characters of note are the chronically lazy Lupo (a fan favourite and breakout character with his own comic book), old maid Eusebia with her niece Lupinchen, and mad scientist Professor Knox.

While written quite nicely the influences from Disney's comics (which were the main contenders on the German market), especially Carl Barks and his imitators, are clearly visible. Many of the earliest stories written for the characters could easily be written for those other characters as well; in later issues this got resolved with more characterization (and some necessary Flanderization of the main characters. In other words: oh my god, it's full of tropes!

In 2000 a TV series was broadcast featuring the characters; it was planned by the late Rolf Kauka and found it's way even into other European countries.

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The Fix und Foxi series provides examples of:

• Absent-Minded Professor: Knox, so very much. Up to the point where he goes shopping for sulphuric acid for washing his hair.
• Art Evolution: Especially when the Italian comic artist Massimo Fecchi took over in the 70s.
  • Anthropomorphic Shift: Compare this from their first appearance in 1953 to this Fecchi drawing from 1994.
• Badass Driver: Eusebia.
• Blind Without'Em: Knox.
• Breakout Character: Fix and Foxi of course, originally appearing in another magazine, but also Lupo whose popularity sometimes exceeded the two main characters. Lupo even eventually got his own comic book series targeted at a slightly older audience.
• Chaste Toons: While Eusebia is Lupinchen's grandmother, Fax is Fix and Foxi's uncle.
• Cool Car: Knox's sports car.
• Cunning Like a Fox: Fix and Foxi are the smartest characters around, hands down.
• Distinguished Gentleman's Pipe: Fax.
• Executive Meddling: Kauka sold his publishing house in the 70s and only kept creative rights for the series, then came the 90s when someone had the brilliant idea to make the magazine into a tabloid for adolescents
• Flanderization: Lupo was originally written as a Villain, then became a lovable rogue, and then became a Lazy Bum, maybe even Brilliant but Lazy; Uncle Fax went from a responsible adult to someone fused to an Idiot Ball
• Four-Fingered Hands
• Gadgeteer Genius: Einstein from Lupo's spin-off comic series.
• Hair-Trigger Temper: Lupo.
• Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Fix and Foxi don't wear shirts.
• Limited Wardrobe
• Literal Minded: In one story, Fuxholzen's mayor wants his town to be greener. He refers to plants, but Lupo breaks out the green paint.
• Little Miss Badass: Think twice before you mess with Lupinchen.
• Mad Scientist: Professor Knox is a more or less sane version of this, except if he runs out of paper for his notes and uses his walls instead (and then the walls outside, and then the interior of the ambulance taking him away...)
• The Mafia: The first issues of Lupo's spin-off series are about him and his young friend Einstein fighting the "Mofia" (a motorcycle-riding Mafia) all around the world.
• Never Mess with Granny: Eusebia is pretty Badass for her age.
• Nostalgia Filter: Fax sees everything through them.
• Petting Zoo People
• Raised by Grandparents: Lupinchen, apparently.
• Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: Eusebia.
• The Slacker: Lupo, unless ambition gets the better of him.
• Those Two Guys: Stops and Hops, a hedgehog and a hare who sometimes appear in their own spin-off stories.
• Vague Age: Fix and Foxi. They're obviously kids, yet they're also seen driving cars and travelling around the world. And they lived by themselves until Fax showed up in 1961.
• When Elders Attack: Eusebia, usually with an umbrella or rolling pin.
• White Gloves