Ferdy the Ant, sometimes referred to as Ferdy and Ferda, is a German-Czech co-produced animated series based on Ferda Mravenec, a series of Picture Books written and illustrated by Ondřej Sekora. The Animated Adaptation was directed by Jerry Hampeys and Ralph Newman, screenplayed by Iva Hercíková and Lione Novotny, and produced by Far Eastern Productions. It aired on SWR Fernsehen in Germany from 1984 to 1985. The series is about the titular ant boy who, along with his other insect friends, embarks on several adventures in Käfertal, a society inhabited by insects.
"Ferdy the Ant'' contains examples of:
- Accessory-Wearing Cartoon Animal: Zigzagging. The insects in this series can range from being fully clothed to wearing no clothing at all.
- Amicable Ants: Ferdy is an ant who is kind to practically everyone he meets and always goes out of his way to help them when they have problems or need help with something.
- Animals Not to Scale: In comparison with one another, but particularly with the ants, which appear much larger than they should next to all the other insects.
- Continuity Nod: Each and every episode takes place before, during, and after the events of one story following and preceding another. note
- Interspecies Romance: Ferdy has a flirty crush on and falls in love with a ladybug named Gwendolyn (referred to as Laura in later episodes).
- Kangaroo Court: In the episode "False Witness," Ferdy is convicted, even though he never had the chance to present his side of the story. The sentence is determined by him, the judges, and even the accuser (who, since she's the accuser, doesn't even try to put effort into her blow) blowing on a dandelion, then counting the remaining seeds and sentencing him to a corresponding number of blows with a club.