Lotte celebrates her 25th birthday alongside Just Film!

Lotte’s origin story begins with the end of the TV series "Tom and Fluffy" in 1996, which had captivated audiences. Since children needed a new, fun character to follow, Janno Põldma and Heiki Ernits—who had become friends at the Estonian studio Joonisfilm—decided to create a new dog girl. They brought in the acclaimed writer Andrus Kivirähk, and together they began working on the screenplay.

To find a name for the dog girl, the creators announced a public contest. After many suggestions, the finalists were Lotta and Lotte, and they decided on the latter. Watch this video on how to draw Lotte!

Heiki Ernits has said that one of the most important aspects of Lotte is the absence of villains, violence, and evil. Janno Põldma added that for him, the motto of the films could be: “Kindness makes life more interesting.” That’s why, instead of fishing, the characters try to catch pancakes from the lake—after all, fish are living beings too.

In 2000, the animated film Lotte Goes South reached audiences, where the red-haired dog girl sets off with a little bird named Pippo on a journey to the South. Along the way, accompanied by Lotte’s father Oskar and the old traveler Klaus, they stumble into many funny and fascinating adventures. The 65-minute film was named the best Estonian film of 2000.

Lotte returned to cinemas in 2006 with her cat friend Bruno in Lotte from Gadgetville. In this sequel, the characters begin to learn judo under the guidance of Susumu, a Japanese judoka, in order to compete in a tournament. Beloved characters like Adalbert, Klaus, and Mati also make an appearance.

Fans only had to wait five years for the next film, as Lotte and the Moonstone Secret premiered in 2011. This time, Gadgetville is thrown into confusion by two strangers searching for mysterious moonstones that traveler Klaus had discovered on his last journey.

The dog girl returned to the big screen in 2019, this time together with her little sister Roosi. Scientists Karl and Viktor arrive in Gadgetville, collecting folk songs from all over the world. The cheerful sisters decide to help them, unaware of the adventures that await.

Through her adventures, Lotte has found a very special place in the hearts of many Estonians. When Janno Põldma was asked about the secret of Lotte’s phenomenon, the director said:
“Probably it’s that we have managed to create a very interesting world around Lotte. If a hero lives in a dull environment, they may end up feeling incomplete. But if they are surrounded by a safe, imaginative world and wonderful friends, the chances of success are much greater. Still, I don’t think there’s a guaranteed formula.”

All Lotte films will be screened on Father’s Day, November 9th, at Solaris Cinema as part of the Just Film Festival. Tickets on that day are specially priced at €4, so no cinema fan has to miss out. In addition to the screenings, the film creators will also be present, there will be a Lotte drawing contest, birthday cake from Just Film to taste, and much more exciting fun!

See you on November 9th at Solaris!