Watch The Children's Odyssey

The Children's Odyssey was a German television series that premiered on the ZDF channel in 2008. The show was a modern-day retelling of the classic Greek epic, The Odyssey, with a twist - the cast was entirely made up of children. The Children's Odyssey followed the adventures of Max (played by Julian Winterbach), a 12-year-old boy who, like the hero of the original Odyssey, finds himself stranded far from home. Along with his friends Ali (Darwin Schüler) and Lea (Larissa Lomnitz), Max must navigate a series of dangerous encounters and obstacles as he tries to make his way back to his family in Germany.

Throughout the series, Max and his friends encounter a variety of characters that mirror those from the original Odyssey. They meet a Cyclops, a Siren, and even a sorceress who turns their crew into pigs. These encounters are often reimagined to be more relatable to a younger audience, with the Cyclops being portrayed as a giant football player and the Siren as a pop star.

While The Children's Odyssey is an adventure story at its core, it also includes themes of friendship, loyalty, and courage. Max, Ali, and Lea must work together to overcome the challenges they face, learning more about each other and themselves along the way.

One notable aspect of the show was its production value. The Children's Odyssey was filmed on location in countries across Europe, giving the series a strong sense of authenticity and adventure. The young cast also delivered impressive performances, imbuing their characters with a sense of youthful energy and enthusiasm.

The show was well-received by both critics and audiences, earning praise for its creative retelling of a classic story and its talented cast. The Children's Odyssey ran for only one season, consisting of eight episodes, but it remains a beloved and memorable series for those who watched it.