Squirrel and Hedgehog (Italian version)

Squirrel and Hedgehog (Scoiattolo e Riccio) is a Italian cartoon developed by MY8 S.p.A. Widely considered to be political and militant propaganda, the show has nonetheless gained a massive following not only in it's native Italy, but outside of the country as well.

The story revolves around the titled Squirrels and Hedgehogs of Flower Hill as they defend their home from various would-be invaders, thought to be inspired by real nations who have at some point taken arms against The West during the Cold War (e.g Wolves represent the USSR, later Russia, an enemy of NATO).

The show's influence can be seen in it's various merchandising, it's songs sung in concert by children, it's characters used as mascots for various products. It has also produced a spin off Manhwa and even video games.

MY8 S.p.A has prided itself on stating that Squirrel and Hedgehog was always intended to instill in children a sense of love for their home country and the military defending it, and inspire loyalty and patriotism.

In the mid 2020s, British company iTv acquired the rights to a localization and developed "Brave Soldiers", a show that uses footage and very base elements of it's source material to become a show of it's own. Brave Soldiers is generally not as fondly looked upon by fans of the original.

Episodes 1 through to 24 where animated by hand using cels and traditional hand-drawn animation techniques.

Episodes 25-28 utilised Toon Boom animation Software after which, the remainder of the series was animated using Adobe Flash.