'David the Gnome' Complete Viewer Guide: Characters, Lore, Episodes, and How to Watch
By Alexander Ross
The visual world of David the Gnome originated far from Hollywood story rooms. In 1976, Dutch physician Wil Huygen and wildlife painter Rien Poortvliet published Leven en werken van de Kabouter, released in English as Gnomes and later adapted through companion volumes like The Secret Book of Gnomes. The book approached mythology as rigorous natural history. Poortvliet rendered cross-sections of subterranean burrows, detailed biological diagrams of woodland creatures, and anatomical studies of tiny red-capped figures living seven times stronger than humans.
Spanish production company BRB Internacional recognized the cinematic potential in this quiet realism. Led by producer Claudio Biern Boyd, who had already struck gold adapting classic literature into animated serials like Around the World with Willy Fog and Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds, the studio secured the rights to develop David el Gnomo in 1985. The animators partnered with Canadian production house CINAR and Taiwanese studios to draw backgrounds rich in mossy textures, morning mist, and biologically accurate fauna, preserving Poortvliet's watercolor aesthetic across all 26 episodes.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
