{{Short description|Fictional character created by the author Gunilla Bergström}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox book series | name = Alfie Atkins | image = Alfons Åberg, Arlanda 2010 1.JPG | caption = Cutout of Alfie at [[Stockholm Arlanda Airport]] | books = | author = [[Gunilla Bergström]] | editors = | title_orig = Alfons Åberg | translator = | illustrator = Gunilla Bergström | cover_artist = Gunilla Bergström | country = [[Sweden]] | language = [[Swedish language|Swedish]] | genre = [[Children's literature|Children]] | discipline = | publisher = [[Rabén & Sjögren]], Julia MacRae Books | pub_date = [[1972 in literature|1972]]–[[2012 in literature|2012]] | english_pub_date = | media_type = | number_of_books = | list_books = | preceded by = | followed by = }}

'''Alfie Atkins''' ({{langx|sv|Alfons Åberg}}) is a fictional character created by the author [[Gunilla Bergström]] from [[Sweden]] in 1972. He appears in books and animated cartoons.

==About== Alfie plays the role of a normal child, living with his father. During his younger years he had an imaginary friend named Malcolm (''Mållgan'' in Swedish; Moggie in English TV version), that only Alfie could see. Later, he gets real friends such as ''Milla'' and Victor (''Viktor''). He also has a housecat named Puzzle (''Pussel'').

In the books, Alfie experiences many ordinary everyday events that kids can easily recognize. In his longing to grow up and be a big boy, Alfie often competes with his father on who can manage these events in the best way. Alfie's father is a nice and positive man. Women appear less frequently in the stories: Alfie has an aunt named Fifi (''Fiffi'') and a grandmother, but no mother is present.

The first book about Alfie, ''Goodnight, Alfie Atkins'' (''Godnatt, Alfons Åberg''), came out in 1972. There are 24 books in the Alfie series, along with seven other Alfie books for smaller children. The books have been translated into 29 different languages. The books are written and illustrated by Gunilla Bergström.

Alfie Atkins is named Alfons Åberg in Swedish and Danish, Willi Wiberg in German, Albert Åberg in Norwegian, Albert Albertson in Polish, Einar Áskell in Icelandic, Mikko Mallikas or Alfons Jokinen in Finnish, Ifan Bifan in Welsh, Eliyahu in Hebrew, Frančkov Fonzek in Slovenian and Alphonse Aubert in French.

The publishing company of the books is [[Rabén & Sjögren]] and Julia MacRae Books.

The last book was published in 2012, nine years before Gunilla Bergström died at the age of 79.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/kultur/ungkultur/alfons-mamma--var-en-pionjar/|title=Alfons Åbergs "mamma" Gunilla Bergström är död|publisher=[[Expressen]]|language=sv|last=Brodej|first=Gunilla|date=26 August 2021|accessdate=27 August 2021}}</ref>

==Books== * ''[[Good Night, Alfie Atkins]]'' ("God natt, Alfons Åberg") - [[1972 in literature|1972]] * ''[[Very Tricky, Alfie Atkins]]'' ("Aja baja, Alfons Åberg") - [[1973 in literature|1973]] * ''[[Raska på, Alfons Åberg]]'' - [[1975 in literature|1975]] * ''[[Alfie and His Secret Friend]]'' ("Alfons och hemlige Mållgan") - [[1976 in literature|1976]] * ''[[Who'll Save Alfie Atkins?]]'' ("Vem räddar Alfons Åberg?") - [[1976 in literature|1976]] * ''[[You're a Sly One, Alfie Atkins!]]'' ("Listigt, Alfons Åberg") - [[1977 in literature|1977]] * ''[[Is that a Monster, Alfie Atkins?]]'' ("Alfons och odjuret") - [[1978 in literature|1978]] * ''[[Är du feg, Alfons Åberg?]]'' - [[1981 in literature|1981]] * ''[[Var är bus-Alfons?]]'' - [[1982 in literature|1982]] * ''[[Who's Scaring Alfie Atkins?]]'' ("Vem spökar, Alfons Åberg?") - [[1983 in literature|1983]] * ''[[Lycklige Alfons Åberg]]'' - [[1984 in literature|1984]] (also known as "Klaga lagom, Alfons Åberg!") * ''[[You Have a Girlfriend, Alfie Atkins]]'' ("Alfons och Milla") - [[1985 in literature|1985]] * ''[[Kalas, Alfons Åberg!]]'' - [[1986 in literature|1986]] * ''[[Hokus pokus, Alfons Åberg!]]'' - [[1987 in literature|1987]] * ''[[Bara knyt, Alfons!]]'' - [[1988 in literature|1988]] * ''[[Vad sa pappa Åberg?]]'' - [[1989 in literature|1989]] * ''[[Där går Tjuv-Alfons!]]'' - [[1991 in literature|1991]] * ''[[Mera monster, Alfons!]]'' - [[1992 in literature|1992]] * ''[[Hurra för pappa Åberg!]]'' - [[1993 in literature|1993]] * ''[[Näpp! sa Alfons Åberg]]'' - [[1994 in literature|1994]] * ''[[Flyg! sa Alfons Åberg]]'' - [[1997 in literature|1997]] * ''[[Osynligt med Alfons]]'' - [[1998 in literature|1998]] * ''[[Hur långt når Alfons?]]'' - [[2002 in literature|2002]] * ''[[Alfons och soldatpappan]]'' - [[2006 in literature|2006]] * ''[[Alfons med styrkesäcken]]'' - [[2010 in literature|2010]] * ''[[Skratta lagom! sa pappa Åberg]]'' - [[2012 in literature|2012]]

== Film == Starting in the late 1970s, a cartoon series was produced, containing adaptations of the books. The main director was [[Per Åhlin]], the musical score was composed by [[Georg Riedel (Swedish jazz musician)|Georg Riedel]] and the narration was provided by [[Björn Gustafson]]. The show was a co-production between Åhlin's company [[PennFilm]], the [[Swedish Film Institute]] and the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] television channels [[Sveriges Television|SVT]], [[NRK]], [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] and [[YLE]]. Between 1979 and 1982, thirteen episodes of approximately 10 minutes each were produced. In 1994, three additional shorts were produced.

==Animated feature and subsequent cartoon series (2010s)== In 2013, Norwegian director [[Torill Kove]] brought Alfie Atkins to cinemas with the feature presentation ''[[Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins]]''. It is based on the book of the same title with additions made for the sake of runtime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2960524/|title = Hokus pokus Albert Åberg|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref> The film was followed by a new Alfie Atkins TV series of 13 episodes.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060102213828/http://www.alfons.se/ Official website] * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2960524/ ''Hocus Pocus Alfie Atkins'' on IMDB]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Alfie}} [[Category:Works by Gunilla Bergström| ]] [[Category:Book series introduced in 1972]] [[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1972]] [[Category:Male characters in literature]] [[Category:Child characters in literature]] [[Category:Fictional Swedish people]] [[Category:Male characters in animation]] [[Category:1979 Swedish television series debuts]] [[Category:Swedish children's television series]] [[Category:Swedish animated television series]]