New series Sheep: For a sheep the whole set is catering

The Austrian public broadcaster ORF has launched a new digital mini-series titled Sheep, which blends satire with surreal elements to critique societal issues such as meat consumption and animal exploitation. The five-part series, each under 20 minutes long, is available on ORF ON and features real sheep synchronized with voices from notable Austrian and German actors. The show explores themes of oppression and self-realization through the lens of a group of sheep living on an idyllic farm visited regularly by a character known as "Obermoser," who turns out to be a butcher rather than a mentor. The series was co-produced by ORF and Germany's ZDF. It includes contributions from comedians such as Roland Düringer, who plays a self-ironic esoteric sheep named Manfred. The creators, Alex Reinberg and Leni Gruber, draw inspiration from Reinberg's childhood experience with a lamb he once raised on a farm, which later appeared on his plate as a dish at the family restaurant. This personal history influenced the narrative of Sheep, where one of the sheep, Oliver, discovers the true nature of Obermoser and attempts to rally others against him. Reinberg described the creative process as balancing serious existential themes with humor, using comedy as a means to process complex topics. The production team worked closely with animal trainer and veterinarian Katja Hawliczek, who helped train both the main cast of lambs she had raised and a herd of therapy sheep from Lower Austria. These animals were accustomed to human interaction, making the filming process more relaxed for the crew. One of the challenges faced during production was directing the sheep to perform specific actions, often involving looking toward the camera. The actors' lines were minimal, with some, like Michael Ostrowski, who voiced Hans, spending significantly longer than anticipated on just one repeated phrase, “Luftpumpn.” The series combines comedic moments with darker undertones, reflecting the creators' intent to address difficult subjects while maintaining a humorous approach.