Anna van de Polder

Anna van de Polder
Character
Anna in Episode 1
Species	Duck
Birthplace	Breed Rietland
First appearance	Episode 1
Character Model Sheet number	5/1
Character Model Sheet name	Anna van de Polder
Name in different languages
Dutch name	Anna van de Polder
Japanese name	アンナ・ポルダー (Anna Porudā)
German name	Anna van de Polder
English name	Anna Polder

Born in Breed Rietland, Anna van de Polder (or sometimes Anna Kwak), son of Jan "Woerd" van de Polder and Josefien van de Polder, she is the mother of the main protagonist of the series, Alfred Jodocus Kwak as well as six other ducklings. She's married to Johan Sebastiaan Kwak and close friends with the great-great-great-grandmother of Amanda de Vlinder. Anna, her husband, and six of her children get run over by Alfons Rokodil and Olaf Nijlpaard while crossing a road on their way to Groot Waterland.

Appearance

Anna van de Polder is a yellow duck with orange beak and flippers. She always wears a white hul (also known as a Dutch bonnet) giving her a typically Dutch look. She has three eye lashes, a classic cartoon indicator of femininity. Her belly is white, similarly to her son's crush and later wife Winnie Wana. Henk de Mol describs her eyes as big and sensitive.

Personality

Anna is a soft-spoken and nurturing character. Her relatively uneventful life in the Plaspoelpolder in Breed Rietland largely revolves around picking flowers, such as daisies, and cherries.

Anna quickly responded to Johan's advances, choosing him over the attentions of Henri Dropshot and Johnny Hollyday, who were also vying for her affection. Unlike Johan, she exhibited very little nervousness, and the two swiftly entered into a relationship.

Although Anna rarely becomes angry, she expressed frustration over the construction of Groot Speelgoed Land, which disrupted the peace and harmony of the Plaspoelpolder and destroyed their home. However, she often kept her feelings to herself, as she was not comfortable with conflict.

Anna experienced deep sorrow during the mass emigration from the Plaspoelpolder when her parents and best friend Clara traveled south, while she, Johan, Henk, and their family journeyed to Groot Waterland. She was overwhelmed by the fear that something terrible might occur before they reached Henk's grandfather's mine.

She can apparently play the harp and has one with a depiction of Johan's face and scarf on the front.

Storyline

As spring arrives in the Plaspoelpolder, Anna van de Polder was found by Johan Sebastiaan Kwak and Henk de Mol gathering flowers. Henk introduces Anna to Johan. Johan and her of them fell for eachother quite quickly, but it was Johan who had to overcome his own nervousness before they could move forward into a loving relationship. Johan overcame this nervousness after Anna was unsuccessfully courted by Henri Dropshot and Johnny Hollyday and he handed her a flower. Confidently she kissed him on the cheek.

Not long after they start a relationship that ends up in marriage. Their small wedding includes Henk as Johan's witness and the great-great-great-grandmother of Amanda de Vlinder as Anna's witness.

The couple produces seven eggs. Anna keeps them warm in Johan's living clog, while Johan paces around. After she goes to take a bathroom break, leaving Johan in custody of the eggs, she finds Schor de Kraai and Miriam Merel at her clog looking at eggs. One of them has disappeared. Schor and Miriam tell her that Rap de Kiekendief has stolen the egg and when Johan returns Anna demands to know what was going on. Johan reveals the egg, thinking it is fine, only to freeze upon realizing he only has some egg shells in his hands. Anne spots the little hatched duckling and Henk brings him back to the nest. Henk tells of his grandfather, and the couple decide to name their first child after him; Alfred Jodocus Kwak.

Shortly afterwards the remaining six eggs hatch into Josefien, Clara, Marjolein, Hans, Jan, and Robbie, most of them named after family members from either side. They almost lose Alfred again when the duckling becomes distracted and leaves the clog, but Henk saves him.

At that moment, the entire polder shakes as construction workers begin destroying the meadow where the family live. Anna is asked to stand aside by Olaf Nijlpaard they learn that the Beton Maaschappij has a permit to build a huge amusement park here. Henk de Mol says that perhaps they can live in the old miner's house that was left to him in Groot Waterland.

They start their emigration, but Anna has to leave her family and her bosom friend Clara behind who are emigrating south instead. Alfred wanders off and Henk follows him, but while Anna, Johan and the other children cross the road in the streaming rain and are struck by a car carrying Olaf Nijlpaard and his investor Alfons Rokodil. None of them survive.

Years later, after adopting Alfred, Henk de Mol recounts the story of Johan and Anna to the young duck.

Family Tree

Kwak/van de Polder/Wana/de Mol family tree

Alfred de Mol

Marjolein de Mol

Robert Kwak

Marjolein Kwak

Jan "Woerd" van de Polder

Josefien van de Polder

Henk's parent

Johan Sebastiaan Kwak

Anna van de Polder

Jan van de Polder Junior

Henk de Mol

Kwa Wana

Blanche Wana

Clara Kwak

Hans Kwak

Jan Kwak

Josefien Kwak

Marjolein Kwak

Robert "Robbie" Kwak

Alfred Jodocus Kwak

Winnie Mandoline Wana

Tom Wana

Voice actors

Japanese	¦	安達 忍 (Shinobu Adachi)	¦	アンナ・ポルダー (Anna Porudā)
Dutch	¦	Marlous Fluitsma	¦	Anna van de Polder
German	¦	Marlous Fluitsma	¦	Anna van de Polder
English	¦	???	¦	Anna Polder

Appearances

TV Series

• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Episode 1
• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Episode 2

Books

• 
  De wonderlijke avonturen van de eend Alfred Jodocus Kwak: Goedemorgen (1989) (Dutch)
• 
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: De zeven eieren (1989) (Dutch)
• 
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Omnibus 1 (1989) (Dutch)
• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Mijn avontuurlijke leven (1991) (Dutch)
• 
  Alfred J. Kwak Filmstripboek Deel 1 (2006) (Dutch)
• 
  De wonderlijke avonturen van Alfred J. Kwak: Het Grote Voorleesboek (2010) (Dutch)

Production background

Anna van de Polder appears on sheet 5 of the Character- and Color-Designs for Alfred J. Kwak book, which was made in March of 1988. As per the outline Herman van Veen wrote, Anna was only set to appear in Episode 1 according to his character sheet, but as the incident that killed her was moved to the first half of Episode 2 she also appeared there.

Anna's appearance in the animated series was modeled to be viewed through the eyes of her son, and main protagonist of the animated series, Alfred Jodocus Kwak. Therefore Harald Siepermann designed her purposely round, warm and with motherly traits.

• 
  Anna van de Polder Character Sheet.

Henk de Mol introduces Anna to Johan offscreen. Anna is seen here through Johan's eyes.

Anna was voiced by Marlous Fluitsma in the Dutch and German version. Fluitsma was the then-wife of Johan's voice actor, and series creator, Herman van Veen. As Johan's name was likely based on Johann Sebastian Bach, it is very possible that Anna's name was based on the name of Bach's second wife, Anna Magdalena Bach who was also a professional singer.

Several dubs have her name listed as Anna Kwak, which is likely the name she takes on after she marries Johan Kwak.

For the comic Guten Morgen that ran in Pierrot for it's short run, Siepermann designed Anna to be more attractive and sexy as that comic the character was more seen through the eyes of Johan Sebastiaan Kwak.