The People’s Republic of China now plays a central role in global politics, economics and diplomacy – more than it ever has before. Its president, Xi Jinping openly espouses the model forged by former Chairman, Mao Zedong, known as the Great Helmsman. But what do we really know about Mao? And how does his legacy relate to Xi’s ‘China Dream’? This 3-part documentary series explores Mao Zedong, his beliefs and his methods. It shows how these have shaped Xi’s philosophy and the reality of today’s China. Mao had set China on the road to true sovereignty, freeing it from the humiliation of foreign domination. Xi is now completing that journey towards the strong Middle Kingdom and cultural predominance that Mao aimed for – while sweeping under the carpet the unthinkable victims and costs of Mao’s rule. The story arc of Mao’s astonishing biography provides varied and profound insights into the ideals, strategies and ambitions of today’s People’s Republic and its position in the next decade.
| Title | Air Date | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Episode 1 | The Peacock | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 2 | The Little Lamb | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 3 | The Ants | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 4 | The Chameleon | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 5 | The Bee Hive | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 6 | The Spider | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 7 | The Tortoise | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 8 | The Caterpillar | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 9 | The Cicada | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 10 | The Egg | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 11 | The Snake | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 12 | The Dog | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 13 | The Dormouse | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 14 | The Polyp | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 15 | The Hippopotamus | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 16 | The Squirrel | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 17 | The Monkey | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 18 | The Hedgehog | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 19 | The Shell | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 20 | The Tadpole | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 21 | The Snail | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 22 | The Owl | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 23 | The Mole | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 24 | The Beaver | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 25 | The Piglet | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 26 | The Hare | 1974-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 1 | The Fox | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 2 | The Work | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 3 | The Anteater | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 4 | The Seed | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 5 | The Cricket | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 6 | The Swan | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 7 | The Turkey | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 8 | The Crocodile | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 9 | The Racoon | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 10 | The Crab | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 11 | The Penguin | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 12 | The Little Bear | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 13 | The Christmas Tree | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 14 | The Snowman | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 15 | The Seal | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 16 | The Parrot | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 17 | The Mushroom | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 18 | The Dragonfly | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 19 | The Bat | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 20 | The Chestnut | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 21 | The Hornet | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 22 | The Kangaroo | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 23 | The Cow | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 24 | The Ladybird | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 25 | The Donkey | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Season 2 | Episode 26 | The Koala | 2006-01-01 | 5 min |
| Directing | Annette Baumeister | Director |
| Writing | Annette Baumeister | Writer |
| Directing | Paul Wiederhold | Director |
| Writing | Paul Wiederhold | Writer |
| Camera | Damien Dufresne | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Philipp Baben der Erde | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Jason Flakes | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Mike Lawrence | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Stefan Pohl | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Marcos Rocha | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Johannes Straub | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Pete Zappulla | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Ulrich Stein | Editor |
| Editing | Lisa Zirndorf | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Jens Greuner | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Dirk Seliger | Assistant Editor |
| Sound | Mathieu Burgess | Sound |
| Sound | Adam Grass | Sound |
| Sound | Tobias Fritzsch | Sound Designer |
| Sound | Tobias Fritzsch | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Sound | Michael Kadelbach | Music |
| Sound | Moritz Denis | Music |
| Sound | Eike Hosenfeld | Music |
| Sound | Nils Kacirek | Music |
| Sound | Roman Carsten Keller | Music |
| Writing | Paul Wiederhold | Creative Producer |
| Production | Nathalie Dietrich | Production Manager |
| Production | Jochen Dickbertel | Production Manager |
| Production | Jens Körner | Line Producer |
| Production | Lucio Mollica | Consulting Producer |
| Production | Sergio Basso | Producer |
| Crew | Christian Jakob | Commissioning Editor |
| Crew | Gabriele Trost | Commissioning Editor |
| Crew | Mark Willock | Commissioning Editor |
| Production | Birgit Rasch | Executive Producer |
| Production | Gunnar Dedio | Executive Producer |
| Production | Regina Bouchehri | Executive Producer |
| Production | Julie Lesurtel | Post Production Coordinator |
| Production | Christoph Lewinske | Post Production Coordinator |
| Production | Martin Ritter | Post Production Coordinator |
| Production | Volker Schulze | Post Production Coordinator |
| Production | David Fustermanns | Post Production Coordinator |
| Production | Johannes Wünsch | Unit Manager |
| Production | Katarina Rakić | Researcher |
| Production | Annika Steinbach | Researcher |
| Crew | Daniel Köpcke | Legal Services |