Kathrin Fricke

Visual effects · b. 1984 · Bremen, Germany

Kathrin Fricke, better known by her online pseudonym Coldmirror, is a seminal German video artist, web producer, animator, voice actress, and radio and television host. Born on October 13, 1984, in Bremen, Germany, she is widely recognized as one of the most influential pioneers of the German-speaking YouTube community, inspiring an entire generation of digital content creators. Fricke began her online journey in 2006 by launching her primary YouTube channel. Her moniker, "Coldmirror," was inspired by the song "Creatures That Kissed in Cold Mirrors" by the dark metal band Cradle of Filth. She achieved legendary, viral breakthrough status in the late 2000s through her iconic, highly satirical redubs of the Harry Potter film franchise—most notably Harry Potter und ein Stein (2006) and Harry Potter und der Plastikpokal (2008). By 2009, her channel had become the most subscribed YouTube channel in Germany. Fricke's unique comedic style seamlessly transitioned into mainstream German media. From 2010 to 2016, she created, edited, and hosted her own self-titled television program, Coldmirror, which aired on the ARD digital channel ONE. Over the years, she has maintained a prolific partnership with the German public broadcasting network, specifically producing content for the youth-centric network funk. A multi-talented animator and voice actress, Fricke is the creative force behind several popular animated series. Her notable web and television contributions include Japanoschlampen (2011–2021), an anime parody series where she handled direction, writing, creature design, and voicing, as well as StarStarSpace (2016–2020), a sci-fi parody animated series produced for funk that highlighted her distinct humor, character design, and vocal range. She also performed prominent voice acting work for the animated web series Antarktika (2017) as the character Jill Snyder. Fricke has sustained a massive, dedicated following through her deep-dive audio productions. Her highly acclaimed 5 Minuten Harry Podcast (2015–2023) analyzed the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in meticulous, five-minute scene intervals, receiving praise for its immense research and humor. She also created the Harry Potter Botnik Stories (2018), utilizing predictive text algorithms to generate absurd parodies. In 2025, she directed the satirical short film Shit Happens for the Hessian State Center for Political Education and was profiled in the ARD documentary series YouTube changed my life. Throughout her career, Fricke has been honored with multiple accolades, including the Grey Newcomer Award at the first German Web Video Awards (2011), a nomination for the German Radio Award, and the Sondermann Prize for Comic Art (2017). Known for her strong stance against commercialization, Fricke has famously chosen not to monetize her primary content through YouTube's partner program or traditional corporate sponsorships, prioritizing creative independence and her authentic connection to internet "nerd" culture.