Pollution

Pollution

January 8, 1975 (estimated) TV Episode Barbapapa

Foreign title: Les Barbapapa (French)

Series title: バーバパパ

Studio
PolyScope BV, Kodansha
Animation studio
Topcraft
Distributor
Lexington Broadcasting Systems

Characters

Barbapapa (Pink), Barbamama (Black), Barbabravo (Red), Barbabright (Blue), Barbazoo (Yellow), Barbabeau (Black w/ fur), Barbabelle (Purple), Barbalala (Green), Barbalib (Orange), Irving the Dog

Credits

Writing

Writer
Annette Tison, Talus Taylor

Voices

Voice
Leen Jongewaard (Storyteller), Kaneta Kimotsuki, Noriko Obara
Vocal Talent, English Version
Alan Swift (Storyteller), Ricet Barrier, Ann Costello, Alexander Marshall

Music

Music
Joop Stokkermans

Crew

Based On The Children's Book Series By
Annette Tison, Talus Taylor
Art Director
Tadami Shimokawa

Production notes

This Netherlands-produced series followed the adventures of a family of blob-like creatures known as the Barbapapas. They have the ability to shape their bodies however they wish. They grow out of the ground.

The name "Barbapapa" comes from the French word for cotton candy, and was used because cotton candy is so amorphous. This Dutch import was actually produced in the Netherlands in 1975, and began airing in the U.S. in 1981. The TV series ran for 45 episodes.

Were there ever more unlikely cartoon stars than those shape-shifting, multicolored blobs called the Barbapapas? A French children's book series turned into a Dutch cartoon, Barbapapa was the creation of Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, and first appeared in a 1970 children's book. They derived their characters' names from the French word for cotton candy.

The family was headed by pink blob Barbapapa and his black blob wife, Barbamama. From this happy union sprang seven offspring: red Barbabravo, orange Barbalib, yellow Barbazoo, purple Barbabelle, green Barbalala, blue Barbabright, and fuzzy black Barbabeau. Rounding out the family was Irving the Dog. The entire Barba family could change their bodies into any shape imaginable, making them the envy of young readers around the globe.

The success of another series imported by LBS Communications from the Netherlands, Dr. Snuggles, in 1981 aided the U.S. syndication of Barbapapa.

The series was a huge success in France, where over 300,000 VHS tapes were sold.

A new Barbapapa series, "Barbapapa autour du Monde," was produced by Kodansha and animated by Studio Pierrot in 1999 sous le titre. Teletoon aired 50 new episodes in 2001 in the same format as the original series.

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