Barbapapa
Talus Taylor walked through the Luxembourg Garden in Paris during May 1970. He heard a child ask his parents for something called Baa baa baa baa. Talus did not speak French at that moment. Annette Tison explained that the words referred to Barbe à papa, or cotton candy. They later sat at a restaurant table and drew on the cloth. Their sketch became a pink round character with no legs. The name Barbapapa came naturally from their conversation about the treat.
Barbapapa himself is a papaya-shaped blob who grows from the ground. He tries to fit into the human world while remaining easily identifiable by his face and color. His wife Barbamama has a more slender form and black coloring. Together they produce seven children with distinct abilities and colors. Barbabravo is red and loves sports. Barbabright is blue and acts as a scientist. Barbazoo is yellow and cares deeply for nature. Barbabeau is black and furry and works as a painter. Barbalala is green and plays music. Barbabelle is purple and serves as a beauty queen. Barbalib is orange and functions as an intellectual. Each family member can adopt any shape they choose using the phrase Clickety Click-Barba Trick.
Frank Fehmers expanded the project to television films in 1974. Joop Visch of Polyscope-PolyGram joined the effort alongside Topcraft Limited Company. Storyboards were designed by Talus Taylor before the partnership ended after twelve years. The first animated series aired on French, British and Dutch TV that same year. It premiered in Japan three years later during 1977. One hundred five-minute episodes spanned two seasons. A second series called Barbapapa Around The World appeared in 1999. Studio Pierrot produced fifty episodes depicting global travel. Normaal Animation created Barbapapa: One Big Happy Family! in 2019. Alice Taylor and Thomas Taylor wrote the new show. TF1 airs it in France while Yle TV2 broadcasts it in Finland. Nick Jr carries the program in Poland and other countries.
Harrie Geelen wrote lyrics for the original theme song. Joop Stokkermans composed its music. Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi featured an entirely different theme song. Chuuji Kinoshita composed the melody with Zenzo Matsuyama writing the words. Roberto Vecchioni sang the Italian version as a singer-songwriter. The Spanish group Parchis made a song named Barbapapá about the cartoon characters. An Israeli artist named Tzipi Shavit performed Barba'aba in 1978. Yoram Taharlev wrote the Hebrew lyrics describing how Barbapapa was shunned until meeting Barbamama. This track became a kids classic across Israel.
Episodes like Pollution and La forêt contain messages about nature conservation. The narrative plots frequently incorporate concerns regarding environmental protection within the fictional world. Characters face challenges involving pollution, forests, and animal habitats. Storylines often show the family interacting with natural settings to teach lessons. Comic book versions also display these same ecological themes alongside the cartoons. The stories use their unique shapes to solve problems related to protecting the earth.
Google created a doodle celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary on the 19th of May 2015. It served as a tribute to Talus Taylor who passed away earlier that year. The original series continues to air today in France, Italy and El Salvador. Merchandise remains produced in both France and Japan. Five separate English dubs exist for international audiences. French electronic duo Air drew inspiration from horn sounds on the show for their song Ce matin là. Disco Inferno sampled the TV theme for their 1994 track It's A Kid's World. German comedians Bodo Wartke and Marti Fischer released a tongue twister rap called Rhabarberbar-Barbaren in 2024. People worldwide listened and created dance choreographies to it.
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Common questions
Who created the Barbapapa character and when did he conceive it?
Talus Taylor conceived the Barbapapa character in May 1970 while walking through the Luxembourg Garden in Paris. He drew the pink round character with no legs on a restaurant table cloth after learning the French term for cotton candy from Annette Tison.
What are the names and colors of all seven children in the Barbapapa family?
The seven children include Barbabravo who is red, Barbabright who is blue, Barbazoo who is yellow, Barbabeau who is black, Barbalala who is green, Barbabelle who is purple, and Barbalib who is orange. Each child possesses distinct abilities such as sports, science, nature care, painting, music, beauty, or intellect.
When was the first animated series about Barbapapa released and how many episodes were produced?
The first animated series aired on French, British and Dutch TV during 1974 and premiered in Japan three years later during 1977. One hundred five-minute episodes spanned two seasons before a second series called Barbapapa Around The World appeared in 1999.
Who composed the original theme song for Barbapapa and which artists performed international versions?
Harrie Geelen wrote lyrics for the original theme song while Joop Stokkermans composed its music. Roberto Vecchioni sang the Italian version and the Spanish group Parchis made a song named Barbapapá about the cartoon characters.
What environmental messages are featured in Barbapapa episodes and comic books?
Episodes like Pollution and La forêt contain messages about nature conservation and incorporate concerns regarding environmental protection within the fictional world. Characters face challenges involving pollution, forests, and animal habitats to teach lessons about protecting the earth.