Barbapapa

Synopsis of Saturday Morning Show

Were there ever more unlikely cartoon stars than those shapeshifting, 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, who 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.

With the multinational success of the Barbapapa books, Netherlands-based animation company Polyscope produced a cartoon version in the 1970's. U.S. distributor LBS Communications, who had earlier brought the Dutch cartoon Doctor Snuggles to the States, imported the series for a brief syndicated run in 1981.

Release History

1981 - ? syndicated

TV Sub Categories

animated

TV Studio

Polyscope, LBS Communications

Television Cast

Storyteller Allen Swift
Voices Ann Costello
Voices Alexander Marshall

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