Babar (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Babar is an animated television series produced in Canada
by Nelvana
Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989
on CBC
and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and Qubo
. The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff
's original Babar books
, and was Nelvana's first international co-production. The series' 78 episodes have been broadcast in 30 languages in over 150 countries. Episodes of Babar currently air on NBC
during the weekends, via Qubo
.
While the French author Laurent de Brunhoff pronounces the name Babar as "BUH-bar", the TV series in its first five seasons pronounces the name as "BAB-bar".
In 2010, a computer-animated
sequel series spun-off Babar titled Babar and the Adventures of Badou
was launched. The new series focuses on a majority of new characters.
and Laurent de Brunhoff
, the plot focuses on the story of Babar as it is told by him to his children. Babar is a young elephant who undergoes many challenges and adventures. However, Babar always finds the strength to rise above difficulty and search out every cloud's silver lining. Babar is crowned king of the elephants, plans and builds Celesteville, and becomes a father himself. And he learns the greatest lesson of all: despite life's challenges, great things are possible if one never gets discouraged. As a young boy, Babar witnesses the slaughter of his mother by a hunter, and flees from the Great Forest to the city, where he is cared for by a kind Old Lady. Babar learns the workings of the world and returns to elephant land full of ideas for progress in his land. The elephant elders see that Babar has become wise beyond his years and crown him as the New King of elephant land.
.
, Nelvana
, and Astral Films
announced that a movie adaption
of Babar would be released. This would be followed by a sequel released in 1998, titled Babar: King of the Elephants
, and was released by Alliance Communications
theatrically and New Line Home Video as a direct-to-video
movie.
The TV film Babar Comes to America was released on September 7, 1971 and produced in USA. The film starred Peter Ustinov as the voice actor for all characters.
At IMDb, Babar has an overall rating of 6.7/10 based on 343 votes and 6 reviews.
David Knox at TVTonight commented on the subject of death and the way it is depicted in Children’s Television, citing the pilot of Babar as an example, "This week ABC replayed the pilot episode of the animated series in which the baby elephant loses his mother to a hunter after being shot by a rifle. Produced by a Canadian company in 1989 it doesn’t shy away from the separation of mother and child, as written in the original Babar the Elephant stories." An ABC Spokesperson told TV Tonight that the ABC had carefully considered the content which aired at 3:30 p.m. on ABC2 for a G rated audience, "At no point in the sequence was there any depiction of blood or wounds, and the depiction of the rifle being used was very careful and discreet. The simple animation style reduced the level of detail of the rifle and the action. While there was a sense of threat and menace associated with the hunter and his use of violence, having regard to the animation style, the level of visual detail, and the stylised manner in which the action was depicted, Audience and Consumer Affairs considers that this sense of threat and menace was very low. The violence in the sequence was very discreetly implied, and was not gratuitous as it was a pivotal, dramatic moment of great significance to the story.”
Charles Solomon of The Los Angeles Times gave a review of Babar's first few episodes, "The designs for the characters and the simple animation capture the essence of Jean de Brunhoff's understated watercolor illustrations. The artists occasionally seem to lose their sense of the characters' size and weight: The young Babar jumps and climbs in ways that seem very unelephantlike (but very few elephants wear uniforms and crowns, as the adult Babar does). As the voice of Babar, Gordon Pinsent gives the elephant king a reassuring presence and keeps the mildly didactic stories from bogging down in moralizing. Child actors provide the voices for the young Babar and his friends, which makes the show sound a lot like a "Peanuts" special at times. Created by the Canadian Nelvana studio--the producers of the entertaining "My Pet Monster"--"Babar" manages to be endearing without sliding into the saccharine cutesiness of "Hello Kitty." Parents with children in the 4-to-10-year-old range should plan on setting their VCRs: The kids will probably want to watch "Babar" more than once."
At commonsensemedia, the show is advised for viewers aged 4 and up, and it given a rating of 4 stars. The show is given a "Good Stuff" rating of 3/5, adding, "Babar is a good role model who sees creatures for who they really are." They continued to say that Parents Need to Know that "Although the show is an ideal pick for preschoolers, most kids will probably outgrow it by the time they're 7". The review ended by saying, "Many shows adapted from books tend to move at a slow pace. But Babar provides enough adventure and silliness to keep even the most active preschooler engaged. As an extra plus, the music is beautifully orchestrated. Babar exemplifies the lesson that all of us are the same on the inside. These elephants hold their trunks high, but they also know that money doesn't conquer all. Many kids' shows depict well-off characters as villainous and/or gluttonous; Babar shows kids that wealth doesn't necessarily equate to greed."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989
1989 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1989–90 United States network television schedule.The year 1989 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
. The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff
Jean de Brunhoff
Jean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator known for creating the Babar books, the first of which appeared in 1931. He was the fourth and youngest child of Maurice de Brunhoff, a publisher, and his wife Marguerite. He attended Protestant schools, including the prestigious Ecole Alsacienne...
's original Babar books
Babar the Elephant
Babar the Elephant is a French children's fictional character who first appeared in Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff in 1931 and enjoyed immediate success. An English language version, entitled The Story of Babar, appeared in 1933 in Britain and also in the United States. The book is based on...
, and was Nelvana's first international co-production. The series' 78 episodes have been broadcast in 30 languages in over 150 countries. Episodes of Babar currently air on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
during the weekends, via Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
.
While the French author Laurent de Brunhoff pronounces the name Babar as "BUH-bar", the TV series in its first five seasons pronounces the name as "BAB-bar".
In 2010, a computer-animated
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
sequel series spun-off Babar titled Babar and the Adventures of Badou
Babar and the Adventures of Badou
Babar and the Adventures of Badou is a 3D animated TV series that premiered in 2010 based on the characters created by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff. The series has created new characters to the Babar universe, including Badou, who is Babar's 8-year-old grandson and the central character of the series...
was launched. The new series focuses on a majority of new characters.
Plot
Based on the books by Jean de BrunhoffJean de Brunhoff
Jean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator known for creating the Babar books, the first of which appeared in 1931. He was the fourth and youngest child of Maurice de Brunhoff, a publisher, and his wife Marguerite. He attended Protestant schools, including the prestigious Ecole Alsacienne...
and Laurent de Brunhoff
Laurent de Brunhoff
Laurent de Brunhoff is an author and illustrator, known primarily for continuing the Babar series of children's books, created by his father, Jean de Brunhoff....
, the plot focuses on the story of Babar as it is told by him to his children. Babar is a young elephant who undergoes many challenges and adventures. However, Babar always finds the strength to rise above difficulty and search out every cloud's silver lining. Babar is crowned king of the elephants, plans and builds Celesteville, and becomes a father himself. And he learns the greatest lesson of all: despite life's challenges, great things are possible if one never gets discouraged. As a young boy, Babar witnesses the slaughter of his mother by a hunter, and flees from the Great Forest to the city, where he is cared for by a kind Old Lady. Babar learns the workings of the world and returns to elephant land full of ideas for progress in his land. The elephant elders see that Babar has become wise beyond his years and crown him as the New King of elephant land.
Voices of the characters
- Peter YarrowPeter YarrowPeter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
as King Babar (singing voice) - Gordon PinsentGordon PinsentGordon Edward Pinsent, CC, FRSC is a Canadian television, theatre and film actor.-Early life:Pinsent, the youngest of six children, was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, the son of Flossie ; originally from Clifton, Newfoundland, and Stephen Arthur Pinsent, a papermill worker and cobbler;...
as King Babar - Dawn Greenhalgh as Queen Celeste
- Lea-Helen Weir as Flora #2 (1989–present)
- Stuart Stone as Cousin Arthur (1989–1990)/ Alexander #2 (1990–present)
- Lisa Yamanaka as Flora #1(1989–1990)/ Isabelle (1990-present)
- Jeff Pustil as Zephir
- Paul Haddad as Uncle Arthur
- Stephen OuimetteStephen OuimetteStephen Ouimette is a Canadian actor and director, born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, and a graduate of the University of Windsor...
as Pompadour - Elizabeth HannaElizabeth HannaElizabeth Hanna is a Canadian film and television actress, most notable for her voice acting work in animated films. She later complemented her voice acting skills by becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.-Early history:...
as Madame - Allen Stewart-Coates as Lord Rataxes
- Corrine Koslo as Lady Rataxes
- John Stocker as Basil
- Chris WigginsChris WigginsChris Wiggins is an English actor.He started out as a banker in his home country before he began his acting career in Canada, where he moved in 1952....
as Cornelius - Noah Godfrey as Victor (1990–present)
- Gavin Magrath as Babar (Child) (1989–1990)
- Tara CharendoffTara StrongTara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
as Celeste (Child) (1989–1990) - Bobby BeckenBobby BeckenBobby Becken is a Canadian voice actor.-Filmography:-External links:...
as Pom (1989–1990) - Amos Crawley as Alexander #1 (1989–1990)
- Dan HennesseyDan HennesseyDan Hennessey is a Canadian voice actor who, early on in his career, performed with a children's comedy troupe,...
as Truffles - Jeff McGibbon Additional Voices
- Tasha Simms Additional Voices
- Frank CatalanoFrank CatalanoFrank Catalano is an American jazz musician living in Chicago, Illinois.-Biography:Frank Catalano began playing the saxophone at age 7. His right middle finger was severed while working on a car engine when he was 16, but following reconstructive surgery, Catalano forced his hands to relearn...
Additional Voices - Robert BockstaelRobert BockstaelRobert Theodore Bockstael was a Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was a businessman by career....
Additional Voices - William Colgate Additional Voices
- Carl BanasCarl BanasCarl Banas is a Toronto born radio personality and actor. As a TV actor he appeared in the series Wojeck as police detective Byron James, and provided voices for numerous TV series and features. He was also known as a radio personality on Toronto radio station CKFM-FM, later and more famouly known...
Additional Voices - Joyce Gordon Additional Voices
- George BuzaGeorge BuzaGeorge Buza is an American-born Canadian actor who is best known for voicing Beast in the X-Men Animated Series.-Biography:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Canada as a young man and became a Canadian citizen in 1998. He appeared as Chief Jake McKenna multiple times in the TV series Honey, I...
Additional Voices - Don FrancksDon FrancksDonald Harvey Francks or Iron Buffalo is a Canadian actor, vocalist and jazz musician.- Life and work :Francks was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a drummer, poet, native nations champion, motorcyclist, author and peace activist...
Additional Voices - Michael Fantini Additional Voices
- Garreth Bennett Additional Voices
- Wayne RobsonWayne RobsonWayne Robson was a Canadian television, film and stage actor best known for playing the part of Mike Hamar, an ex-convict and sometime thief, on the Canadian sitcom The Red Green Show from 1993 to 2006, as well as in the 2002 film Duct Tape Forever.Robson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia...
Additional Voices - Michael Longstaff Additional Voices
- Jayne EastwoodJayne EastwoodJayne Eastwood , also credited as Jane Easton or Jane Eastwood, is a Canadian actress most famous for appearing in the 2002 film Chicago. She was one of the original cast members of the Toronto branch of The Second City, and was a semi-regular on SCTV...
Additional Voices - Alyson CourtAlyson CourtAlyson Stephanie Court is a Canadian actress who first appeared in the 1985 children's film Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird, and played summer camper Dawn in the animated film Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation the following year...
Additional Voices - Maxine MillerMaxine MillerMaxine Miller is a Canadian actress who first appeared in the first three seasons of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In the 1980s, she voiced True Heart Bear in The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation and appeared on the animated series My Pet Monster.More recently, she guest starred in Showtime's...
Additional Voices - Keith KnightKeith Knight (actor)Keith Knight was a Canadian actor. He made his screen debut as Larry 'Fink' Finkelstein in the 1979 comedy Meatballs, voiced the White Rabbit in The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland, and voiced Pigface in the BBC drama Ace Lightning. He was also known for voicing Lowly Worm in The Busy World of...
Additional Voices - Graham HaleyGraham HaleyGraham Haley was born in Africa. After numerous years odd-jobbing, Graham began acting in theater, radio, film, and television. He immigrated to Canada in 1978, where he founded The Comedy Bank. This association led him all the way to a comedy series on Canadian radio.Graham is best known for his...
Additional Voices - Barbara HamiltonBarbara Hamilton (actor)Barbara Hamilton was a Canadian actor in film, television and theatre.After studies at Brockville Collegiate Institute, she attended the University of Toronto where her early performances were featured at the Hart House Theatre. She is known for roles in films and television series such as Road to...
Additional Voices - Ian Heath Additional Voices
- Ron RubinRon Rubin (voice actor)Ron Rubin is a veteran voice actor whose voice is most easily recognized as that of Artemis from the English translation of Sailor Moon.-Career:...
Additional Voices - Sunny Besen ThrasherSunny Besen ThrasherSunny Besen Thrasher was a Canadian child actor who starred as Paul Edison in Nelvana's live-action series, The Edison Twins, and supplied voices in the first two Care Bears movies....
Additional Voices - Catherine DisherCatherine DisherCatherine Wilder Disher is a Canadian actress who won a Gemini Award for Best Actress for her role in the Canadian mini-series Snakes & Ladders, and was nominated for her role as Dr...
Additional Voices - Rex HagonRex HagonRex Hagon is a Canadian actor and television host. His career began in his youth, most notably with The Forest Rangers....
Additional Voices - Judy Marshak Additional Voices
- Marvin GoldharMarvin GoldharMarvin Goldhar was a Canadian actor, best known for his voice work in animated programs and in made-for-TV movies.Among his voice credits include Cedric Sneer on The Raccoons, Mr...
Additional Voices - Andrew SabistonAndrew SabistonAndrew Sabiston is a Canadian actor, theatre and television writer and lyricist. He went to St. Michaels University School in Victoria, British Columbia, graduating in 1982, the same year as classmate Leslie Hope. Both had been cast in their final year in the Paul Almond movie, Ups & Downs, which...
Additional Voices - Richard Binsley Additional Voices
- Thick Wilson Additional Voices
- Noah Slater Additional Voices
- Denise Pidgeon Additional Voices
- Greg Duffell Additional Voices
- Catherine Gallant Additional Voices
- Taborah JohnsonTaborah JohnsonTaborah Johnson , also known as Tabby Johnson, is a Canadian singer and actor. She is the sister of actor Clark Johnson and rock and jazz singer Molly Johnson....
Additional Voices - Alan Fawcett Additional Voices
- Melleny BrownMelleny BrownBorn in Toronto, Canada, Melleny Brown is a singer, songwriter, artist, music producer, video producer and voice actress....
Additional Voices - David FoxDavid Fox (actor)David Fox is a Canadian actor.Fox was born in Swastika, Ontario. He is best known for his role as schoolteacher Clive Pettibone in Road to Avonlea, and for a variety of roles on television...
Additional Voices - Colin FoxColin Fox (actor)Colin Fox is a Canadian actor. His acting credits include playing Jean Paul Desmond and Jacques Eloi Des Mondes in Strange Paradise , as well as voice work in various animated series, and in other roles in film, television and on the stage...
Additional Voices - Mark Hellman Additional Voices
- Jeri Craden Additional Voices
- Hadley KayHadley KayHadley Kay is a Canadian-born voice actor who appeared in the first two Care Bears movies: as the voice of magician Nicholas in The Care Bears Movie and as the villain Dark Heart in Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. He also voiced P.C...
Additional Voices - Rob CowanRob CowanRob Cowan is a British music broadcaster and writer.Employed by music publisher Boosey & Hawkes for nineteen years in various capacities, his first record review was published in 1967. He edited CD Review for four years from 1985 and became a co-presenter with jazz and classical music writer Keith...
Additional Voices - Susan RomanSusan RomanSusan Roman is a Canadian voice actress best known for voice acting the role of Lita/Sailor Jupiter in the North American DiC dub of the anime, Sailor Moon. She is one of the few voice actors to remain throughout the entire run of the series...
Additional Voices - Mairon Bennett Additional Voices
- Sharon LewisSharon LewisFor the voice actress, go to Sharon Lewis Sharon Lewis is a Canadian television personality from Toronto. She studied political science at the University of Toronto. She was an actress and author before being the host of counterSpin on CBC Television in 2001, and then hosted ZeD, also for the...
Additional Voices - Ray Landry Additional Voices
- Marlow Vella Additional Voices
- Neil CroneNeil CroneNeil Crone is a Canadian voice actor and comedian who does the voices of Gordon the Big Engine, Splatter and Diesel 10 from the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad. He does Phillip the Concierge in the My Secret Identity episode "Sour Grapes"...
Additional Voices - Greg Spottiswood Additional Voices
- Terri HawkesTerri HawkesTerri Hawkes is a Canadian actress. She first gained fame as a voice actress, her most definitive role being that of Sailor Moon for most of the first season, all of the second season, and all three movies...
Additional Voices - Barbara BuddBarbara BuddBarbara Budd is a Canadian actress, narrator and radio announcer. Between 1993 and April 30, 2010, she was the co-host of CBC Radio One's As It Happens....
Additional Voices - Michael Lamport Additional Voices
- Judith Orban Additional Voices
- Colin O'MearaColin O'MearaColin O'Meara is a voice actor who provided the voice of the Tintin character from The Adventures of Tintin television series. Other roles include Sailor Moon, Little Bear, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and one episode of Police Academy as well as voicing Wrench in the animated TV show Cadillacs and...
Additional Voices - Ellen-Ray Hennessy Additional Voices
- Tabitha St. GermainTabitha St. GermainTabitha St. Germain is a Canadian stage actress. She has made the transition from stage work to voice work, and has since become one of the core female voice actresses working with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Anime :* .hack//Roots - Asta, Nazo Grunty* Black Lagoon -...
(as Paulina Gillis) Additional Voices - Linda Sorensen Additional Voices
- Diane Fabian Additional Voices
- Loretta JafeliceLoretta JafeliceLoretta Jafelice is a Canadian voice actress. She voiced Eudial and Diana in the English version of the Japanese anime Sailor Moon.-Sources:* http://www.tv.com/loretta-jafelice/person/194865/summary.html...
Additional Voices - Noam ZylbermanNoam ZylbermanNoam Zylberman is a voice actor best known for the voice of Split Kit from Garbage Pail Kids and also the voice of Bentley Raccoon in the popular animated series The Raccoons from 1988 to 1990....
Additional Voices - Peter MacNeillPeter MacNeillPeter MacNeill is a Canadian film and television actor who has starred in several TV shows and movies.His film credits have included The Hanging Garden , Geraldine's Fortune, Giant Mine, Lives of Girls and Women, The Events Leading Up to My Death, Dog Park, Something Beneath and A...
Additional Voices - Gordon Masten Additional Voices
- Desmond Ellis Additional Voices
- Luba GoyLuba Goy-Life and career:Goy was born in Haltern, Germany to Ukrainian parents and raised in Ottawa. They emigrated to Canada in 1951. She is a graduate of the Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, and later graduated from Canada's National Theatre School, before acting in theatre productions in...
Additional Voices - Linda FeigeLinda FeigeLinda Feige is a Canadian voice actress, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Melissa Raccoon in the first season of The Raccoons in 1985. Feige left the series because she, an Ottawa resident, was no longer interested in traveling back and forth between Ottawa and Toronto, where the voice...
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Additional Voices - Michael Beattie Additional Voices
- Keith HampshireKeith HampshireKeith Hampshire is an English-born Canadian popular singer of the 1970s, famous in Canada for three top ten hits , and the successful television show Music Machine...
Additional Voices - Geoffrey Bowes Additional Voices
- Christopher WardChristopher WardChristopher Ward may refer to:* Christopher Ward , Canadian songwriter and broadcaster* Christopher Ward , British solicitor and Conservative Party politician...
Additional voices - Jeremiah McCann Additional Voices
- Philip AkinPhilip AkinPhilip Akin is a Canadian actor who has been active for over thirty years in stage, film, and television. He has had featured roles in major American films such as The Sum of All Fears, S.W.A.T., and Get Rich or Die Tryin’...
Additional Voices - Robert Haist Additional Voices
- Joe Roncetti Additional Voices
- John Tarzwell Additional Voices
- Gary Krawford Additional Voices
- Suzanne Coy Additional Voices
- Nick Nichols Additional Voices
- Barry Belchamber Additional Voices
- David HubandDavid HubandDavid Huband , also known as Dave Huband, is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles on Cinderella Man as Ford Bond and in the films Cube Zero, Dirty Pictures and The Lookout.-Career:...
Additional Voices - Debra McGrathDebra McGrathDebra McGrath is a Canadian actress and comedienne.-Education:Debra McGrath was born in Toronto in 1954. She studied theatre at Ryerson University.-Career:...
Additional Voices - Raymond Accolas Additional Voices
- Lisa Coristine Additional Voices
- Tomy Beurick Additional Voices
- Greg Swanson Additional Voices
- Marsha Moreau Additional Voices
- Peter WildmanPeter WildmanPeter Wildman is a Canadian actor, voice actor, musician, writer and member of the Frantics comedy troupe. He voiced Buzz Sherwood on The Red Green Show, Mojo on the X-Men Animated Series and Sergeant Murphy in the series The Busy World of Richard Scarry....
Additional Voices - Sean RobergeSean RobergeSean Roberge was a Canadian actor with a long list of credits in Canadian and American television.He was born in Toronto, Ontario on November 1 in 1972.His parents were Rene and Brenda....
Additional Voices
Kids for Character
The show can be seen as a skit in the Citizenship segment of Kids for CharacterKids for Character
Kids for Character was a program that was released on VHS in 1996. It was a charity special about moral character that featured many different children's characters. It was produced by The Character Counts! Coalition and was distributed by Lyrick Studios...
.
Babar's family
- Babar: The King of Celesteville. He brought his love of the city back to the great forest and built the beautiful, happy kingdom of Celesteville. However, he is a dedicated ruler and world traveler. Babar is very happy when he picnics at the lake with his family or joining in the antics of his lively children. His mother was shot by a poacher when he was young, so he is very protective and caring of his family, as well as the elephants and other animals of the kingdom in general.
- Celeste: Babar's wife and Queen of Celesteville. She has also traveled the world and has had many great adventures. She has a regal presence, an engaging manner and a gentle sense of humor.
- Arthur: Babar's mischief-making brother-in-law. He often gets himself (and one or more of the children) involved with practical jokes and stunts. Although the English and French versions of the official characters page lists him as a cousin, this goes against the canonCanon (fiction)In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
of the show where he is clearly referred to as Celeste's brother, Babar's brother-in-law, and the uncle of Babar and Celeste's children. The Japanese version of the official Babar characters page also refers to him as Celeste’s younger brother. In addition, neither Celeste nor Arthur is ever referred to as a cousin of Babar, in the show. In the book, "The Story of Babar", Celeste and Arthur are shown to have two different mothers and we are told they are Babar's cousin and little cousin, respectively. This difference between the source material (the books) and adaptation (the animated television series) could explain the discrepancy between the English and French character pages and the show's own canon. - Pom: The oldest of the triplets and the leader of the children. He is protective of his brother and sisters though he will gladly join in with Alexander in playfully teasing his sisters, Flora and Isabelle He is rarly seen doing anything wrong and appears to be his parents 'perfect child'.
- Flora: Flora is fun-loving and strong-willed. She can more than hold her own with her two brothers. Whether building tree houses, sliding down the banister at the palace, or preparing a surprise breakfast for their parents, Flora is always immersed in the action she is also seen to have low confidence at times when she doesn't seem to please others but she does try and always make the ones she loves happy.
- Alexander: The smallest of the triplets, is a non-stop ball of entertainment who is into everything and disarmingly naive about the commotion he causes he also has trouble obeying his father or living up to his promises at times but does try to make his father happy.
- Isabelle: The youngest of the four children. She began to walk and talk early in her age. Isabelle started as a baby in the series, but as the series progressed, she matured as a toddler and appears to be very smart and bright for her age she inherits her father's wisdom.
Babar's close friends and royal court
- Madame (The Old Lady): From their first meeting in the city, the Old Lady and Babar shared a special friendship. She gave him a home and taught him about life in the city. Though she missed him greatly, she understood his decision to return to the forest. Babar built her a home in Celesteville, where she made the decision to stay and live with her friends, the elephants.
- Zephir: A monkey who happens to be one of Babar's oldest friends, and is considered one of the family. He is the first to take off with Arthur and the kids on some crazy adventure, but Babar knows that Zephir can always be trusted to look after the children and bring them home safely, Zephir also adores Arthur and his wild schemes and gets involve in mishaps cause by Arthur himshelf.
- Cornelius: The oldest and wisest elephant in Celesteville, and the Prime Minister, who takes his job as Babar's chief adviser very seriously, whether accompanying Babar on state visits or organizing numerous Celesteville parades. His catchphrase is "My tusks!". He sometimes has a hard time calming down Pompadour or seeing to the children due to his old age.
- Pompadour: Another adviser to Babar, and minister of royal protocol. He often opposes radical ideas, is easily alarmed, and is very adherent to protocol. He is very high-strung. He also serves as the Finance Minister. At times, Pompadour dislikes Celeste because of her "lack of proper protocol."
- Troubadour: Pompadour's assistant, a smaller elephant who does not speak but is very dedicated to helping Babar and his family. He appeared in the early seasons of Babar before disappearing in later episodes; it is unknown what happened to him.
- Truffles: The palace cook, often easily upset by various situations in the palace. In the episode "Friendly Agreement," he even quits because his request for a new stove seems to be getting ignored by Cornelius and Pompadour.
Rataxes' family
- Lord Rataxes: The king of Rhinoland. He is the neutral character from the series. At some point between the flashbacks and the present day events of the show, Rataxes signed a peace treaty with Babar. In the series he is seen as a bumbling and occasionally incompetent oaf, although he is seen in the filmBabar: The MovieBabar: The Movie is a 1989 drawn-animated film made by Canada's Nelvana Limited and France's Ellipse Programme, and distributed by New Line Cinema. It is based on the characters of Jean de Brunhoff's eponymous children's books, and was a follow-up to the first season of the HBO TV series...
as an evil and menacing ruler. - Lady Rataxes: Rataxes' wife. She is very demanding of her husband, and is also on friendly terms with Babar, Celeste and the elephants, on most occasions. Her real name is Louise (as learned in the episode "No Place Like Home"), but she is generally called Lady Rataxes. In the Spin-off/Sequel "The Adventures of Badou" her personality changed radically in which she is very bitter and even more demanding.
- Victor: Rataxes' son. He is friends with Babar's three eldest children (the triplets). He is also in the same grade and class as them, in school.
- Basil: Rataxes' adviser, highly capable, competent, and organized. He does most of the paperwork, is the Head of Security for the rhino palace, and has also served as Rataxes' travel agent and spy. He is also a self proclaimed fitness nut, an advocate of clean living in general, and a wonderful theatre director. He is extremely loyal to Rataxes and very humble, though not above poking fun at his boss in a very subtle manner from time to time.
Movie
In 1989, New Line CinemaNew Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
, Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
, and Astral Films
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
announced that a movie adaption
Babar: The Movie
Babar: The Movie is a 1989 drawn-animated film made by Canada's Nelvana Limited and France's Ellipse Programme, and distributed by New Line Cinema. It is based on the characters of Jean de Brunhoff's eponymous children's books, and was a follow-up to the first season of the HBO TV series...
of Babar would be released. This would be followed by a sequel released in 1998, titled Babar: King of the Elephants
Babar: King of the Elephants
Babar: King of the Elephants is a 1998 animated film made by Nelvana Limited and released in theaters in Canada by Alliance Communications and in the U.S. straight to video by New Line Home Video. Based on Jean de Brunhoff's book series, it is the second Babar movie, following 1989's Babar: The...
, and was released by Alliance Communications
Alliance Communications
Alliance Communications was a former Canadian-based movie distribution company. Based in Toronto, Ontario the company was formed in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Heroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos and Jay Firestone. It acquired a Montreal-based Francophone production company, Vivafilm, in 1990. In...
theatrically and New Line Home Video as a direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
movie.
The TV film Babar Comes to America was released on September 7, 1971 and produced in USA. The film starred Peter Ustinov as the voice actor for all characters.
Babar and Father Christmas
The 1986 TV movie Babar and Father Christmas won the 1987 Gemini award for Best Animated Program or Series (Merilyn Read, and Alison Clayton). The TV film was given a rating of 6.8/10 based on 30 votes and 1 review. It was released in the USA on 5 December 1986, and in Canada on 15 December 1986. The film's DVD title is also known as Babar et le Père Noël in France. The film was made in Canada. The Production Companies were: Atkinson Film Arts, MTR Productions and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).The Distributors were Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (1986) (Canada) (TV), Hi-Tops Video (1986) (USA) (VHS), Home Box Office (HBO) (1986) (USA) (TV). The song "Christmas in Celesteville" was featured in the TV film. The music was by Gary Morton, the lyrics were by Merilyn Read, and it was sung by John Brough, Geri Childs, Teresa Dunn and Craig Kennedy.Critical Reception
On the site TV.com, the series as a whole was given a rating of 7.6 (Good) based on 189 votes.At IMDb, Babar has an overall rating of 6.7/10 based on 343 votes and 6 reviews.
David Knox at TVTonight commented on the subject of death and the way it is depicted in Children’s Television, citing the pilot of Babar as an example, "This week ABC replayed the pilot episode of the animated series in which the baby elephant loses his mother to a hunter after being shot by a rifle. Produced by a Canadian company in 1989 it doesn’t shy away from the separation of mother and child, as written in the original Babar the Elephant stories." An ABC Spokesperson told TV Tonight that the ABC had carefully considered the content which aired at 3:30 p.m. on ABC2 for a G rated audience, "At no point in the sequence was there any depiction of blood or wounds, and the depiction of the rifle being used was very careful and discreet. The simple animation style reduced the level of detail of the rifle and the action. While there was a sense of threat and menace associated with the hunter and his use of violence, having regard to the animation style, the level of visual detail, and the stylised manner in which the action was depicted, Audience and Consumer Affairs considers that this sense of threat and menace was very low. The violence in the sequence was very discreetly implied, and was not gratuitous as it was a pivotal, dramatic moment of great significance to the story.”
Charles Solomon of The Los Angeles Times gave a review of Babar's first few episodes, "The designs for the characters and the simple animation capture the essence of Jean de Brunhoff's understated watercolor illustrations. The artists occasionally seem to lose their sense of the characters' size and weight: The young Babar jumps and climbs in ways that seem very unelephantlike (but very few elephants wear uniforms and crowns, as the adult Babar does). As the voice of Babar, Gordon Pinsent gives the elephant king a reassuring presence and keeps the mildly didactic stories from bogging down in moralizing. Child actors provide the voices for the young Babar and his friends, which makes the show sound a lot like a "Peanuts" special at times. Created by the Canadian Nelvana studio--the producers of the entertaining "My Pet Monster"--"Babar" manages to be endearing without sliding into the saccharine cutesiness of "Hello Kitty." Parents with children in the 4-to-10-year-old range should plan on setting their VCRs: The kids will probably want to watch "Babar" more than once."
At commonsensemedia, the show is advised for viewers aged 4 and up, and it given a rating of 4 stars. The show is given a "Good Stuff" rating of 3/5, adding, "Babar is a good role model who sees creatures for who they really are." They continued to say that Parents Need to Know that "Although the show is an ideal pick for preschoolers, most kids will probably outgrow it by the time they're 7". The review ended by saying, "Many shows adapted from books tend to move at a slow pace. But Babar provides enough adventure and silliness to keep even the most active preschooler engaged. As an extra plus, the music is beautifully orchestrated. Babar exemplifies the lesson that all of us are the same on the inside. These elephants hold their trunks high, but they also know that money doesn't conquer all. Many kids' shows depict well-off characters as villainous and/or gluttonous; Babar shows kids that wealth doesn't necessarily equate to greed."
Awards
In 1990, the show won a 7 d'Or Night award for Best Youth Program (Meilleure émission pour la jeunesse). In 1989, the show won a Gemini award for Best Animated Program or Series (Patrick Loubert, Lenora Hume, Clive A. Smith, and Michael Hirsh). In 1990, the show won a Gemini for Best Animated Program or Series (Patrick Loubert, Michael Hirsh, and Clive A. Smith). It was also nominated for a Gemini award for Best Original Music Score for a Series (Milan Kymlicka). In 1992, the series won a Gemini award for Best Animated Program or Series (Clive A. Smith, Patrick Loubert, and Michael Hirsh).Home Video History
- UK
- Abbey Home Media (1990-2008)
- Fremantle Home EntertainmentFremantleMediaFremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
(2008-present)
- US
- E1 Entertainment (2011-present)
2000 series
There was a remake of the animated series in 2000 for the company Nelvana Limited, Ellipsanime, and the Kodansha company in Japan.Voices of the characters
- Dan LettDan LettDaniel Frederick Lett is a Canadian actor. He attended White Oaks Secondary School in nearby Oakville, Ontario. He has acted in films, theatre and television. His principal roles have been in the series F/X, The X-Files, E.N.G., Street Legal, and Wind at My Back.He has a brother and a sister...
as King Babar, he loves the idea of adventure and helping friends when they'll in trouble, is deticated to fighting justice and truth and helping the wrong and weak. - Janet-Laine GreenJanet-Laine GreenJanet-Laine Green) is a Canadian actress, director, producer and teacher, active for over 25 years. Best known for her roles in She's the Mayor, Seeing Things and This is Wonderland, this Toronto-based film and television personality has also been a voice actor for animated series such as Jacob...
as Queen Celeste loves adventure as much as her husband does, keeps a closeful eye on the children and panics whenever they'll in trouble, engages help in a cooking contest. - Kyle Fairlie as Alexander who highly excurates in panic and trouble, loves to help thouse in need.
- Kristen Bone as Flora who loves everyone and is very brave and fearless when faced danger and is not afraid to speak out her mind she once gets kidnapped by a giant ape.
- Noah ReidNoah ReidNoah Reid is a Canadian actor.-Personal life:Reid was born in Toronto, Ontario. He attended Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for high school and is a graduate of the Canada's National Theatre School. He is also an accomplished musical performer with winnings in various...
as Pom is smart, strong and quite outspoken, once got turned into a pig by a trainee witch call lulu, helps solves puzzles with his family. - Philip WilliamsPhilip WilliamsPhillip Williams was a decorated Captain of the United States Navy and one-time military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands....
as Zephir is extrembly funny and unbeliverbly loyal at times when all seemed lost or hopeless at times, keeps an upper lip on sitituations