Colargol
Encyclopedia
Colargol is a fictional bear created by French writer Olga Pouchine in the 1950s. Colargol first became famous through a series of children's recordings by Philips
in the 1960s. It is the story of a little bear who wanted to sing and travel the world.
's animation company Procidis
started production on Les Aventures de Colargol, a stop-motion animated series starring Colargol. Barillé enlisted the Polish animator Tadeusz Wilkosz and Se-ma-for
in Łódź to create the animation.
Music for the series was performed by Mireille
, orchestration was by Jean-Michel Defaye, and the lyrics were by Victor Villien.
The series was produced from 1967 to 1974, comprising 53 thirteen-minute episodes which were broadcast in many European countries. Les Aventures de Colargol was renamed Barnaby when it was dubbed into English and broadcast in the UK by the BBC. The series underwent another name change when a second dubbed version of the series was shown in Canada (and also in the UK and Ireland), this time as Jeremy the Bear.
The series was also turned into three motion picture films in Poland: Colargol na Dzikim Zachodzie (Colargol in the Wild West) in 1976, Colargol zdobywcą kosmosu (Colargol, the Conqueror of Space) in 1978, and Colargol i cudowna walizka (Colargol and the Magic Suitcase) in 1979.
' son. Barnaby was first aired on the programme Watch with Mother in April 1973 on the BBC. The programme also featured the voice talents of Charles Collingwood
, Gwenllian Owen and Percy Edwards
. The English version (Barnaby) was produced by Michael Grafton-Robinson. Thirteen episodes were produced; an episode usually had at least two "Colargol" episodes spliced together. Barnaby was repeated on a number of occasions between 1973 and 1979.
The Circus was included on the VHS Watch With Mother: The Next Generation by the BBC in 1989
program which aired in Canada in the 1970s and 1980s. Unlike the Barnaby British version, Jeremy the Bear kept all of the episodes intact and properly in order. Jeremy was also shown in the Republic of Ireland and on a number of ITV
regions in the UK, as well as being aired-available in several northern US states with access to Canadian television.
When the show was made, Se-Ma-For retained the distribution rights for Poland. However, Se-Ma-For was a state-run organization and the changed economic situation caused by the fall of the Eastern Bloc eventually led to its collapse. All the rights for material produced between 1947 and 1999 including the Polish version of Colargol were inherited by the Polish National Filmotheque.
Because of this, there are still some episodes of Colargol available on VHS and DVD in Poland, although a complete collection has never been published.
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
in the 1960s. It is the story of a little bear who wanted to sing and travel the world.
Colargol on television
Following the success of the Colargol albums Albert BarilléAlbert Barillé
Albert Barillé was a French television producer, creator, screenwriter, cartoonist, and founder of Procidis. He is the creator of the puppet animated series Colargol, and the series Once Upon a Time......
's animation company Procidis
Procidis
Procidis is a French animation studio, founded by Albert Barillé, which among other things produced the educational series "Once Upon a Time...". Its programs are sold in more than 100 countries...
started production on Les Aventures de Colargol, a stop-motion animated series starring Colargol. Barillé enlisted the Polish animator Tadeusz Wilkosz and Se-ma-for
Se-ma-for
Se-ma-for is a Polish animation studio. Founded in Łódź, Poland, in 1947, it has created many animated cartoons and stop motion puppet animations, for young and mature audiences...
in Łódź to create the animation.
Music for the series was performed by Mireille
Mireille Hartuch
Mireille Hartuch was a French singer, composer, and actress. She was generally known by the stage name "Mireille"....
, orchestration was by Jean-Michel Defaye, and the lyrics were by Victor Villien.
The series was produced from 1967 to 1974, comprising 53 thirteen-minute episodes which were broadcast in many European countries. Les Aventures de Colargol was renamed Barnaby when it was dubbed into English and broadcast in the UK by the BBC. The series underwent another name change when a second dubbed version of the series was shown in Canada (and also in the UK and Ireland), this time as Jeremy the Bear.
The series was also turned into three motion picture films in Poland: Colargol na Dzikim Zachodzie (Colargol in the Wild West) in 1976, Colargol zdobywcą kosmosu (Colargol, the Conqueror of Space) in 1978, and Colargol i cudowna walizka (Colargol and the Magic Suitcase) in 1979.
Colargol's names around the world
Colargol is known by the following names in various countries including:- Afghanistan: کولرگولColargol
- Albania: Arushi Kolargol
- Canada: Jeremy the bear (English), Colargol (French)
- Chinese: 小熊杰里米
- Finland: Pikku-Nalle
- France: Colargol
- Germany: Teddybär Colargol
- Hungary: Mackó Misi
- Iceland: Oliver bangsi
- Ireland: Jeremy the bear
- Israel: קולרגול (Colargol)
- Italy: Colargol
- Japan: コラル (Koraru)
- Norway: Bjørnen Colargol
- The Netherlands: Beertje Colargol
- Poland: Miś Colargol
- Spain: "El osito Colargol"
- Switzerland: Colargol
- UK: Barnaby the bear
Barnaby
Barnaby is the British version of the Colargol animated series. Barnaby was the name of the narrator Colin JeavonsColin Jeavons
Colin Jeavons is a Welsh television actor.-Career:Jeavons is best known as Inspector Lestrade in the Granada television serials The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, or the part of the undertaker, Shadrack, in the television situation comedy written by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall from...
' son. Barnaby was first aired on the programme Watch with Mother in April 1973 on the BBC. The programme also featured the voice talents of Charles Collingwood
Charles Collingwood (actor)
Charles Henry Collingwood is a British actor.Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, and educated at Sherborne School in Dorset, England, he trained at RADA. He is best known for playing the role of Brian Aldridge in the long-running BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers since March 1975...
, Gwenllian Owen and Percy Edwards
Percy Edwards
Percy Edwards MBE , was an English animal impersonator, ornithologist, and entertainer.-Biography:...
. The English version (Barnaby) was produced by Michael Grafton-Robinson. Thirteen episodes were produced; an episode usually had at least two "Colargol" episodes spliced together. Barnaby was repeated on a number of occasions between 1973 and 1979.
Barnaby episode list
| Title |
|---|
| In the Forest |
| The Bear Visits The King of the Birds and Learns to Sing |
| The Concert |
| The Circus |
| The Rescue |
| Barnaby Learns to Swim |
| Ship's Boy |
| Escape To Nordine |
| Return To The Forest |
| The Holiday |
| Welcome to Nordine |
| Crow's Wedding |
| Farewell Nordine |
The Circus was included on the VHS Watch With Mother: The Next Generation by the BBC in 1989
Jeremy the Bear
Jeremy the Bear is the Canadian version of Colargol, a TVOntarioTVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
program which aired in Canada in the 1970s and 1980s. Unlike the Barnaby British version, Jeremy the Bear kept all of the episodes intact and properly in order. Jeremy was also shown in the Republic of Ireland and on a number of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
regions in the UK, as well as being aired-available in several northern US states with access to Canadian television.
Legal dispute
Procidis initially held the rights for distribution, but towards the late 1980s onward, differences in opinions between Procidis and Victor Villien, the right holder of the previously created Colargol recordings (the material of which was used throughout the series to provide the musical score), grew to the extent that the dispute went to court. Procidis lost the case and also the distribution rights. As various national television networks had licensed the show from Procidis, they subsequently lost the right to broadcast the show.When the show was made, Se-Ma-For retained the distribution rights for Poland. However, Se-Ma-For was a state-run organization and the changed economic situation caused by the fall of the Eastern Bloc eventually led to its collapse. All the rights for material produced between 1947 and 1999 including the Polish version of Colargol were inherited by the Polish National Filmotheque.
Because of this, there are still some episodes of Colargol available on VHS and DVD in Poland, although a complete collection has never been published.
Trivia
- In both the original Colargol and Jeremy the Bear, the opening sequence was different for each episode, and the opening theme would vary according to the story arcStory arcA story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
that the show was in. There were two main tunes for this. However, the ending song tended to be the same for each episode. - At the beginning of one of the later episodes, where a train is seen leaving, the camera zooms in on a semaphore signal, a play on the name of the company involved, Se-Ma-For.
- Colargol pops up briefly in the opening credits for Once Upon a Time... ManOnce Upon a Time... ManOnce Upon a Time… Man is a French animated TV series from 1978 directed by Albert Barillé. The series explains world history in a format designed for children. The action focuses around one group...
, another animated series from Procidis. - The Dutch version of the opening theme tune is sampled on "Flat Cold Medina", a mashupMashup (music)A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
by 2manydjsSoulwaxSoulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
.