Wim Meuldijk
Encyclopedia
Wim Meuldijk was a Dutch
writer, illustrator, and screenwriter. He is the creator of Ketelbinkie, one of the most popular Dutch comics after World War II
, and of Pipo de Clown
, the star of a television show that ran from 1958 to 1980 which Meuldijk produced, filmed, and for which he wrote the script.
. While in hiding to avoid being drafted, he developed a comic (Snowflake and the Eskimo), and after the war started publishing a comic magazine, Snowflake, which turned into Ketelbinkie Krant, a magazine containing what was to be his breakthrough: Ketelbinkie, a three-panel comic about a little street kid with miraculous strength. The comic first appeared in 1945 and ran in the daily newspapers for twelve years. After that, Meuldijk wrote for radio shows until he was asked by the VARA, one of the Dutch broadcasting organizations, to help make a television show. He drew the clown and thus created the character Pipo de Clown.
For more than twenty years, Meuldijk wrote the Pipo shows. During the show's first years he actually lived and traveled in a travel trailer, just like his character, and both his wife and his daughter were recognized in Pipo's wife and daughter, Mamaloe and Petra. His daughter, Belinda
, first performed on the show at age six. In the early days of Pipo de Clown, which was initially broadcast live on Wednesday afternoon, Meuldijk did everything himself, from writing the script and casting the supporting actors to designing the set and choosing locations; he even built and painted Pipo's travel trailer.
Meuldijk also wrote screenplays for other television shows, including Mik & Mak and Koning Bolo, and scenes for the Dutch Sesame Street
, but remained pigeonholed the rest of his life as the creator of Pipo. His last creative act was the script for the 2003 film Pipo en de p-p-Parelridder
. At the time of filming he was 81 and could not direct the movie, but did spend a number of days on the set in Cordoba, Spain
.
He is praised for his imaginative use of language and is credited with coining a number of expressions that via Pipo and other characters from the show made their way into daily usage.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
writer, illustrator, and screenwriter. He is the creator of Ketelbinkie, one of the most popular Dutch comics after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and of Pipo de Clown
Pipo de Clown
Pipo de Clown is a character created by writer and artist Wim Meuldijk, which became famous as the lead character of a popular early Dutch television series also written by Meuldijk, and which was subsequently popularized in movies and on records...
, the star of a television show that ran from 1958 to 1980 which Meuldijk produced, filmed, and for which he wrote the script.
Biography
Meuldijk's career as an illustrator really started during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While in hiding to avoid being drafted, he developed a comic (Snowflake and the Eskimo), and after the war started publishing a comic magazine, Snowflake, which turned into Ketelbinkie Krant, a magazine containing what was to be his breakthrough: Ketelbinkie, a three-panel comic about a little street kid with miraculous strength. The comic first appeared in 1945 and ran in the daily newspapers for twelve years. After that, Meuldijk wrote for radio shows until he was asked by the VARA, one of the Dutch broadcasting organizations, to help make a television show. He drew the clown and thus created the character Pipo de Clown.
For more than twenty years, Meuldijk wrote the Pipo shows. During the show's first years he actually lived and traveled in a travel trailer, just like his character, and both his wife and his daughter were recognized in Pipo's wife and daughter, Mamaloe and Petra. His daughter, Belinda
Belinda Meuldijk
Belinda Meuldijk is a Dutch actress, writer, and activist. She has performed in Dutch television shows and movies, and is also a song writer...
, first performed on the show at age six. In the early days of Pipo de Clown, which was initially broadcast live on Wednesday afternoon, Meuldijk did everything himself, from writing the script and casting the supporting actors to designing the set and choosing locations; he even built and painted Pipo's travel trailer.
Meuldijk also wrote screenplays for other television shows, including Mik & Mak and Koning Bolo, and scenes for the Dutch Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, but remained pigeonholed the rest of his life as the creator of Pipo. His last creative act was the script for the 2003 film Pipo en de p-p-Parelridder
Pipo en de p-p-Parelridder
Pipo en de P-P-Parelridder is a 2003 Dutch movie based on the children's television show Pipo de Clown. The film received a Golden Film for having drawn 100,000 visitors.-Background:...
. At the time of filming he was 81 and could not direct the movie, but did spend a number of days on the set in Cordoba, Spain
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
.
He is praised for his imaginative use of language and is credited with coining a number of expressions that via Pipo and other characters from the show made their way into daily usage.