Barbapapa @ The Cartoon Scrapbook

Prod. Notes:

1981, syndicated (U.S. airdate)

Polyscope, LBS Communications

Cast:

Storyteller ................................................................................. Allen Swift

Voices ......................................................................................... Ann Costello

Voices .......................................................................... Alexander Marshall

Synopsis:

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.

Episodes:

Opening Lyrics:

"Here is the star it's Barbapapa

He'll introduce All of the other Barbapapas

They've got a lot of wild disguises

They can change their shapes and sizes

Very easily....

Barbapapa's pink, he's in the pink, he's pinker than flamingo pink

Barbamama's black as night, when it gets dark, she's out of sight.

Barbazoo's a yellow fellow,

Barbalala's very very green,

Barbalib is orange like an orange or a tangerine

Barbabeau is black and also furry

But since he always play around with paint,

He often looks a colour that he ain't

Now Barbabelle is deep deep purple,

Barbabright's true true blue

Barbabravo - he's the one Who's reder than the setting sun

That I think is everybody done.

I wanna be like Barbapapa

Oh yes i do I wanna be a Barbapapa

They've got a lot of wild disguises

They can change their shapes and sizes

Very easily.... Show me your magic Barbapapa

I wanna be like Barbapapa

Barbapapa

Barbamama

Barbazoo

Barbalala

Barbalib

Barbabeau

Barbabelle

Barbabright

Barbabravo"