Babar (TV series)

infobox Television
show_name = Babar
caption =
format = Animated series
runtime = Approximately 23 Minutes
creators = Jean de Brunhoff
starring = Gavin McGrath, Gordon Pinsent, Dawn Greenhalgh, Stuart Stone, Elizabeth Hanna, Stephen Ouimette, Allen Stewart-Coates, Corrine Koslo, John Stocker, Chris Wiggins, Bobby Becken, Benjamin Barrett, Amos Crawley, Lea-Helen Weir, Lisa Yamanaka
director = Dale Schott
writers =
produced by = Michael Hirsh, Patrick Lorebert, Clive A. Smith
music =
music editor =
casting = Arlene Berman
production company = Nelvana
distributor =
country = CAN
network = NTV/HBO, 24/7 Digital NetworkReruns: Fridays on ION, Saturdays on NBC and Sundays Telemundo on Qubo (September 2, 2006 - October 5th, 2007)(July 4th, 2008 - September 27, 2008)
24/7 Digital Network (December 3, 2007 to Present)
first_aired = January 3, 1989
last_aired = June 5, 1991
num_episodes = 78 (Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5, Season 6)
list_episodes = |

"Babar" is an animated television series produced in Canada by Nelvana Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989 on NTV, and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and qubo (in America). The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff's original "Babar" books, and was Nelvana's first international co-production. The series has been broadcasted in 30 languages in over 150 countries.

Plot

Based on the famous books by 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. But 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.

Voices of the Characters

*Gordon Pinsent 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 (1989-present)
*Jeff Pustil as Zephir
*Paul Haddad as Uncle Arthur
*Stephen Ouimette as Pompadour
*Elizabeth Hanna as The Old Lady
*Allen Stewart-Coates as Lord Rataxes
*Corrine Koslo as Lady Rataxes
*John Stocker as Basil
*Chris Wiggins as Cornelius
*Noah Godfrey as Victor (1990-present)
*Gavin Magrath as Young Babar (1989-1990)
*Tara Charendoff as Young Celeste (1989-1990)
*Bobby Becken as Pom (1989-1990)
*Amos Crawley as Alexander #1 (1989-1990)

*Dan Hennessey Additional Voices
*Frank Catalano Additional Voices
*Robert Bockstael Additional Voices
*William Colgate Additional Voices
*Carl Banas Additional Voices
*Joyce Gordon Additional Voices
*George Buza Additional Voices
*Don Francks Additional Voices
*Michael Fantini Additional Voices
*Garreth Bennett Additional Voices
*Wayne Robson Additional Voices
*Maxine Miller Additional Voices
*Keith Knight Additional Voices
*Graham Haley Additional Voices (credited his spelt surname Graham Halley)
*Barbara Hamilton Additional Voices
*Ian Heath Additional Voices
*Robert Haist Additional Voices
*Joe Roncetti Additional Voices
*Raymond Accolas Additional Voices
*Katie Coristine Additional Voices
*Tomy Beurick Additional Voices
*Greg Swanson Additional Voices
*Marsha Moreau Additional Voices
*Peter Wildman Additional Voices (credited his wrong first name Beter Wildman)

Characters

Babar's family

* Babar –is a charming and charismatic elephant. He is also 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 elephant 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 others 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 canon 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. [http://www.babar.com/jp/family.html The Japanese version of the official Babar characters page] also refers to him as Celeste’s younger brother. In additon, 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 - is the oldest of the triplets and the leader of the children. He is the biggest of the bunch and protective of his brother and sisters though he will gladly join in with Alexander in playfully teasing his sisters, Flora and Isabelle.
* 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.
* 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.
* Isabelle – is the youngest of the four children. Isabelle was an amazing baby, walking early and talking early. She is a baby at the beginning of the series and a toddler by the end of it.

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. In many ways, she's a surrogate mother to Babar.
* Zephir - 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.
* Cornelius - Cornelius, the oldest and wisest elephant in Celesteville is the Prime Minister, and takes his job as Babar's chief advisor very seriously, whether accompanying Babar on state visits or organizing numerous Celesteville parades.
* Pompadour- Another advisor to Babar, often opposes radical ideas. He also serves as the Finance Minister.

Rataxes' Famiy

* Lord Rataxes - The king of Rhinoland. He's sometimes a villain and sometimes an ally. At some point between the flashbacks the present day events of the show, Rataxes signed a peace treaty with Babar. In the film, he is seen as an evil and menacing ruler. But in the tv series, he is changed to a bumbling and occasionally incompetant oaf.
* 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 [see the episode "No Place Like Home"] .
* 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' advisor. 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.

Alternative Titles

* מסיפורי המלך בבר ("Misiporai HaMelech Babar", literally "From the stories of King Babar") - Israeli Title
* ぞうのババール ("Zou no Babar") - Japanese Title

References

*1. [http://www.nelvana.com/shows/shows_template.asp?sid=7] http://www.nelvana.com/shows/shows_template.asp?sid=7
*2. [http://www.qubo.com/babar_show.asp?sid=7] http://www.qubo.com/babar_show.asp
*3. Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA)
*4. http://www.babar.com/jp/main.html

External links

*imdb title|id=0156200|title=Babar
* [http://www.nelvana.com/shows/shows_template.asp?sid=7 Official Nelvana site]
*HBO Family [http://www.hbofamily.com/programs/jam/babar.html site]
* [http://www.qubo.com/babar_show.asp Offical Qubo Site for Babar]
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/cast-crew/B00009B0NE Babar Movie Cast]
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0096869/fullcredits#cast Babar: The Movie Cast]
* [http://www.treehousetv.com/parents/tvShows/babar/index.asp Babar: Treehouse TV]
*Gordon Stanfield Animation (GSA)
* [http://www.babar.com/ http://www.babar.com/]
* [http://qubo.com/channel/babar-episode.asp Qubo: Babar Episodes]