Robo Story

"Robo Story" (sometimes referred to as "Robostory") is a French cartoon series that was created by Michel Pillyser and Bernard Kessler for the French production company Belokapi and first televised in 1985. It ran for 52 episodes that were each 13 minutes long.

The series was subsequently broadcast internationally, including an English dubbed version that was shown on Australian and British TV under the auspices of English company Cosgrove Hall.

ummary

Robo Story follows the adventures of a small, orange-haired girl called Myrtille and her dog Loufi. In the opening title sequence we see Myrtille chase the mischievous Loufi onto a space shuttle that takes off with her inside. The ship crash lands on a world known as the Green Planet.

The Green Planet is inhabited by robots. In the original French version these were the evil Rotors, and the friendly Robors. English language versions changed this slightly, re-naming the evil robots the 'Wrigglers', and the friendly robots the 'Robos'.

Wrigglers

The Wrigglers were black and spindly. They were led by the White Wriggler, who was shaped somewhat like Darth Vader's helmet. He was in turn instructed by a disembodied voice known as 'Revered Reverence.' The White Wriggler's frequent incompetence would lead to him being named the "lowest of the low" by the Revered Reverence, and turned black.

Robos

The Robos were bell-shaped and variously coloured. They were led by a spindlier robot named Old Robot who was often seen wearing a purple hat and using a cane. Other Robo characters included Robot Colossus, Robot Moron, Robot Magician and Robot Hobo.

Robot Pasha, the green coloured military Robo was a skinny fool who, when the other Robos were hiding from the Wrigglers would jump up and shout "Attack!" before being muzzled and sat upon by the other Robos.

Robot Moron would answer "I don't know" to any question he was asked, but on other occasions would philosophize, and when asked by the other Robos what he was talking about, would answer once more "I don't know."

Robot Magician was a legend among the other Robos who would occasionally appear to save the day. In one episode, when the Wrigglers had amassed an army to crush the Robos once and for all, Robot Magician sent all the Wrigglers into orbit and drove their leader insane.

Robot Hobo would laze around in a junkyard getting drunk on oil.

The series revolved around Myrtille (or 'Blueberry' as she was known in the English version) trying to get to her space-shuttle (which the Wrigglers had stolen) so she could return to Earth. In the final episode Robot Magician sneaked into the Wriggler's headquarters and deactivated the central computer (the Revered Reverence). Myrtille plans to bring the Robos back to Earth with her, but the shuttle accidentally launches with only her and Robot Hobo on board. As they speed away from the Green Planet she turns and sees that Robot Hobo has become Robot Magician, who in fact he was all along.

The series employed a quite idiosyncratic style of animation, notable especially for its dark tone and sparse, industrial soundtrack.

Robo Story Theme Song

This is an approximate translation from the French.

Myrtille in the country of the robots. Tender, petite girl, like a bird Pretty, with gilded hair. She likes to be liked.

Loufi, her faithful companion. A confidant, caramel puppy. He is a little rascal, a malignant joker with the air of nothing.

Myrtille discovered a planet, the green planet. She learns, with these friendly robots, About the world, about life.

Myrtille has a heart filled with tenderness, Filled with kindness. She is perhaps a little shameless, But it is this which makes her liked!

This is the history of malicious robots, And affectionate robots. Fatties of all colors, Petite robots that have a heart.

Of course there are always the Wrigglers, Who do not know that they are wrong. They would like to destroy all our friends, Fortunately, there is Myrtille!

As in all the beautiful fairy tales There is love and friendship. And in Robo Story, there are Machines who understand life.

Loufi with Myrtille. Myrtille with Loufi. It is the life of Robo Story. Ouah!

References

*Pictures from [http://www.planete-jeunesse.com/sources/series.php3?cle=388 Planete-jeunesse.com] (Fr)