Belle et Sébastien

"Belle et Sébastien" is a novel by Cécile Aubry [ cite book |title= Belle et Sébastien |last=Aubry |first=Cécile |authorlink=Cécile Aubry |year=1965 |publisher=Hachette |location= |isbn= |pages=184 ] about a six-year-old boy named Sébastien and his dog Belle, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, who live in a small French Alps Mountain village on the French side of the border between France and Spain. Sébastien lives with his adopted grandfather, sister, and brother, as his mother, a Rom, died after giving birth to him while trying to cross the border on Saint Sebastian's day. The novel, known in English-speaking countries as "Belle and Sebastian", was made into a French live-action television series in 1965, and a Japanese anime version nearly two decades later.

Adaptations

Belle et Sébastien (1965–1970)

The live action show, filmed in black-and-white, was broadcast in France from 1965 to 1970. In 1967, it was dubbed and the title was anglicized to "Belle and Sebastian" and first appeared on British television's BBC1 on Monday afternoons, with an initial airing date of October 2, 1967, its initial run concluding on January 1, 1968. Shown in the time slot after "Blue Peter", this dubbed French adventure was subsequently re-repeated many times and became an essential ingredient of school holiday television. [ [http://www.thechestnut.com/belle.htm Little Gems - Belle and Sebastien ] ] Its authentic locations, sensitive writing, and winning performances by the actors, makes it an enduring classic. Its deep theme is the power and importance of love. The part of Sébastien in the TV series was played by Mehdi El Glaoui, Cécile Aubry's son from her marriage to a Moroccan prince. Mehdi also sings the final song, L'Oiseau (lyrics: http://www.paroles.net/chansons/11493.htm) [ [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/belle.htm Belle And Sebastien | A Television Heaven Review ] ] .

The Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian took their name from the TV series.

In The Simpsons episode Husbands and Knives there is a comic featuring a French boy and his dog much like that of Belle et Sébastien.

Meiken Jolie (1981)

The anime version, released initially under its Japanese name of "Meiken Jolie", was created in 1980, a joint production of France's MK Company and Visual 80 Productions and Japan's Toho Company, Ltd., with animation director Toshiyuki Kashiwakura helming the project and character designs from Shuichi Seki. The show was broadcast on French and Japanese television in 1981, with American cable network Nickelodeon picking it up in 1984. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283710/ "Meiken Jolie" (1981) ] ]

External links

* : the live action 1965 version
* : the 1981 anime version

References