Barbapapa

***Barbapapa*** is a 1970 children's picture book by the French-American couple Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, who lived in Paris, France. Barbapapa is both the title character and the name of his "species". The book was the first of a series of children's books originally written in French and later translated into over 30 languages.

*Barbe à papa* – literally "Daddy's beard" – is French for cotton candy or candy floss.

## Background

The inspiration for Barbapapa came by chance in the Luxembourg Garden in Paris one day in May 1970. While walking in the park with Annette Tison, Talus Taylor thought he heard a child ask his parents for something called "Baa baa baa baa". Not speaking French, he asked Tison what the words meant. She explained that the child was asking for a treat called *Barbe à papa* (cotton candy). Later at a restaurant, the couple began to draw on the tablecloth, and came up with a character inspired by the candy: a pink and round character. When it came time to give it a name, *Barbapapa* came naturally.

Several European publishers expressed interest in Barbapapa but did not wish to spend the publishing cost. Frank Fehmers, a Dutch publisher, subsequently set up a co-production and the first editions were published in 1970. The original editions were published in French by *L'École des Loisirs*, in Dutch by Frank Fehmers Productions, in British English by the Ernest Benn Company, and in American English by the Henry Z. Walck Co.

## Characters

The main characters in the books are the Barbapapa family, who are most notable for their ability to shapeshift at will. In their native form, Barbapapas are blob-shaped, with a distinct head and arms, but no legs. Male Barbapapas have rounder bottoms, whereas female Barbapapas have a more slender form. Each Barbapapa can adopt any form they choose, but they remain easily identifiable by always retaining their faces and their distinctive color.

**Barbapapa** himself is a generally papaya-shaped, pink shapeshifting blob-like creature who grows from the ground and tries to fit in the human world. The shapeshifting is usually accompanied by the saying "Clickety Click—Barba Trick", or in the 1970s British dub "All Change!"

After various adventures, Barbapapa comes across a female of his species (more shapely, and black-coloured), named **Barbamama**. They produce seven children: Four sons: **Barbabravo**, a sports fan (red), **Barbabright**, a scientist (blue), **Barbazoo**, a nature enthusiast (yellow) and **Barbabeau**, a painter (black and furry), as well as three daughters: **Barbalala**, a musician (green), **Barbabelle**, a narcissistic beauty queen (purple), and **Barbalib**, an intellectual (orange).

## Adaptations

### Television

A few years after the book had been produced, and when more titles had been published, Fehmers expanded the project to television films in conjunction with Joop Visch of Polyscope-Polygram, with the story boards designed by Taylor. After twelve years, Fehmers and Tison/Taylor discontinued their business relationship. The first cartoon film was almost five minutes long and was released on television in 1973.

In 1999, An Japanese animated series called ***Barbapapa Around the World*** (Japanese: バーバパパ　世界をまわる, Hepburn: *Barbapapa Sekai wo Mawaru*) was aired. Animated by Studio Pierrot and produced by Kodansha, the series depicted the family going on vacation through different countries. The series aired over 50 episodes.

In 2019, a new animated show, **Barbapapa: One Big Happy Family**, was produced by Normaal Animation aired on TF1 in France and Nick Jr, and later released in other countries. The show will be written by Alice Taylor and Thomas Taylor. Alice is the daughter of Tison and Taylor.

### Music

The first Barbapapa theme's lyrics were written by Harrie Geelen, and the music composed by Joop Stokkermans.

One of the several English-language versions had a musical theme composed by Edd Kalehoff.[*citation needed*] The Italian version's song were sung by singer-songwriter Roberto Vecchioni.

The Spanish kids' group Parchis made a song about the characters of the cartoon, named "Barbapapá".

### Comic book

A comic book version was also created. Both the cartoons and comics sometimes show concerns about the environment and contain environmental messages.