Papyrus (series)

**Canada**

* Radio Canada
* Télétoon
* Unis

**France**

* TFOU TV

**Germany**

* Toggo

**Russia**

* Gulli

***Papyrus*** is a French-Canadian animated television series based on the comic book of the same name by Lucien De Gieter. The animated series was produced by Dupuis, which first aired on April 8, 1998. It contains 2 seasons comprising 52 episodes that ran until 2002. Then during or after its run, comic books are made based on those TV episodes.

The story's setting is in ancient Egypt. At the beginning of the ages, the falcon god Horus and the god of destruction-ruler Ombus Seth were struggling for rule in Upper and Lower Egypt. The Council of the gods decided-Seth was sent into exile and Horus took over Egypt. For two thousand years, one pharaoh alternated another. But Seth was preparing for revenge. He escaped from exile, captured the god Horus and imprisoned him in a magical sarcophagus in his Black Pyramid in Ombos. Egypt is thus deprived of its ruler and lives under the threat of Seth and his evil servant Aker. Thus the gods chose the young fisherman Papyrus to find the secret gate to Ombos, free Horus and return peace to Egypt. Armed with a magic sword, Papyrus protects Pharaoh Merenre and his daughter, Princess Théti from all Seth's threats.

The cartoon is primarily historical fantasy, action, and adventure with a tint of drama, comedy, and mature themes. But the spirit of the series is above all adventurous and full of tension.

## Monologue

*In the beginning, Horus the falcon god of light and Set the god of evil fought to control Egypt. The council of the Gods decided, Set was sent to exile and Horus became the first pharaoh of Egypt. For two thousand years, pharaoh succeeded pharaoh. But Set had plotted his revenge, and deep inside his sinister black pyramid of Ombos, Set imprisoned Horus in a magic sarcophagus. From then on, and no longer protected by the god Horus, Egypt was at the mercy of Set and his servant Aker. So the gods chose Papyrus, a young fisherman who must find the secret entrance to Ombos, free the god Horus and restore peace to Egypt.*

### Main

* **Papyrus** - The son of a fisherman, he was given this name because he was discovered in the midst of papyrus. He will save Princess Théti and be tasked by the goddess Nebou to fight the demonic forces sent by Seth, the god of chaos. We learn in the twentieth episode that he is descended from King Tutankhamun.

* **Théti** - Daughter of the Pharaoh and High Priestess of Isis, she was embalmed by Aker's minions and left for dead to force her father to abdicate. Saved by Papyrus, she sides by Papyrus in his adventures.

* **Pharaoh Merenre** - Pharaoh of the Two Lands and loving father of Théti, he reigns over Egypt.

* **Ratoufer** - High Priest of Horus, he brings wisdom and advice to Papyrus, Théti, and Merenre. He was once banished by the Pharaoh for opposing one of his decisions, but is recalled to the palace at the beginning of the series.

* **Aker** - The main antagonist of the series with his god, he is the High Priest of the god Seth.

### Major/Recurring

* **Hapou** - The son of the Royal Architect who preceded Imhoutep and a child who had lost his mind due to an attack by a possessed Seth, he regularly helps Papyrus and his friends.

* **Tiya** - Princess of the Thieves of Thebes, this young girl will save Papyrus from the guards of Ahmès and become her friend. She will sometimes help Théti and Papyrus on their quest.

* **Imhoutep** - Originally a beggar, he will help Papyrus stop Seth and become his friend. Appointed Royal Architect by Pharaoh, he accompanied Papyrus on several of his adventures.

* **Bebo** - Prince of a pacifist Libyan tribe, he was taken hostage by Tahar, Lord of Libya. He meets Papyrus and Théti in the third episode when they are captured by the Libyan army and decide to help them. He will accompany them on most of their adventures.

* **Ahmès** - Younger brother of the Pharaoh and uncle of Théti. Cupid and power-hungry, he plots against his brother several times to try to take his place with Aker's help, usually without success. It is said that he was arrested in episode 51, although there was no mention of it in the series.

* **Shepsheska** - A felon priest, he regularly joins Seth's forces to overthrow Merenre, but the plans in which he participates fail, or even turn against him.

* **Nekhet** and **Mesimonptu** - Pharaoh's top advisers with Ratoufer. Nekhet is the head of the Royal Guards, while Mesimonptu is the Grand Vizier.

* **King Hattusil** - Sovereign of the Hittites, he came several times to Thebes to sign (and then extend) with Pharaoh a peace treaty between Egypt and the Hittite Empire.

* **Princess Anitti** - The daughter of King Hattusil, she represents her father to Pharaoh. After Papyrus saved her life, she becomes an ally.

* **General Menenethet** - Head of Pharaoh's armies, he is the sworn enemy of King Hattusil. He desires the entire war between Egypt and the Hittites to destroy them, and will plot several times to trigger this conflict.

* **Phatatra** - King of the Thieves of Thebes, he is Tiya's mentor. He will occasionally help Papyrus and Théti alongside his apprentice.

## Episodes

For more information about this section, visit: List of Papyrus episodes. The show consists of fifty-two episodes, plus a movie special.

## Differences between comics and animated series

While the story is almost the same, the comics and show differences are many and noteworthy. Like most comics when adapted to become an animated series, Papyrus underwent several changes in plot, setting, situations, and characters:

* In the comics, Papyrus is given the iconic glaive - only here, it is the Sword of Sobek. But in the show, it is the Sword of Horus, and design-wise too.
* Merenptah is referred to as Merenre in the show, not to be confused with the Merenre from a previous dynasty.
* In both mediums, Imhoutep walks with a crutch. He is missing one leg in the comics however.
* Bebo’s original name is Pouin, whereas both counterparts own a donkey of the same name. Another difference being his comic counterpart had a wife named Shepti, similar to the name "Shepsi".
* The comics had no central antagonist and the stories are self-contained. In the animated version, Seth/Aker is the main antagonist, giving the show a more black-and-white morality setting.
* Phatatra (also Patatras) is Tiya's contact and fellow thief. At the end of his introduction episode, he becomes one of the royal guard. In the comics, he was a gang leader of thieves and also joined the Pharaoh's guards at the end. However, he returned to thieving later in the series and explained the position of a royal guard did not suit his lifestyle, but he still remained loyal to Merenptah/Merenre.
* In "Imhotep's Transformation" (comics) Merneptah/Merenptah killed Shepsheska by loosing an arrow at hi. Whereas in the animated series, he is a recurring antagonist.
* Théti tried to end her life with a dagger once following a menacery's attempt to overthrow her father. But Papyrus stopped her just in time. Similar to Shakespearean play, when both Papyrus and Théti think the other is dead, they wish to commit suicide to be reunited with the other in their afterlife. Fortunately, this never happend as none of them truly died, adding to the series perse.
* In The Faceless Giant, when Théti pleaded Papyrus' case to the gods, she didn't need to provide any kind of boon. In the comics, she wore a skimpy dancer outfit and danced for the gods. Only after appeasing them that they listened to her.

## Trivia

* It is one of the media of Spirou-Magazine to be adapted into an animated series.
* *Papyrus* is noticeably influenced by ancient Greek elements, even on the smallest accounts. Obvious examples would be Thebes, where its ancient Egyptian name is Waset, and Théti’s name being based off of a sea goddess in Greek mythology.
* The show makes one or two references to Moses and/or the ten plagues. One story from the original comics features Moses (Date of birth varies with the dates being 1592 or 1571 BC) although Thutmose II is a candidate for Pharaoh of the Exodus. Then an episode from the animated series, The Return of Senkhet, in which locusts are emulated into the country. Pharaoh Merenre states it’s been years since such a plague has been brought onto Egypt, to which Mesimonptu replies it’s been "longer since they came in large numbers".
* Its original creator, Lucien De Gieter, has documented himself and traveled many times to Egypt to work on his stories.
* The show’s intro can vary. The intro in the first episode is significantly different from the norm.

## Gallery

Papyrus logo.Promo picture.A volume from the original comics.A distributed comic.
## References

1. ↑Papyrus: The Animated Series Wikia

2. ↑Papyrus Episode 36

3. ↑http://digibulles.com/Papyrus/anime/anim3.htm

4. ↑https://papyrus2.ucoz.ru/index/serial/0-4

5. ↑https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ComicBook/Papyrus

## External links

1. ↑https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus\_(série\_télévisée\_d%27animation)

2. ↑https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ComicBook/Papyrus

3. ↑https://www.dupuis.com/seriebd/UK/papyrus/93