Children’s favorite characters
TV stars
Dora the Explorer. Dora, ‘it’s won’ according to her time-honored formula. This shocking brunette with an atypical physique has become a phenomenon among 2/6 year olds. Its secret: the originality of the program that launched it, integrating permanent interactivity with young viewers. During her adventures, Dora regularly seeks the help of children who participate ‘virtually’, by clicking on an arrow that moves to the correct answer: which route to choose, which intruder has slipped into the story, which is the size of the boards needed to build a shed, etc. Each time, she turns to the screen, thanks, congratulates. Layered with educational games, puzzles and a few words of English, the series is like games, cartoons and CD-Roms. It’s excellent, lively and punctuated by salsa music. Since then, derivatives have exploded. A good point for the CD-Roms which resume the principle of the emission.
Franklin the Turtle. A bipedal turtle, wearing a cap, landed incognito from Canada, on TF1 in 1999. Since then, Franklin – that’s his name – has competed with the greatest: Winnie, Babar, Little Brown Bear. TV series, books, CD-Roms, audio CDs, videos and even board games followed. Year after year, the success of this curious turtle continues. According to Anne-Sophie Perrine, clinical psychologist, “Franklin is a realistic portrait of the world of childhood, he speaks truth, seeks to understand and to be understood. During his (mis) adventures, he needs those around him to elucidate a problem ”. An anti-hero who doubts, lacks self-confidence and does not dare to show that at the age of 6, he still needs his blanket… In hiding, of course!
Successful comebacks
Charlotte aux Fraises and Martine: Gone are the days of glamorous dolls? Perhaps, if we judge by the growing success of heroines friends like Charlotte aux Fraises and Martine. Both are aimed at little girls, between 3 and 7 years old, but each in a different field. Charlotte is above all a very pretty doll, muse of the little girls of the 80s. Having become mothers, we understand their desire to transmit this part of their childhood to their own daughters. At the last Toy Fair, we spotted the rag dolls, very pretty and personalized, which will be a hit this year 2006. On the other hand, the derivative products (DVD, magazine) are not very convincing in our opinion. Conversely, Martine succeeds much better on her favorite field: the classic album. All the other licenses: dolls, hardback albums for the little ones, CD-ROMs are false good ideas. Martine’s success is due to the magical universe of albums, the attention to detail, allowing little girls to identify themselves completely. Martine is the realm of the imagination, the reason why she cannot be transposed onto interactive media.
Barbapapa. Barpapa, Barbamaman and their 7 children have their fans, reassured by this strange family symbolizing the warmth of the family cocoon. Another advantage: the originality of these characters who have the art of transforming themselves at will into a multitude of objects. Finally, the Barbapapa convey traditional values, but brought up to date: tolerance, friendship, solidarity, protection of nature and animals. After books, cartoons, ball-shaped cuddly toys, here are the first soft cuddly toys to be cuddled with, presented at the Toy Fair 2006. Success guaranteed.
Everyday heroes
In the tradition of “Petit Ours Brun”, “Trotro”, “Appoline”, “Lapin Blanc”, etc. are albums intended for toddlers (from 18 months), whose adventures are inspired by the daily life of children: a day at the nursery, toilet training, the first silly things, the fear of the dark… What a regardless of the chosen one, the children will find identical themes there, which follow their development and allow them to identify themselves. With the added distance: it is easier for a child to project himself into a being who does not look like him, to exteriorize his fears and his impulses, without feeling guilty.
The safe values
Winnie, Babar and Noddy The winning trio of ‘grandpas’ (80 for Winnie, 75 for Babar and 55 for the ‘young’ Noddy) is still popular with 2-4 year olds, Winnie beating every licensing records: toys, clothing, dishes, video etc.
These three have things in common. Well behaved, a bit moralizing and civilized, their wisdom and common sense have the art of seducing parents (even if some reproach Babar and Noddy for their “react” side) and reassure children. Babar is the father figure that we admire and fear at the same time; Noddy, he is the model child that the little ones would like to look like (to please mom), living in the realm of toys, a padded and reassuring universe. As for Winnie, his clumsiness, his naivety and his legendary gluttony, make him very close to the little ones.
Another advantage: the television adaptation (video, TV series, CD-Rom) is rather successful for these three characters. Note the well-deserved success of the three feature films “Winnie”, starring his friends from the Forest of Blue Dreams: Porcinet, Tigrou and Petit Garou.