French Pop Culture: Old Cartoons!

I've been realizing just how many of the cartoon characters that I was into as a kid, whether from books or tv, are French!  When I arrived here in September, I saw ads for the Tintin movie and was excited to see it since I remember reading all the Tintin books (in English) I could get my hands on from the public library as a kid.  Well, I have learned that books like these are called "albums"

at the Marché de Noël

 and there are tons of them from all kinds of series and I want to buy so many and bring so many home (stupid baggage allowance)!  There is currently a "Marché de Noël" in Tours, where they sell hot wine with cinnamon (instead of apple cider like we have in Canada), crepes, arts and crafts AND there is a stall of used books where there are tons of these "albums".  Of course the popular Asterix (I never did get into that one as a kid, although I tried), Boule and Bill, but I also saw Babar the elephant who I remember reading at my Great Aunt and Uncle's when I was little, but who I didn't realize, was French!

I also had an epiphany that the Barbapapas are French too!  I don't know from where exactly, but I have a very faint memory of the Barbapapas...not sure if it was books or the tv show, but they were great how they could change into any shape as needed.  And, now having learned more French, I realize that Barbe à Papa, mean's "Dad's beard" which also means, "Cotton Candy" or "Candy Floss"!

Sept. @ a Festival with some Barbe à Papa

The other day, my housemate, her daughter and her daughter's little friend (they are 5) got singing children's French songs and then ended up searching on YouTube for the "générique", or theme song, for various cartoons.  I noticed, first of all that these cartoons seemed from the 70s or 80s and was amazed that these little girls knew them so well.  So I am kind of excited to discover these little gems from "my generation" that still have a place in today's culture in France.

It is interesting too, because the three "dessins animés" that they wanted to find and sing along to are of the old Japanese animated cartoon style, like my old favourites of Astro Boy and even Inspector Gadget, although I think these ones are even older!  I definitely had never heard of "Au Pays du Candy", or "Tom Sawyer" or "Heidi", but it is so cute that they are such seemingly cultural staples here, amongst all of the other cool cartoons and cartoon books.  (The lyrics of the theme songs are cute too.)