The text is a detailed analysis of the popularity, backlash, and eventual decline of the children's cartoon character "Caillou". Created by Canadian author Christine Lerer and illustrator Elena Despitol, Caillou was designed to be a relatable character for children, a human child that they could see themselves in. However, as the show gained popularity and spread globally, it faced criticism and backlash, primarily due to the character's frequent misbehavior and lack of punishment, which some saw as promoting bad behavior.
The show was initially successful in Canada, but it gained global popularity, particularly in the United States where it aired on PBS Kids. Despite the show's success, it faced criticism for its portrayal of the character, with many viewers accusing the show of promoting bad behavior. This criticism intensified in the 2010s as Caillou's character became a popular subject for satire and internet memes.
In 2021, PBS Kids announced that they would no longer air Caillou on their channel, marking the end of the show's run in the United States. However, the show continued to air in other countries. Despite the show's decline in popularity, it has left a lasting impact on children's television and sparked discussions about the importance of discipline and the role of media in shaping children's behavior.
Here are some key facts extracted from the text:
1. Caillou is a Canadian children's book and animated series that features a bald four-year-old boy who often gets lost in his imagination.
2. Caillou was created by Christine L'Heureux and Helene Desputeaux, who were inspired by the studies of French psychoanalyst Dr. Francois Dolto, who advocated for respecting children as much as adults.
3. Caillou's name means "pebble" or "little rock" in French, which is a reference to Dr. Dolto's studies.
4. Caillou was first published as a book in 1989 by Chouette Publishing, and has sold over 50 million copies worldwide as of 2015.
5. Caillou became an animated series in 1997, produced by Cinar (later Cookie Jar Group and WildBrain), and aired on Teletoon in Canada and PBS Kids in the United States, among other channels around the world.
6. Caillou had a total of 144 half-hour episodes in five seasons, and a direct-to-video Christmas feature called Caillou's Holiday Movie, which concluded the series in 2010.
7. Caillou received a lot of backlash from the internet and social media in the 2010s, as many people who grew up watching the show realized that Caillou was a spoiled, whiny, and bratty child who never faced any consequences for his bad behavior.
8. Caillou was criticized for being a bad role model for children, as he would throw tantrums, act selfishly, and disrespect others, without learning any good morals or basic skills from his experiences.
9. PBS Kids announced in 2021 that they would no longer air Caillou on their channel, which was met with relief and celebration from many people who hated the show.
10. WildBrain still owns the rights to Caillou, and has made some remakes of older episodes for Amazon Prime and YouTube, but has not produced any new content for the franchise.