PostedJuly 31, 2022, 5:46 PM
TelevisionThe creator of Casimir and “Children’s Island” is dead
Christophe Izard, who died on Sunday, was 85 years old. We owe him cult shows, such as “Wednesday Visitors” and “The Village in the Clouds”.
Christophe Izard had created and launched “L’île aux enfants”, with the dinosaur Casimir, in 1974.
YouTube screenshot.
Casimir, the friendly dinosaur, is an orphan: its creator, Christophe Izard, died this Sunday, July 31, we learned from his former teams who paid tribute to him on social networks. The famous television producer was 85 years old.
After studying law, Christophe Izard had embraced a career as a musician. He then entered the ORTF in 1968, to create variety shows there.
Christophe Izard and some of his creatures.
TF1
But it was from 1974 that the fellow, who became patron of youth programs, marked the history of the small screen, by creating and launching several programs destined to become cult. First of all, “L’île aux enfants” whose main character, the dinosaur Casimir, will quickly become popular with the youngest. Amateur of a strange grub, the Gloubigoulga, the nice orange monster will animate this program, alongside François, Julie, the postman and Monsieur Du Snobe. “L’île aux enfants” will be a triumph and will last until 1982, on TF1.
As early as 1975, Christophe Izard offered another unforgettable program, “Wednesday visitors”, still on the front page. In this program, which was aimed at all child age groups, he intended to cultivate, while having fun. Young people discover cartoons such as “Scoubidou”, “Crazy driving”, “Barbapapa”, “Comets” or “Captain Cave”. The “Zorro”, “The Club of Five” and “Black Prince” series also hold a good place.
This program will reveal various personalities, such as Claude Pierrard, the host Soizic Corne, the animal specialist Jacques Trémolin, the magicians Garcimore and Gilles Arthur, Nicolas Hulot and a certain Patrick Sabatier who will make his debut there. The puppets Brok and Chnok, then Sibor and Bora will complete the cast.
A version of the “Wednesday Visitors” will be programmed each year, during the end-of-year celebrations: “Christmas Visitors”. Christophe Izard will also launch “The village in the clouds” which will last from 1982 to 1985, on TF1.
In 1987, Christophe Izard will be ousted from the newly privatized Une, in favor of Dorothée, and will join Antenne 2 where he will finish his career at France Animation. He will create “Albert the fifth musketeer”, “Robinson Sucroë”, “Ivanoé chevalier du Roi”, “Les Babalous” and “Patrouille 03”.
