Permalink

A Bear Called Jeremy

jeremy

There are still a few memorable television shows from my childhood that I have trouble tracking down. Jeremy was one of them, and I only just now made the breakthrough neccessary to share this work of stop-motion genius with you folks. Ricks site covering old TVOntario shows was the first Jeremy resource I was able to find, and, fortunately, it establishes the characters’ original source and name (there was never a doubt that this surreal masterpiece came from somewhere other than Canada!). This site elaborates, stating that the creative inspiration for the unique animated series came from Olga Pouchine in the 1950s, who created a character called “Colargol” for her son’s bedtime stories. Colargol first became famous as a recording artist before independent French animation producer Albert Barillé developed it into a TV series, calling on the brilliant Polish animator Tadeusz Wilkosz to do the job.
Wilkosz’s
style is beautiful… like a high-class Rankin/Bass production… and the man is still at it. So anyway, the bears’ original name is Colargol, and if you ask the French or Polish about him, you won’t meet with the same blank stares as I did asking about Jeremy! Colargol made it onto British TV as ‘Barnaby’, and onto TVO as ‘Jeremy’, but he was never a big hit here despite the gorgeous production and lovely stories. The attention to detail was remarkable, and used a combination of stop motion animation and cell drawn cartoon… so playfully imaginative, with undulating ‘barber pole’ ocean waves, and a magical transforming suitcase, a stint with the circus, and a trip into outer space! Too bad you can’t get the English versions on DVD… sigh. I’m going to leave you with the lyrics to Jeremy’s opening song, which has been stuck in my head for a couple of decades. You can listen to the adorable track here. We love you, Jeremy!

I’m a bear called Jeremy,
I can do most anything,
I can play and I can sing,
Little tunes like doh ray me.

When he heard me sing,
The King of Birds said to me,
‘Here’s for you dear thing,
A whistle that goes tweet-tweet
Tweet-tweet tweet-tweet tweet-tweet, tweet.’

I’m a Bear called Jeremy,
I can do most anything,
I can play and I can sing,
Yes my name is Jeremy!

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com/ Johnny

    Woah… I vaguely remember seeing this show a few times. It obviously would’ve been reruns, but that little fella sure rings a bell…

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com Johnny

    Woah… I vaguely remember seeing this show a few times. It obviously would’ve been reruns, but that little fella sure rings a bell…

  • Tim Tylor

    I remember that bear (which dates me). :) Yes, he was “Barnaby” over here; this is the first time I’ve heard his original name.

  • http://www.rocr.net/ Reinder

    He was known as Colargol on Dutch television as well. Ooh, this brings back memories…

  • Tim Tylor

    I remember that bear (which dates me). :) Yes, he was “Barnaby” over here; this is the first time I’ve heard his original name.

  • http://www.rocr.net/ Reinder

    He was known as Colargol on Dutch television as well. Ooh, this brings back memories…

  • http://subconsciousink.blogspot.com/ Jastolfo

    I too am a huge fan of Jeremy and came across a few sites with info on him.
    Finally after looking long an d hard I noticed English DVD’s of the first 8 episodes on eBay. I took a chance and bought it. I was not dissappointed.(They are multi region and playable anywhere)
    If you’re interested in more TVO shows there’s a site that has tonnes of shows from the 70′s at

    http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/tvo2/

    Check out these other Jeremy sites if yu haven’t already.

    http://members.lycos.co.uk/crystaltipps/barnaby/bindex.html

    http://home.online.no/~kgroenn/colargol/bilder/

  • http://subconsciousink.blogspot.com/ Jastolfo

    I too am a huge fan of Jeremy and came across a few sites with info on him.
    Finally after looking long an d hard I noticed English DVD’s of the first 8 episodes on eBay. I took a chance and bought it. I was not dissappointed.(They are multi region and playable anywhere)
    If you’re interested in more TVO shows there’s a site that has tonnes of shows from the 70′s at

    http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/tvo2/

    Check out these other Jeremy sites if yu haven’t already.

    http://members.lycos.co.uk/crystaltipps/barnaby/bindex.html

    http://home.online.no/~kgroenn/colargol/bilder/

  • http://www.jeroencoert.nl/ Jeroen

    Yes, I can remember him. I was 3 or 4 years old so that must be broadcasted in the early ’70-s here in the Netherlands.

    Does anyone have an idea where we can downoad Colargol animations?

  • http://www.jeroencoert.nl Jeroen

    Yes, I can remember him. I was 3 or 4 years old so that must be broadcasted in the early ’70-s here in the Netherlands.

    Does anyone have an idea where we can downoad Colargol animations?

  • James Bostock

    The British theme song was equally catchy:
    “Barnaby the bear’s my name
    Never been a Peter or a Jane.”

    We used to get a lot of “out there” animation on the BBC in those days….

  • James Bostock

    The British theme song was equally catchy:
    “Barnaby the bear’s my name
    Never been a Peter or a Jane.”

    We used to get a lot of “out there” animation on the BBC in those days….

  • http://unkemptwomen.blogspot.com/ vit

    BARNABY! I’ve just been looking at him trying to work out why jeremy or colargol didn’t mean anything to me! thanks for the lovely blast from the past! i feel like i’m six again.

  • http://unkemptwomen.blogspot.com vit

    BARNABY! I’ve just been looking at him trying to work out why jeremy or colargol didn’t mean anything to me! thanks for the lovely blast from the past! i feel like i’m six again.

  • http://www.upsidedownpress.com/ Jamie M

    Also, please visit this link to read an inteview with Mr. Wilkosz by Jason Vanderhill.
    (just scroll the bar down until you reach page 18)

    http://www.fpsmagazine.com/mag/fps200509lo.pdf#page=18

    I love Jeremy!
    The themes were quite mature too, if I’m remembering them correctly. The concept that your gift is your curse but your curse is your gift.

  • http://www.upsidedownpress.com Jamie M

    Also, please visit this link to read an inteview with Mr. Wilkosz by Jason Vanderhill.
    (just scroll the bar down until you reach page 18)

    http://www.fpsmagazine.com/mag/fps200509lo.pdf#page=18

    I love Jeremy!
    The themes were quite mature too, if I’m remembering them correctly. The concept that your gift is your curse but your curse is your gift.

  • johnny

    wow- the nostalgia!

    I used to love this. It was on right before Space 1999.

    Great links(the ones that are working)

  • johnny

    wow- the nostalgia!

    I used to love this. It was on right before Space 1999.

    Great links(the ones that are working)

  • http://del4yo.blogs.com/ del4yo

    “C’est moi qui suis Colargol, l’ours qui chante en fa en sol!”

    Pure delight. My Grand Mother use to sing his songs to me when I was a little girl :)

    Thanks for the links!

  • http://del4yo.blogs.com del4yo

    “C’est moi qui suis Colargol, l’ours qui chante en fa en sol!”

    Pure delight. My Grand Mother use to sing his songs to me when I was a little girl :)

    Thanks for the links!

  • P

    Yessss I DO remember Colargol :)

    I watched it in Polish TV when I was a kid.
    I didn’t know it was… well… exported :)

  • P

    Yessss I DO remember Colargol :)

    I watched it in Polish TV when I was a kid.
    I didn’t know it was… well… exported :)

  • JP

    Remember him? Of course I do…My older sister named me after that bear.

  • JP

    Remember him? Of course I do…My older sister named me after that bear.

  • http://drawingboard.org/blogs/Nofret Johane Matte

    Colargol! Oh yes, I can still sing the theme song…I believe I have an MP3 of it burned somewhere on a cd.
    Ah, memories of childhood television! Oh, I’m getting theme song nostalgia just thinking about it.

  • http://drawingboard.org/blogs/Nofret Johane Matte

    Colargol! Oh yes, I can still sing the theme song…I believe I have an MP3 of it burned somewhere on a cd.
    Ah, memories of childhood television! Oh, I’m getting theme song nostalgia just thinking about it.

  • deadbymorning
  • deadbymorning
  • http://www.thinkstefano.com/ Stefano D.

    So strange, I remember this television show too. As if it were a dream however (I think I remember enjoying the show). Interesting—Good old Canadian television.

  • http://www.thinkstefano.com Stefano D.

    So strange, I remember this television show too. As if it were a dream however (I think I remember enjoying the show). Interesting—Good old Canadian television.

  • Kiki Borges

    Aw, yeah! Jeremy is the shit. i love that little guy. there really is nothing like stop-motion kids’ shows from the 60s and 70s. i wish i could watch the show right now. if i ever have kids, i’m raising them on the stuff.

  • Kiki Borges

    Aw, yeah! Jeremy is the shit. i love that little guy. there really is nothing like stop-motion kids’ shows from the 60s and 70s. i wish i could watch the show right now. if i ever have kids, i’m raising them on the stuff.

  • http://www.cloggie.org/wissewords/ Martin Wisse

    Heh.

    I remember this as well, from Dutch television in the klate seventies (?) Can’t sing the theme tune, but the dirty school yard version is burned in my memory….

  • http://www.cloggie.org/wissewords/ Martin Wisse

    Heh.

    I remember this as well, from Dutch television in the klate seventies (?) Can’t sing the theme tune, but the dirty school yard version is burned in my memory….

  • http://mike.teczno.com/ Michal Migurski

    Colargol – this is still shown on Polish TV – I just saw it a month ago. Another good show in a similar vein is the Czech “Krtek”, or “little mole”. I used to see it redistributed on Nickelodeon’s Pinwheel.

  • http://mike.teczno.com Michal Migurski

    Colargol – this is still shown on Polish TV – I just saw it a month ago. Another good show in a similar vein is the Czech “Krtek”, or “little mole”. I used to see it redistributed on Nickelodeon’s Pinwheel.

  • V’sis

    Barnaby the Bear’s my name
    Never call me Jack or James

    well that’s what’s been going round in MY head since 1973 anyway.

  • V’sis

    Barnaby the Bear’s my name
    Never call me Jack or James

    well that’s what’s been going round in MY head since 1973 anyway.

  • pickled_jo

    Oh my God! There’s something i’ve not thought aout or come across in about 25 years!!!!

    I loved him!

  • pickled_jo

    Oh my God! There’s something i’ve not thought aout or come across in about 25 years!!!!

    I loved him!

  • http://www.syslog.com/~jwilson/ Jeremy Wilson

    Try growing up in the 70′s being named Jeremy. Ugh, the teasing I got!

    Anyway, you can find a copy of the theme song on my linked homepage.

  • http://www.syslog.com/~jwilson/ Jeremy Wilson

    Try growing up in the 70′s being named Jeremy. Ugh, the teasing I got!

    Anyway, you can find a copy of the theme song on my linked homepage.

  • http://www.smallmoonvalley.com/ frances castle

    Not sure if this link has already been posted, this is on a site about 70s uk kids TV (worth looking at the other stuff on the site as well)

    http://www.thechestnut.com/barnaby.htm

  • http://www.smallmoonvalley.com frances castle

    Not sure if this link has already been posted, this is on a site about 70s uk kids TV (worth looking at the other stuff on the site as well)

    http://www.thechestnut.com/barnaby.htm

  • http://www.angelfire.com/biz3/okumarts David Okum

    Jeremy brings back lots of memories from TVO in the 70′s, that and Magic Shadows, Dr. Who and Report Canada with Heather Conkie.

  • http://www.angelfire.com/biz3/okumarts David Okum

    Jeremy brings back lots of memories from TVO in the 70′s, that and Magic Shadows, Dr. Who and Report Canada with Heather Conkie.

  • Rad

    Can anyone help me find in what episode Colargol’s suitcase transformed into an automobile ? Any picture of said suitcase would be a bonus :)

  • Rad

    Can anyone help me find in what episode Colargol’s suitcase transformed into an automobile ? Any picture of said suitcase would be a bonus :)

  • http://worldofkane.blogspot.com/ Will Kane

    I remember Barnaby too.

    Very similar to Roman Kachanov’s work:

    http://worldofkane.blogspot.com/2006/01/roman-kachanov-1921-1993.html

  • http://worldofkane.blogspot.com Will Kane

    I remember Barnaby too.

    Very similar to Roman Kachanov’s work:

    http://worldofkane.blogspot.com/2006/01/roman-kachanov-1921-1993.html

  • blome

    download jeremy the bear episodes here

  • blome

    download jeremy the bear episodes here
    http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/tvo3/downloads.html

  • blome

    download jeremy the bear episodes here

  • blome

    download jeremy the bear episodes here
    http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/tvo3/downloads.html

  • http://www.canadacomics.ca/ Bryan

    A great show with beautiful animation and surreal visuals. Jeremy’s super suitcase was fun, as were the Old West cowboy adventures, but my favorite series involved Jeremy falling through the ice in a pond and visiting the underground world inhabited by various moles and hibernating animals. Dreamlike!

    I have a small pile of British Barnaby comics but they don’t do justice to the great show. Thanks for sharing Jay! Now I have to track down those DVDs.

  • http://www.canadacomics.ca Bryan

    A great show with beautiful animation and surreal visuals. Jeremy’s super suitcase was fun, as were the Old West cowboy adventures, but my favorite series involved Jeremy falling through the ice in a pond and visiting the underground world inhabited by various moles and hibernating animals. Dreamlike!

    I have a small pile of British Barnaby comics but they don’t do justice to the great show. Thanks for sharing Jay! Now I have to track down those DVDs.

  • http://estetykajaponska.blox.pl/html yuugen

    Few years ago, ‘Kolargol’ was one of the most popular tales for children in Poland. It was broadcasted once a week at 7pm before ‘news’ on the 1st programme (public television)(everyday on that canal one can watch tales for children – erveryday some other one)

    When I was a little girl, I used to watch it, but didn’t like it, I just hated that… I remeber I was fed up with his song that was terrible in my opinion ;)

  • http://estetykajaponska.blox.pl/html yuugen

    Few years ago, ‘Kolargol’ was one of the most popular tales for children in Poland. It was broadcasted once a week at 7pm before ‘news’ on the 1st programme (public television)(everyday on that canal one can watch tales for children – erveryday some other one)

    When I was a little girl, I used to watch it, but didn’t like it, I just hated that… I remeber I was fed up with his song that was terrible in my opinion ;)

  • http://fart.hut1.ru/ Fart

    Ah, memories of childhood television! Oh, I’m getting theme song nostalgia just thinking about it.

  • http://fart.hut1.ru Fart

    Ah, memories of childhood television! Oh, I’m getting theme song nostalgia just thinking about it.

  • http://www.normism.org/ picture of zoroastrianism

    Thank you!

  • http://www.normism.org picture of zoroastrianism

    Thank you!

  • http://www.golfgiftsguide.com Golf Gifts Guy

    Yes, yes, yes. I love it when i remember back to when i was a kid and all the cool tv shows that i use to watch. They don’t make kids shows like they use to ;-)

  • http://www.golfgiftsguide.com/ Golf Gifts Guy

    Yes, yes, yes. I love it when i remember back to when i was a kid and all the cool tv shows that i use to watch. They don’t make kids shows like they use to ;-)

  • http://free-boost-mobile-ringtones.blogspot.com/ Max

    Interesting and beautiful site! Add to favorite. This is my site: http://free-boost-mobile-ringtones.blogspot.com

  • http://free-boost-mobile-ringtones.blogspot.com Max

    Interesting and beautiful site! Add to favorite. This is my site: http://free-boost-mobile-ringtones.blogspot.com

  • http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com/index.html Joanne

    Check out this store of Jeremy stuff!!!!!! There are items for sale on Ebay too.

  • http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com/index.html Joanne

    Check out this store of Jeremy stuff!!!!!! There are items for sale on Ebay too.

  • http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com/index.html Joanne

    Check out this store of Jeremy stuff!!!!!! http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com
    There are items for sale on Ebay too.

  • http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com/index.html Joanne

    Check out this store of Jeremy stuff!!!!!! http://www.jeremycolargolthebear.com
    There are items for sale on Ebay too.

  • Christina

    This was my FAVORITE show. This and the Green Forest. Man, I wish they would bring this stuff back, not only for my kids, but for the kid inside the now adults.

    Oh and Dr. Snuggles. Man those we the best nights when I got to watch all three!!!

    Someone should start a petition BRING BAKC JEREMY!

    lol

  • Christina

    This was my FAVORITE show. This and the Green Forest. Man, I wish they would bring this stuff back, not only for my kids, but for the kid inside the now adults.

    Oh and Dr. Snuggles. Man those we the best nights when I got to watch all three!!!

    Someone should start a petition BRING BAKC JEREMY!

    lol

  • Brad

    OMG!!! Yes, being 31yrs old, I DO remember this, and quite well as a matter of fact. Hey, does anyone remember the episode where the penguin turns all white, and then the nurse comes out with a wheelchair and wheels him into the ingloo? LOL. GOD, I haven’t seen these in years. Thanks for the memories!

  • Brad

    OMG!!! Yes, being 31yrs old, I DO remember this, and quite well as a matter of fact. Hey, does anyone remember the episode where the penguin turns all white, and then the nurse comes out with a wheelchair and wheels him into the ingloo? LOL. GOD, I haven’t seen these in years. Thanks for the memories!

  • http://flickr.com/photos/avatars/293776170 Avatars

    Avatars…

    Free avatar download, free avatars download for message boards, forums, blogs. Anime, movie and music avatars. …

  • http://nvpassija.blogspot.com Michelle Lewis

    Betty Scott…

    The 2470 John Lewis blog…

  • http://7wins.eu/cbprod/ebay(r)+ad+magic.html?extra=detail_381 eBay(R) Ad Magic. | 7Wins.eu

    [...] All About The Backstreet Boys, Mostly – Hecklerspray: Music, Movies, TV, Celebs, Games and Gossip A Bear Called Jeremy » Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog Tags how to make money to make money make money online make money on money making business make [...]

  • lost fan

    thx for finding this i have spent the last few years just trying to recall the name of show all i had was flashes of the show from when i was a kid

  • davidmcelgunn

    did he have a magic suitcase. please be the one with the suitcase I fear for my sanity!

  • Charmaine-e-zelyk

    Wow, after all these years I have been looking for the little child hood bear “Jeremy” afternoon cartoon I watched when I was 4-6 years old. How time flys then your 32 now saying where did the time go.