/ARTS WEEKLY/TELEVISION-BRAZIL: And Now, a Word for Our Children

By Mario Osava Reprint | | Print |

Mario Osava

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jul 9 2002 (IPS) - Five Brazilian children and adolescents are lost on a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere between Africa and South America, and to survive they must confront a series of challenges and the scheming of an enemy of humanity.

These circumstances give “Ilha Ra-tim-bum” (Ra-tim-bum Island), a new children’s programme by TV Cultura of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, the elements to develop themes such as relations between youths of different ages, solidarity, environmental problems and human evolution.

The protagonists of the television series range in age from five to 17, with two youngsters, Rayo and Microbio, and teenagers Rouxinol, Majestad, and the leader of the group, a young athlete named Gigante, who with the help of the witch Hipacia, attempt to survive on the island and find a way back to Brazil.

They also face the daunting task of saving humanity by fighting against the evil Nefasto, who puts the boys through a series of dangerous tests.

The theme of survival on a wild island, populated by exotic beings, is a perfect recipe for covering environmental issues without undermining the attraction the show holds for an audience of children aged seven to 12, the TV series’ target group.

Humour, mystery and suspense add up to a crowd pleaser for children. The name of the island, Ra-tim-bum, is the same as a line of children’s products that has been popular in Brazil since 1990, when TV Cultura, the public broadcaster run by an independent foundation, launched the first television show with that name.

Later, in 1994, came “Castelo Ra-tim-bum” (Ra-tim-bum Castle), with 90 episodes about the adventures of a unique witch, a 300-year-old boy who finds it difficult to integrate himself into the day-to-day life of other children.

The show’s success led to several re-runs and the production of a feature-length film by the same title, which won applause from movie critics and adult audiences alike in 1999.

Toys, electronic games, school materials and other items bearing the logo and the characters of the Castle have racked up top sales, as has the film on both video and DVD.

Flavio de Souza, one of the creators of the early episodes, wrote the script of “Ilha Ra-tim-bum” in an effort to produce an audiovisual product for child audiences that is based on its national and educational value, and poses a challenge to the invasion of U.S. and Japanese TV shows and films.

The new series consists of 52 episodes and began daily broadcast in Brazil Jul 1 by TV Cultura in Sao Paulo and TV Educativa of Rio de Janeiro. The idea, says Souza, was to create autonomous chapters in a story that work on their own, but form part of a broader story that is a metaphor for the path that humanity is following.

The programme’s use of visual effects, most of which are digital, creates a wondrous, colourful environment, with animals large and small in lush forests.

Three characters inspired on animals, the TATU Ra, the bird Tim and the sloth Bum, are the narrators of the show, appearing periodically to comment on what is happening in the story.

Several of the characters are personifications of animals, such as the spider Nha-nha-nha, the snake Suzana and Solek the lizard, but there are also fantastical figures. Meanwhile, most of the villains are creatures inspired on worms.

Such is the case of Nefasto, the leader of the evil ones, who seeks to learn as much as possible about the five lost boys so that he can someday destroy humanity.

The age differences among the five creates difficulties in their efforts to survive. The fact that Rayo and Majestad are Afro-Brazilian adds an ethno-racial dimension to the show, reflecting the makeup of Brazilian society.

Music plays an important role in the series and includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach and the rock-n-roll of Brazilian musicians Gilberto Gil and Arnaldo Antunes. And, following in the footsteps of Brazil’s famous soap operas, the soundtrack is being sold as yet another by-product of the TV programme.

With “Ilha Ra-tim-bum”, TV Cultura aims to maintain its leadership in the production of high quality children’s programming in Brazil, continuing its tradition that has included bringing popular children’s literature to the small screen.