The Truth about Pato (I)

As promised, I am going to tell you this tale, the truth about Pato.  As it is so long, I will tell it in two parts, I hope that you´re ready to take in these bitter-sweet events that we lived through in the first days of the creation of the series.

Ready for the truth?  … here goes:

Pato isn´t the real Pato, Pato is Pato´s son.

Pocoyo had to have a partner in crime, a play mate, a best friend, someone with a really strong personality but very different to Pocoyo.  Before he was even a sketch, in our minds Pocoyo´s friend would take the form of a yellow duck.  We wanted them to be a classic pair, each with their own character very different from the other; Pocoyo would be stubborn and unpredictable ; his buddy would be fragile, more authoritarian, more reflexive and scared.  In the beginning he wasn´t even called Pato, he was called “Duckie”.

fig.1

“Duckie” had a black bowl hat, which gave him an air of seriousness, and two skinny legs which added a dramatic and comic touch to the fragility of his character. The first drawings by Guillermo already marked these details (fig.1) and although we drew him with a mouth, we got rid of this in the first 3D designs because it took away from our individuality as designers, and because in the end we decided that he wouldn´t speak.  The fact that he cannot open his mouth is also one of the most comic of features of the character, this is why we nearly always put him in comic situations such as sitting him at a table looking at a cake – which he would never in a million years be able to eat!... one of the funniest ideas that came to us with Duckie, was that we would show him falling to pieces whenever he had a mishap like tripping over, or bumping into things.  This was one of the main reasons for creating such a prudent character (fig.2).

fig.2

After the first render tests, Duckie was born (fig.3).

  fig.3

Nothing would have prepared us for the destiny awaiting him …

Duckie was massive in his first role in the animatic which we took to sell the series in Mipcom 2002, such good acting, a great role, so serious.  However,he didn´t get off on a good footing, the world didn´t receive him well, his first appearance couldn´t have been more devastating.  When we started the preproduction of the series, Duckie had taken a real blow from the criticisms about his physical appearance and his character.  In the first meeting in London, the scriptwriter,who was the showruner with whom we were going to work and the educational advisers (with whom we didn´t end up doing the series) had serious doubts about how well our duck fitted with the series.

-“A duck should look like a duck” … (...)

-“how can a duck have a hat?”

-“What´s this about him falling to pieces? It will scare the children!!” 

(…it was quite a dramatic meeting, and the whole thing about the duck was only one of the agenda points!) The best was still to come.

..-“he can´t be called Duckie, because he doesn´t look like a duck” 

We suggested another name, -“what about … Pato?” 

-“Pato? ..p..a..t..o…. not bad, Pato … mmmmmm, yes, yes we like Pato, does it mean anything in Spanish?”

-“err…yes, Duckie”

and so it went on ….

Befote the second meeting, this same team warned us that Duckie (now Pato), would probably “disappear” from the series.

To be honest, some of the criticisms – particularly the basic ones that the broadcaster had picked up on – were reasonable, they didn´t like the fragile aspects of his body and legs, this would also pose a problem in the future in terms of merchandising.  For us it was not a problem of shape but of content, it was imperative that we defend the character, and so before killing him off we tried to make a few changes to his makeup to see if we could convince them.

The first turn around in the design was to make his feet fatter and colour them black, and his body fuller and more ´squashed´ with the tail rounder (fig.4).

fig.4

Afterwards, we decided to shorten his beak, round his eyes and make his body shorter and more curvier to give him a more infantile appearance.  When we finished doing the renders, Pato was ready to be presented (fig.5).

fig.5

We sent the images and awaited the answer which came quickly, yes, he had improved, but even so, he posed too many problems, he continued to be a serious character and he didn’t fit with the series…. The message was very clear…

Pato had to die…..

*Go to The truth about Pato(II) HERE

Comments

[Armengolo]

Incredible, I can't wait to know all the truth about Pato!!! I don't know how Pato was going to die and now he is a main character in the show! I love him!

[Rebecca]

I like Pocoyo very much! I 'd like to recommend to my friends!

[Matt Cruickshank]

Congratulations on all your hard work!!! Peter Parr sent through an e-mail letting everyone know about your success. Thoroughly deserved!

[Lucien Hoare]

I love these insights into the making of this series! I can see why it's been such a success when so much care is taken over everything!

:)

[palespectre]

yay! a pocoyo blog. i'm overjoyed! i'm well into my twenties but i love pocoyo and enjoy the show immensely with my nephew and niece. it's nice reading about this untold history! congratulations with the success!

//

[Morja]

just for say
i'm a big fan of POCOYO

bravoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
that's a wonderfull show!!!!

a french artist!!!!

[pocoyo sage]

Scary youve got to be kidding! i whould see it as a good thing after all learning though laughter (sorry if the spelling is incorrect) and duckie whould give some comic relief as most children if they understand correctly whold see it lightly and laugh as if to laugh with him not at him. I guess duckie whold be a bit of a misfit with the rest of the character....unless you bring duckie (as if to say Duckie is an adult)into the storyline for one eppisode where trust between adult an child can be made the pocoyo way!

[azalea]

whoa! Pato is my sister's fave character in the series! (she's 19)Believe it or not, we like the series soooo much, even if we're now in college!

hehe.. I like Pato's very unique personality... although, I find it quite similar with that of Squidward (the seriousness)... but the part of him that I really like is how he plays along with Pocoyo's curiosity and innocence! SO CUTE!

[wendy]

where to get pocoyo music theme??

[bavel]

oh my god pato, i love you very very much....

[Jade]

I Lurve... Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato PatoPato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato

[Jade]

I Lurve... Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato PatoPato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato Pato

[fred]

i am pocoyos biggest fan.i love him.he is my idol.i look up to him, even thoughb he is not real. one day i wish to meet pocoyo and will name my 83 children after him. he is the king of all of the world, i love hime dearly.

O
/I\ - Pocoyo, i did it myself!
/ \

[Jesse]

Me llamo Jesse, y soy de mexico, tengo 4 años. A mi hermana Mariana y a mi, nos gusta mucho Pocoyo.

Pintale el sombrero a pato como era antes.

Adios

[unknown]

pato is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lush

[Rach :0)]

I Love pato :] x

[guess who]

pato is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolush!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love him so much
!!!!!!!!