The Truth about Pato (II)

*read first The Truth about Pato (I) HERE

That night, after the conversation with Novel, (in charge of executive production, the main control on the scripts and the direction of contents in England), we were devastated.  Pato had died…. We couldn’t believe it… Pato .. our little Pato.

Neither the new designs, nor mine and Guillermo’s arguments about our point of view for the contents of the series, of the comic side, nor our own executive producer, Kath, could convince them.  They couldn’t imagine the character, there was no way of changing their opinion – and the next day, they were flying from London to Madrid to tell us, amongst other things, exactly how the series was going to be from now on in terms of characters and stories.

We really didn’t like these meetings. Not because we didn’t have a good relationship with them (although we weren’t the best of friends either) but it was basically because we had nothing in common … we were like night and day.  We didn’t understand each other at all.  The meetings were really dull, no smiling, they simply wanted a different series to us.

At this point I will stop for a moment so that you can understand the incredible frustration we suffered in those days, after all the hardwork and all the excitement, after all our investment (which was massive for us, a company only 2 years into operation).  After getting to the point of entering into partnership, we then find out that they didn’t want the Pocoyo that we had sold them.  And not only what had happened with Pato (this was nothing more than a disagreement), it seemed we had a different vision.  However, it was either this… or nothing.  If we didn’t accept our executive producer’s rules, they would up and leave (understandable in part).  But we just didn’t have the strength to start over again with our search for a partner, so for us there was no other option, all we could do was look to the future.

However, as always, our guardian angel, was working behind the scenes.  A couple of months later Ann Brogan appeared in Granada and took over the project.  Ann understood that Pocoyo was something else and decided to start over and go back to square one (thanks Ann!).  This is another story that I will tell you later on …

now, where were we?....

Pato...?

Had he or had he not died?

Yes … he was dead!

Although …. Something happened that night and Guillermo and I were in the office until late at night preparing for the meeting the next day.

At 10 o’clock in the morning the two people from London walked through the door. It was a grey and rainy day in Madrid, Beethoven’s funeral march could be heard playing in the office, in the middle of the meeting room table, a wooden box and two small trees.

- Before starting, we wanted to take a minute’s silence for Pato’s death, his body was present with us, there in the wooden box … these were our first words after sitting ourselves in the meeting room.

They weren’t impressed… they didn’t even smile (this was a classic comic moment!).

- Before he died, Pato wanted to leave us his legend, a surprise … something even we didn’t know….

Pato had ….. a son!!!!

The music stopped and we spread out all over the table loads of sketches of the new Pato that we had created the night before, much smaller and fatter, with a green hat instead of the original black one, with big orange feet.  Pato’s son was incredible, would they be capable of killing his as well?...

No, they didn’t do it, they liked him – and I want to point something out here. In the majority of cases, crisis are opportunities … you have to look at them like this.  They pushed us to the limit, yes, but this Pato was superior to his predecessor, much more pre-school.  They were right, there was a better Pato although they didn’t know who he was.  Creativity is infinite, there is always a place where ideas can grow, and despite not being in agreement on lots of things, all of this taught us a very important lesson:  as much as we wanted to feel that the series was “ours”, there were other forms of understanding and pushing ourselves to see things as they did made us better producers.  In the end we all got what we wanted and this was the most important thing to come out of all that difficult decision making.

Comments

[ParkerDigital]

I'm based in the UK, and in my experience people from London don't really have a sense of humour! Glad this story had a happy ending, Pocoyo wouldn't be the same without Pato's son!

[Kei]

It would be nice if there could be reference in one of the future episodes!
Perhaps Pato's father on the table in a picture frame.

[Colman Lopez]

Nice idea, Kei! even one for the crown...
Some where as it some time exists...

[David Cantolla]

Done Kei!! we will put pato´s father picture in the next episode!!:-D

[Lady Vampy]

I personally prefer Pato v2 to his predecessor. I feel that the first one wouldn't have had the same comic effect when he gets mad or when he dances. My fiancé (aged 26) and me (23 - we're big kids) were watching 'Pocoyo Dance' this afternoon and we love Pato's robot dance just as much as Pocoyo's signature dance so please don't change either cos we join in LOL

[Randall]

I'm glad this story had a happy ending, too. I know it must have been hard for you guys to give up Pato's dad, but I love Pato's son, he's probably one of my favorite characters! :)

Great idea about having Pato's dad in a picture!

-"gabber311" for those who chatted with me on it.

[mrcroket]

Pocoyo is the best!!

Dentro de poco podremos verlo en españa : D

[sephquartz]

hoyo hoyo!
i'm in love with pocoyo. where can i get the plush toy? i wanna give it to the 3 years old kid in my house. altho i'm a bigger fan. :D

[MS BRIANNE HERBERT]

Pato

[Brianne Herbert]

this is the grand finale of pocoyo's week! i'm in love with pato! where can i get the plush toy??? duckie is dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[Denise]

Hi David,

Thanks for that wonderful story! It's a credit to you and your team that you were able to swallow your pride and learn from the experience. We are all blessed to have you working with us to make Pocoyo the best possible show. I also believe that your guardian angels are at work behind the scenes. They're the secret ingredient that make it all work! :)

My best friend lives some distance from me, so we don't get to see each other very often, but I had been telling her about Pocoyo over the phone, so when she came to visit, I showed her an episode - The Big Sneeze. She thought Pocoyo was very cute, but she absolutely LOVED Pato, with his facial expressions and his range of emotions! She cracked up laughing through the whole episode! :)

For me Pato represents the cynicism, the sarcasm, and the frustration of spending time with kids. He's smart because he doesn't take unnecessary risks, but he's also not adventurous like Pocoyo, so he learns from that! :) Pocoyo's trust and Pato's doubt play nicely against each other. :) Both characteristics are present in groups of young children, so when it happens to them in real life, they'll know from watching Pocoyo that both reactions are normal. :)

Dense :)

[Denise]

oops! Can't even spell my own name now! LOL!

[Brianne Herbert]

this is url! on pocoyoz programmez i am in cctv with pocoyo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brianne Herbert]

Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorobopocoyozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzwaheyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

[Brianne Herbert]

we back to bid tv now pato and i don't like pato any more and i am not in love with that green hatted duck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Debee]

My 10 month old daughter and I love Pocoyo and watch every day. You can get Pocoyo and his friends from Mothercare.

HAHAHA THE DUCKS SO FUNNY
i havnt watched this show yet:( dunno whens it on ILL FIND OUT AND WATCH!
make the duck its own show!

[Daan Faudet]

Hi david,

I first met Pocoyo on the Annecy festival, it realy blew my socks of right away, I'm a dutch animation student, that whent to the festival mainly to see the indipent shorts and the student shorts. But the most imprest I am with you're serie. it's been a while since i've seen a serie for the younger generation of kids that has such a good quality and that brings me back to the pure joy of watching tv animation. I also admire youre style and the use of 3d in Pocoyo. Sometimes I think that other 3d animated series ignore all the technics that traditional animation has brought us. Keep up the great work, You're Pocoyo is a great step to bring animation back to the quality it should be!

P.S. Pato will never die again!

Daan Faudet

[Daan Faudet]

Hi david,

I first met Pocoyo on the Annecy festival, it realy blew my socks of right away, I'm a dutch animation student, that whent to the festival mainly to see the indipent shorts and the student shorts. But the most imprest I am with you're serie. it's been a while since i've seen a serie for the younger generation of kids that has such a good quality and that brings me back to the pure joy of watching tv animation. I also admire youre style and the use of 3d in Pocoyo. Sometimes I think that other 3d animated series ignore all the technics that traditional animation has brought us. Keep up the great work, You're Pocoyo is a great step to bring animation back to the quality it should be!

P.S. Pato will never die again!

Daan Faudet

[Glyn]

I Think That You Should MAke an Episode With Me Guest Starring. I Think I Would be a Great Asset to the Show. You could offer me a permanent position on the show. You could show my characteristics (Welshness, big ears etc.)

You Just Think About That!

[Glyn]

Are You Thinking?

[Glyn]

What About Now!?

Now?

NOW!?

Darn You! Now!?

[Pocoyo]

I Though and I Agree, You Should Join The show :)

[Sam]

aww i love Pato he's the best :]!

[Sam Palahnuk]

I just adore Pato!

[Marianne Roux]

Hola David,

Apenas descubrí esta página donde cuentas estas historias sobre los personajes de Pocoyo.
Nosotros descubrimos a Pocoyo gracias a que nuestro primer bebe nació en octubre del 2006 y desde entonces somos fans de esta animación tan extraordinaria y fuera de lo común.
Lo que mas nos llama la atención es la animación tan diferente que emplean en la serie pues Felipe (mi pareja) hace animación en 3D y dirige un estudio de animación aqui en México.
Les deseo que sigan con ese exito y quien sabe, tal vez nos podríamos conocer en este medio laboral.
Marianne

[Nuno Coelho]

Pato is my favourite character!! im a 24 year old designer and illustrator and i just love pocoyo. Keep the exelent work!

[Michael]

I Love pocoyo!!!!!!

[Comp is now]

http://jsp.pocoyo.com/v2/home.jsp?lang=6
go on that web

[Comp1snow]

http://jsp.pocoyo.com/v2/home.jsp?lang=6

[Nancy C.]

I like Kei's idea but honestly, I don't even mind having Duckie making a cameo appearance or two in future episodes. I mean, Pato has a spider hatched out of an egg for a son... I'm surprised that didn't get ruled out while the original art concept for Duckie did?

Pato seems to dismantle himself on various ocassions so introducing his dad falling to pieces is no longer a surprise. It would explain that Pato's trippings are more a hereditary trait than just sheer clumsiness!

[Chester Dhen F. Ilano]

Hi David

Thanks for the wonderful story about Pato! That was so beautyful story that never seen before, It was so very sad. Poor Pato's dad. well anyway I have many pictures of Pocoyo, Pato, Elly and other characters in my computer. Also, I download all Pocoyo Screensavers. And by the way Thanks for the wonder story and MABUHAY!!!!!!

Pato pls. don't die!

Your Friend: Chester Ilano From the Philippines

[dannybuntu]

I am 26 years old and I watch this kiddie cartoons with my kids. How could they do that? How could they kill PATO? That is sublimely stupid. They cannot kill Pato! CANNOT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Marie]

Wow I never knew that story before...
I just have one question...
Why isn't the new Pato called Pato Jr.?