Iris, The Happy Professor

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| alt_name = Professor Iris

| genre = Children's show

| creator = Henri Desclez

| developer = Henri Desclez
Norma Denys

| writer = Henri Desclez

| director = Chuck Rubin
François Jobin
Pierre R. Thériault

| creative_director = Henri Desclez

| presenter =

| starring = Pier Paquette
Frank Meschkuleit
Tim Gosley
Rob Mills
Michel Lapointe
Jani Lauzon

| judges =

| voices =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer = Stéphane Deschamps

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = Stéphane Deschamps
Benoit Roberge (1993)
Joël Champagne (1993)

| country = Canada

| language = English
French

| num_seasons = 6

| num_episodes = 156

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = Henri Desclez

| producer = Henri Desclez
Norma Denys

| editor =

| location = Montreal, Quebec

| cinematography = Sébastien Tremblay

| camera = Multi-Camera

| runtime = 14:00

| company = Desclez Productions

| channel = The Learning Channel
Télévision de Radio-Canada

| first_aired = {{start date|1992}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1994}}

| related =

}}

Iris, The Happy Professor (also known as Iris and Professor Iris and in French as Iris, le gentil professeur or Professeur Iris) is a Canadian-produced television show that run for 156 episodes from 1992 to 1994, created by former Belgian-born comic book artist Henri Desclez and revolving around Professor Iris, a purple ibis who teaches a class of three students: Piano, Skeleton, and Plant. The Professor teaches a variety of subjects to his students and always wears a bowtie based on the topic of the lesson in each episode.

A French-language version was made by Montreal's Cinélume Film et Vidéo (under the supervision of Vincent Davy for the first two seasons, uncredited on the first and credited on the second; then Christine Boivineau for the remaining episodes, with Joey Galimi for song adaptation).

Characters

Professor Iris: played by Pier Paquette (English); Pierre Auger (French) – A purple ibis and teacher at the unnamed school that serves as the series' setting. He is knowledgeable, optimistic, and the series' protagonist.
Skeleton: played by Frank Meschkuleit, Rob Mills (English); Jean Galtier (French) – A skeleton of an ibis with bones laid over a red cardigan.
Piano: played by Tim Gosley (English); Élise Bertrand (French) – A pink piano who loves music.
Plant: played by Tim Gosley (English); Gilbert Lachance (French) – A whimsical flower in a flowerpot.
Ms. Principal: played by Frank Meschkuleit, Rob Mills (English); Daniel Picard (French) – A yellow duck who is headmistress of the school. She often walks into the class to complain about the racket when it gets noisy.
Mr. Plumeau: played by Michel Lapointe (English); Edgar Fruitier (French) – A grey dog who serves as the school's janitor.
Kiwi: played by Jani Lauzon (English); Lisette Dufour (French) – A green frog who is Ms. Principal's niece.

International broadcasting

Aside from airing in its native Canada,{{cite news |title=Today's Best: Television |url=https://proquest.com/docview/244254010 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=Calgary Herald |date=1993-09-12 |page=C1 |url-access=registration |via=ProQuest}} Iris, The Happy Professor was one of the first six shows featured on TLC's Ready Set Learn! block during its 28 December 1992 debut.{{cite news|url=https://proquest.com/docview/306598780 |last=Donlon|first=Brian|title=Ready, Set, Learn! takes off|date=1992-12-28|accessdate=2024-09-16|work=USA Today|page=03D|url-access=registration|via=ProQuest}} It has also aired in several countries and territories including France, Israel, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Scotland, Brunei and Jordan.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080719041839/http://bluemoonlight200.tripod.com/ Iris The Happy Professor Super Website] on archive.org
{{IMDb title|0460370|Iris, The Happy Professor}}
[http://unis.ca/iris-le-gentil-professeur?e=hj4a1fitwm0r9 Information about the show on UNIS TV]
[http://www.doublage.qc.ca/p.php?i=162&idmovie=3109 Information about the French dub]
[http://www.planete-jeunesse.com/fiche-2417-iris-le-gentil-professeur.html French information on Planète Jeunesse]

Category:1992 Canadian television series debuts

Category:1994 Canadian television series endings

Category:1990s Canadian children's television series

Category:1990s preschool education television series

Category:Canadian preschool education television series

Category:Canadian television shows featuring puppetry

Category:Treehouse TV original programming

Category:Television shows filmed in Montreal

Category:Television series about birds

Category:Television series about educators

Category:Canadian English-language television shows

Category:Children's television series about talking animals