SamSam
{{short description|French-Belgian-Canadian television program}}
{{About|the animated series|the malware|Ransomware#SamSam|film based on the series|SamSam (film)}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Sam (TV Logo).png
| genre = Educational
Superhero
| creator = Serge Bloch
| director = Tanguy de Kermel
| voices =
| theme_music_composer = Todd M. Schultz
Stephen C. Marston
| composer = Ange Ghinozzi
Bruno Bertoli
| country = France
| language = French
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 143
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Georges Sanerot
Pascal Ruffenach
Anne-Claire Beurthey
Bernard Vigier
Marie-Pierre Cabaret
Florence Guémy
Sylvaine Hartout
| editor = Florence Poli
| runtime = 6–7 minutes (season 1)
8 minutes (season 2)
10–11 minutes (season 3)
| company = Bayard Jeunesse Animation
Araneo Belgium
Kaïbou
Productions (season 3)
| first_aired = {{Start date|2007|7|2}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2024|5|5}}
}}
SamSam is an animated superhero children's television series based on a character created by Serge Bloch and directed by Tanguy de Kermel in association with Bayard Presse. His son inspired him to base the program's eponymous character on him. The series has generally received positive reviews due to its great concept, animation, theme tune, tone, life lessons, quotes, and the main character himself.
As well as being a HD program, SamSam is also a comic that is printed in many of Bayard Presse's magazines such as Pomme D'Api (French), StoryBox (English), Leppis (Finnish), CaraCola (Spanish), CucaFera (Portuguese), 小小紅蘋果 (Chinese), Pompoen (Dutch),
Ого Город (Russian) and Hoppla (German).{{Cite web|url=http://www.storyboxbooks.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604052009/http://www.storyboxbooks.com:80/|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Welcome|website=StoryBox Books}} Last available archived copy.
Synopsis
{{expand section|more details|date=December 2014}}
The main character, SamSam, is considered the smallest superhero. He does not know properly how to use his powers. He flies his SamSaucer into space to deal with BeastlyBeard and his crew or King Marthial the 1st. He receives assistance from SamTeddy, SamMummy, SamDaddy, SweetPea, SuperJulie, and Megalactic, and sometimes from MuckyYuck.
Broadcast and viewership
SamSam has been shown on TV in many countries around the world and in many different languages, including English, French, Cantonese, Arabic, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese.
In the United Kingdom, SamSam was shown on Action Stations! (ITV4 and CITV) at 6am, on weekends in the Wakey! Wakey! and it also aired on Pop and Tiny Pop. It is also on ABC in Australia, on France 5 in Zouzous in France, and TV Tokyo at Japan, as well as being shown in Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Russia, Scandinavia, Iceland, Portugal, Poland, the UAE and Israel.
It has also been shown as in-flight entertainment on Air France.
SamSam has been viewed by a cumulative audience of 250 million worldwide. It has a strong European audience: it airs on France 5 in Ludo, Gulli and Canal J, with a 32% viewing share among 4-10 year-olds. It has aired in the UK on ITV4, CITV, Pop and Tiny Pop and has been the second best performing program at weekday breakfast on GMTV, and the second top commercial channel for kids programming, across all time in UK.Infosys BARB Jan-Feb 2009 GMTV EXCLUDING Simulcast In Italy, SamSam airs on Rai 2 and Boomerang with a market share of 36.6% among 4-14 year-olds.Médiamétrie – Eurodata TV Worldwide/AGB NMR Italy SamSam airs in Spain on Boomerang, Cartoon Network and TV3 with a viewing share of 34%, more than the channel's average.Médiamétrie/Eurodata TV/TNS audiecia de Medios
In Norway, it was the most watched early morning programme among 2-5-year-olds, holding a 48.5% market share. In Denmark, SamSam airs on TV 2, holding a market share of 48.8%, more than twice the other youth programmes' market share in this block.Médiamétrie – Eurodata TV Worldwide/TNS Gallup
The English-language version of the theme song was written by Todd Michael Schultz and produced by Stephen Marston.
Crew
= Director =
- Tanguy de Kermel
= Writers =
- Alexandre Réverend (Series 1)
- Didier Lejeune (Series 2)
= Art direction =
- Eric Guillon
= Music =
- Ange Ginozzi
- Bruno Bartoli
SamSam through the years
SamSam has appeared in many forms of media, debuting in comic strips, magazines, and books since January 2000.
= Creation of ''SamSam'' =
Serge Bloch was inspired to create the series by his son, and he loved Batman very much. Once, they made him a prop Batman costume out of cardboard. One time, Serge's friends came to dinner with them, and their son was dressed in a Batman superhero costume with plastic parts. This meeting of two "mini-Batmen" amazed and touched the creator. Soon after, he began sketching in a notebook, creating his own world, which takes place in the superhero universe. Another day, the editor Marie-Agnes Godard saw this notebook, and without her participation, SamSam would never have appeared. SamSam first appeared on the pages of the children's magazine "Pomme d'Api" in January 2000. SamSam has the traits of Serge's son. His name is Samuel, but the parents call him "SamSam". When the creator ran out of ideas, it was enough to watch the children. Some kind of problem at school or a quarrel with a friend, all these situations became a source of inspiration for Serge.{{cite web |title=Making of SamSam |url=https://www.pommedapi.com/les-heros/samsam/dessin-anime-making-of |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Pomme d'Api|date=20 September 2011}}
= TV series =
After the success of SamSam comic strips, magazines, and books, an animated TV series was developed based on the books with a total of 52 7-minute episodes.{{cite web |title=SamSam Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCyon4gO--Q |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=YouTube |publisher=Mediatoon}} It aired from mid-2007 until early 2009. The series was immediately a success.{{cite web |author1=CultureProFR |date=November 7, 2015 |title=A Worldwide Publishing Success |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/43010227/a-worldwide-publishing-success |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Yumpu |pages=9–23}} In 2010, a second season was made for the series with a total of 39 8-minute episodes.{{cite web |author1=CultureProFR |date=November 7, 2015 |title=A Worldwide Publishing Success |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/43010227/a-worldwide-publishing-success |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Yumpu |pages=2}} A third season started to air in 2023, with new 52 11-minute episodes.{{cite web |title=SamSam - Season 3 |url=http://fost.studio/portfolio/samsam-season-3/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=FOST Studio}}{{cite web |author1=FOLIVARI PRO |date=July 3, 2018 |title=SamSam Season 3 - Teaser Cartoon Forum |url=https://vimeo.com/278179285 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Vimeo}}{{cite web |date=July 3, 2018 |title=SamSam - New CGI Series (In production) |url=https://mediatoon-distribution.com/en/programme/samsam-new-cgi-series-in-production/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Mediatoon}}{{cite web |author1=FOLIVARI PRO |date=July 3, 2018 |title=SamSam Season 3 - Teaser Cartoon Forum |url=https://vimeo.com/278179285 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Vimeo}}{{Cite web |title=Samsam: Cosmic Adventures |url=https://www.c21media.net/screenings/mediatoon/samsam-cosmic-adventures/21074/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}{{cite web |author1=IMDb |date=July 2, 2007 |title=SamSam |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2924740/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=IMDb}}
= Merchandise =
In 2009, after the success of the first season, merchandise based on SamSam was made, which include plush toys, figurines, condiments, board games, backpacks, T-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, shoes, activity books, books, lunchboxes, costumes, and school supplies based on the TV series. 14 licenses were sold at the time.{{cite web |author1=CultureProFR |date=November 7, 2015 |title=A Worldwide Publishing Success |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/43010227/a-worldwide-publishing-success |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Yumpu |pages=26–31}} Cutlery, DVD's, masks, and even armchairs were added to the merchandise line later on.{{cite web |title=SamSam Toys |url=https://www.jemini.fr/en/samsam-toys.html |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Jemini}}{{cite web |date=October 12, 2010 |title=SamSam - DVD Set of 3 |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/SamSam-Coffret-Crapouille-Lenl%C3%A8vement-poubelle/dp/B003VKTOT4 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Amazon UK}}{{cite web |date=September 23, 2020 |title=SamSam DVD |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/samsam-2020-dvd |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=JB Hi-Fi}}{{cite web |title=Make masks of SamSam and his friends |url=https://www.pommedapi.com/les-heros/samsam/fabrique-des-masques-de-samsam-et-ses-amis |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Pomme d'Api|date=19 February 2014}}
= Cancelled video game =
A video game based on the SamSam TV series for the Nintendo DS was going to be made, scheduling a release for somewhere in 2009, but was never actually released. Only one rare booklet from 2009 states its existence.{{cite web |author1=CultureProFR |date=November 7, 2015 |title=A Worldwide Publishing Success |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/43010227/a-worldwide-publishing-success |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Yumpu |pages=32}}
=Film=
A film adaptation of the same name was released in France on 5 February 2020, directed by Tanguy de Kermel, and written by Valérie Magis as well as Jean Regnaud. It was produced by Folivari and distributed by StudioCanal.Hopewell, John (5 June 2019) [https://variety.com/2019/film/news/studiocanal-folivari-samsam-over-half-the-world-1203233843/ Studiocanal Sets Folivari's 'Samsam' for Distribution Over Half the World (EXCLUSIVE)]. Variety. Retrieved 23 May 2021.[https://www.unifrance.org/film/47101/samsam SamSam] at UniFrance. Retrieved 23 May 2021. The film received negative reviews upon its release.{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Roger |date=July 24, 2023 |title=SamSam |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/samsam |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bayard-magazines.co.uk/gammebox/storybox.htm StoryBox information page]
- {{IMDb title|2924740}}
Category:2000s French animated television series
Category:2007 French television series debuts
Category:French children's animated space adventure television series
Category:French children's animated fantasy television series
Category:French children's animated superhero television series
Category:French preschool education television series
Category:France Télévisions children's television series
Category:Stop-motion animated television series