Freddy Monnickendam
Encyclopedia
Freddy Monnickendam was executive producer of Smurfs (1981) and Snorks (1984).
Freddy Monnickendam was a Belgian businessman who came into contact with comics when he negotiated the rights to the Smurfs
for Father Abraham
in 1977. Afterwards, he became the head of "SEPP" (La Société d'Edition, de Presse et de Publicité), the branch of Dupuis
(the editor of The Smurfs
) that was responsible for the merchandising of the comic heroes
. He negotiated the contract between Dupuis, Peyo
, NBC
and Hanna-Barbera
, for the creation of a series of Smurf cartoons, and became the first executive producer of the series. Peyo wanted the Smurf cartoons to be as faithful as possible to the world he had created in his comics, but Monnickendam preferred to make the cartoons more accessible, and more mainstream. This led to fast deterioration of relations between the two men, ending in court cases about the division of the rights and the money involved. Annoyed by these discussions and problems, he decided to start a new series of cartoons called The Snorks
, which was designed by Nic Broca. Monnickendam later acquired all the rights, hoping to equal the success of the Smurfs, but the success of The Snorks was limited and the series soon ended production. Having bypassed Dupuis, the collaboration between the publisher and Monnickendam ended, and as a result, SEPP was disbanded. Monnickendam continued to work with Hanna-Barbera on such shows as Foofur
(created by Phil Mendez), The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (based on the Martin Short
character), and other shows (including Tom and Jerry Kids), but he was never able to replicate the success he had with the Smurfs.
Freddy Monnickendam was a Belgian businessman who came into contact with comics when he negotiated the rights to the Smurfs
The Smurfs
The Smurfs is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958...
for Father Abraham
Pierre Kartner
Petrus Antonius Laurentius "Pierre" Kartner is a Dutch musician who sings under the alias Father Abraham, and who has written around 1600 songs.- Early life :...
in 1977. Afterwards, he became the head of "SEPP" (La Société d'Edition, de Presse et de Publicité), the branch of Dupuis
Dupuis
Éditions Dupuis S.A. is a Belgian publisher of comic books and magazines.Based in Marcinelle near Charleroi, Dupuis was founded in 1922 by Jean Dupuis, and is mostly famous for its comic albums and magazines. It is originally a French language publisher, but publishes many editions both in French...
(the editor of The Smurfs
The Smurfs (comics)
The Smurfs are a Belgian comic series, created by cartoonist Peyo . The fictional characters of the Smurfs first appeared in Johan and Peewit in 1958, and the first independent Smurf comics appeared in 1959. Twenty-nine Smurf comic albums have been created, 16 of them by Peyo...
) that was responsible for the merchandising of the comic heroes
The Smurfs (merchandising)
The Smurfs is a Belgian comic book series created by Peyo in 1958. It became well-known worldwide with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series in the 1980s. With the popularity of the Smurfs came a wide range of toys and spin-off products and use of the Smurfs in merchandising...
. He negotiated the contract between Dupuis, Peyo
Peyo
Pierre Culliford , known as Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist, perhaps best known for the creation of The Smurfs comic strip.-Biography:...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
, for the creation of a series of Smurf cartoons, and became the first executive producer of the series. Peyo wanted the Smurf cartoons to be as faithful as possible to the world he had created in his comics, but Monnickendam preferred to make the cartoons more accessible, and more mainstream. This led to fast deterioration of relations between the two men, ending in court cases about the division of the rights and the money involved. Annoyed by these discussions and problems, he decided to start a new series of cartoons called The Snorks
The Snorks
Snorks is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera which ran on NBC from September 15, 1984 to May 13, 1989. Although not as popular as the animated series The Smurfs, the program continued to be available in syndication from 1986 to 1989, on the BBC in the late 1990s, and from...
, which was designed by Nic Broca. Monnickendam later acquired all the rights, hoping to equal the success of the Smurfs, but the success of The Snorks was limited and the series soon ended production. Having bypassed Dupuis, the collaboration between the publisher and Monnickendam ended, and as a result, SEPP was disbanded. Monnickendam continued to work with Hanna-Barbera on such shows as Foofur
Foofur
Foofur is a children's animated series made by Hanna-Barbera and Freddy Monnickendam. It aired on NBC from 1986 to 1988. The protagonist and title character was a skinny blue dog. The animated series was produced in part by William Hanna...
(created by Phil Mendez), The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (based on the Martin Short
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
character), and other shows (including Tom and Jerry Kids), but he was never able to replicate the success he had with the Smurfs.