(Link in case you can’t see the embed.)
The toddler loves this show, Pocoyo.
Oh, fuck it, who am I kidding? We love it. Shut up. That cartoon kid’s cute. The duck’s awesome.
Don’t judge me, Judgey McJudgerson.
Anyway.
The above episode: I want you to watch it. I mean, I’m going to spoil it here anyway, but it’s worth your eyes. It’s like, five minutes long or something — just hunker down and commit the time.
Done?
Done.
If ever there’s been something that explains the mighty power of the imagination, it’s this episode. Pocoyo gets a key with the promise that it will open pirate’s treasure — the chest that he eventually discovers the key will open is in fact just filled with more keys.
More keys that open more treasure.
The key opens treasure and the treasure is MORE KEYS.
Holy crap. That’s it.
That is the endless bounty of the imagination.
That is the power of story. One key that leads to more keys — and each key the promise of a new journey, a new story lived, experienced, and then told. A series of doors and chests and the journey to get to them and get through them. Doors and chests that cannot merely be opened but must be unlocked. And what’s powerful is the story surrounding how we unlock those chests and doors.
Fuck yeah.
That is all. You may now go about your day. I just wanted to point you toward this.
Parinita says:
I love this. I love what you said. “That is the power of story. One key that leads to more keys — and each key the promise of a new journey, a new story lived, experienced, and then told. A series of doors and chests and the journey to get to them and get through them. Doors and chests that cannot merely be opened but must be unlocked. And what’s powerful is the story surrounding how we unlock those chests and doors.” I love Stephen Fry. I shall now go about my day with a huge smile on my face.
November 7, 2012 — 12:52 AM
Mark says:
And it proves that all things are made better by Stephen Fry.
November 7, 2012 — 5:06 AM
Rick A. Carroll says:
You’re right. Pato is awesome, motherfucker. Finally, someone who knows how cool a grumpy duck can be. Well, you know. Aside from George Lucas. For the longest time I thought he was the only one that got me. Now I know that our souls sing in harmony, Chuck, a beautiful melody that lifts us to summer fields and endless warm breezes.
Ellie, on the other hand, can suck a dick.
November 7, 2012 — 7:38 AM
Ed Marrow says:
My kids love Pocoyo too. I love the way the narrator says Pocoyo. You get into Yo Gabba Gabba yet? Acid trip through the jungle that is.
November 7, 2012 — 9:25 AM
Rick A. Carroll says:
I’ve loved Stephen Fry for years. Listening to him as the narrator on Pocoyo has made him even funnier, somehow, like how you’d here those thing coming from Mr. Conductor’s mouth during a George Carlin routine.
If you haven’t had the pleasure, all of you should watch Stephen Fry in America, but only after you’ve watched several episodes of Pocoyo beforehand. In the series, he takes a roadtrip that hits every state, and it is simply brilliant.
November 7, 2012 — 9:35 AM
terribleminds says:
Yo Gabba Gabba is way to blinky insane for the toddler, I think.
One day.
— c.
November 7, 2012 — 9:39 AM
Rick A. Carroll says:
If you haven’t had the joy yet, Chuck, hunt down the episode of Wonder Pets where they teach a puppy how to take a piss. I warn you though: if lately you have had a hankering for tasting deer slugs, lock your guns up because this show will drive you right over the edge.
And then back over you a few times. And then make you blow up. Then reconstitute you, chop you up, ship you to a third world country is seventeen different UPS containers, stitch you back together, frappe you, and then enjoy you on a cold night in front of the fireplace with some Kenny G.
November 7, 2012 — 10:53 AM
Sandra Lindsey says:
I love Pocoyo! And I have no excuse for watching it these days, since I don’t have kids and my niece is too old for that sort of programme now, so thank you for the excuse 😀
November 7, 2012 — 1:51 PM
E.Maree says:
Pocoyo has an adorable style (and Stephen Fry! Stephen Fryyyy!).
Not ashamed to say that, despite not having kids, I will totally watch it if it comes on the TV.
November 7, 2012 — 3:16 PM
Cass says:
We occasionally get episodes of it on TV here but I’ve never really watched it. I didn’t realise till now the narrator was Stephen Fry! That’s an even more awesome revelation than discovering Julian Clary was the narrator of “The Little Princess”!
Which is not to say I missed your point, but … Stephen Fry!
November 7, 2012 — 6:29 PM
Jessica Burde says:
In a delightful coincidence, my son is sitting on my lap watching Pocoyo at the moment. I didn’t play the vid b/c I have the episode memorized. And yes, it is awesome.
November 7, 2012 — 7:51 PM
Georgina says:
I fucking love Pocoyo, mainly because Stephan Fry but that cartoon is so sweet. I love being British, we have cool people 🙂 awesome point by the way, imagination and stuff.
November 8, 2012 — 12:49 PM
Gloria Oliver says:
OMG! That was so CUTE!!!!!! I could…not…look…away! lol. Pocoyo is adorable!
November 8, 2012 — 9:42 PM
Mary Thopmson says:
That was marvelous! I loved Stephen Fry’s narration and I loved the story. I’d never heard of Pocoyo before, but now I have to introduce him to my grandson. Thank you for sharing that.
November 9, 2012 — 5:27 AM
Hudds says:
My boy loves Pocoyo. We found it on Netflix last year and he goes nuts for it. Somehow, I haven’t seen this one before.
November 9, 2012 — 9:49 PM
Kate says:
LOVE this!!!! Thanks for today’s inspiration (even i you did write it a couple of days ago…I opened THIS treasure chest today, see?)
November 10, 2012 — 10:54 AM
MuchOyo says:
Pocoyo is a Spanish show. Indeed, it is awesome. My kid gets glued to the TV when it is on.
March 28, 2013 — 8:26 AM
Steve says:
Perfect said. I could not have said it any better myself, “That is the power of story. One key that leads to more keys — and each key the promise of a new journey, a new story lived, experienced, and then told.” This is the real secret to all writing.
Thanks for the post! :]
October 29, 2013 — 2:00 AM