''Kassai and Luk'' (also called ''Kassai & Luk'', ''Kassai and Leuk'' or ''Samba et Leuk'' on

Télétoon Télétoon (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment that broadcasts animated series aimed at kids, teens, and adults. Its name is a portmanteau of " télévision" and "cartoon". Télé ...

, also stylized ''Samba & Leuk'') is a children's animated television series produced by

Marathon Productions Banijay Kids & Family (formerly known as Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Kids Studios and Zodiak Kids & Family) is a French television production company owned by Banijay Entertainment based in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The company was originally founded in Februa ...

. It was developed in 1996 and originally aired in English in 1997 on

Teletoon Cartoon Network (formerly Teletoon) is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts animated series aimed at children and teenagers. It was launched on October 17 ...

, which classified it as a pre-school program. In Mexico, it was aired by

Once Niños Once may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Once'' (film), a 2007 Irish musical film by John Carney ** ''Once'' (musical), a 2011 stage adaptation of the film * ''Once'' (TV series), a 2017–2019 Argentine telenovela * Canal Once (Mexi ...

. Directed by Jean-Louis Bompoint and inspired in '' La Belle Histoire de Leuk-le-Lièvre'' written by

Abdoulaye Sadji Abdoulaye Sadji (1910 in Rufisque, Senegal – 25 December 1961 in Dakar) was a Senegalese writer and teacher. Life The son of a Muslim priest, a ''marabout'', Sadji was educated in a Quranic schoolWästberg, s. 292. before attending French sc ...

and

Léopold Sédar Senghor Léopold Sédar Senghor ( , , ; 9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese politician, cultural theorist and poet who served as the first president of Senegal from 1960 to 1980. Ideologically an African socialist, Senghor was one ...

in 1953.

Premise

This short-lived animation series was based on African stories. The three protagonists are the young man Kassai, his sidekick Leuk, a talking humanoid hare who knows the jungle well, and Princess Marana, who is cursed to transform into a

gazelle A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . There are also seven species included in two further genera; '' Eudorcas'' and '' Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third former subgenus, ' ...

during the day. In the series, Kassai goes on various quests to find the scattered parts of his tribe's patron goddess, Koorie, and tries to stop the plans of the evil god Toguum, who can possess people to do his bidding. The opening theme "Samba Et Leuk" is performed by the African musician

Ismaël Lô Ismaël Lô (also Ismaël Lo; born 1956) is a Senegalese musician and actor. Life Lô was born in Dogondoutchi, Niger on 30 August 1956, to a Senegalese father from wolof ethnic group and a Nigerian mother. Shortly after Lo's birth the family ...

Characters

*Kassai, a boy *Leuk (aka Luk), a hare. *Marana, a girl who is cursed to become a gazelle by day, and return a girl at night *Maliba *Nommos *Ogotem *Togum (aka Togoum) voiced by John Stocker

Episodes

There are 26 episodes.: An Italian website with voice cast and a photograph of the animation series.

References

External links

* 1990s French animated television series Animated television series about rabbits and hares {{animation-tv-prog-stub