Simon Lacroix's youth television was synonymous with comfort. Of course, some shows made him want to move, but some unforgettable moments came from sitting comfortably on the couch. Scent of nostalgia…
Simon, which children's programs impressed you?
Télé-Pirate photo from IMDB
Tele Pirate! It was crazy, it was funny, but in a funnier way than what was happening at the time. I think I found it a bit punky and that really stimulated me. I also worked on Les Intrepides. I loved this show so much. It was full of adventure and exciting times, and I also had a bit of a crush on Jessica Barker. When I hear the end credits music, I get very nostalgic and want to run!
Photo from Intrepids Archives
What are your favorite TV memories from your childhood?
There are so many! Suddenly, the memory of sitting on the couch wrapped in my mother's orange crocheted blanket while several baby cats slept on me as we watched Fort Boyard as a family came to mind.
Did you watch a lot of TV when you were young?
Yes. My furthest memory is the French version of the Italian animated film Camping with Monsieur Rossi, which we had on Beta cassette. I've listened to this movie over and over again! It can now be found on YouTube. It's quite a psychedelic film! I find it interesting that it was little Simon's favorite film. For me it was the equivalent of a security blanket, but on TV.
Is there a character who influenced you?
I listened to The Simpsons in English very, very often. Thanks to Lisa Simpson, the most intellectual of the characters, I was able to expand my vocabulary and began to use more sophisticated words and expressions.
Is there another song from a show that sticks in your mind?
There are so many! It sometimes happens out of nowhere in my head. “Mimi Cracra, she likes water” [Mimi Cracra, NDLR]“I’m doing the right thing” [La boîte à lunch, NDLR]“Buli Bouli” [Bouli, NDLR] ! All this music is buried deep in my subconscious, comfortably wrapped in a crocheted orange blanket, with lots of kittens purring in their sleep.
What world would you like to introduce to children?
The really slow and thoughtful cartoons from Canal Famille. I'm thinking of The Green Forest and Boumbo, among others. It feels good, slowly.
Finally, what do you think of today's children's television?
There are some great things happening, like the big return of Passe-Partout! But when it comes to the new cartoons for children, I find them too intense and “overstimulating”. I miss the more artistic, less fast-paced hand-drawn animations. Most of the time I find computer cartoons boring, with colors that are too bright and images that are too sharp. Sorry, Paw Patrol, but I like In the Alps with Annette a thousand times better!
Mounted photo provided by Télé-Québec
Simon Lacroix will return to television in the final season of the comedy Lion, airing January 10th on TVA and already available on Club illico. It is he, Drouin, a colleague of Léo's at the Dubeau Gâteaux factory. He also directed the play White horse presented at Duceppe until September 16th.