Grisù

Lore & Background

Grisù was created by the Italian brothers Nino and Toni Pagot, best known as the creators of Calimero. He first appeared in a 1964 black-and-white animated series of commercial shorts for Mentafredda Caremoli candies, part of the television program Carosello. A television series consisting of 52 episodes with the adventures of Grisù aired for the first time in 1972. The character also named a series of books for children.

Reader's Guide

Grisù is significant as a long-running Italian animated character whose central conflict—a dragon wanting to be a firefighter—provides a humorous and enduring premise. The original 1972 series of 52 episodes was widely broadcast internationally, airing in countries including Italy, Germany, France, Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, South Africa, Arab League countries, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium. A CGI revival was announced on November 18, 2020, produced by Mondo TV, ZDF Enterprises, and Toon2Tango, and released on December 4, 2023, airing on channels such as Rai Yoyo, Kika, Canal+ Kids, and JimJam. The character's legacy includes multiple DVD releases in Italy and Germany, and dubs into Czech, Slovak, Afrikaans, and Arabic.

Did You Know?

• Grisù was created by the same brothers who created Calimero.
• The original 1964 shorts were black-and-white and aired as part of the Italian program Carosello.
• Grisù's girlfriend Krazy comes from the planet Dracone and cannot speak, expressing herself through sounds.
• A CGI revival of the series was released on December 4, 2023.