| Creator: | Jean Chalopin |
| Director: | Bruno Bianchi |
| Company: | DIC Audiovisuel Stand'Art |
| Country: | Belgium France |
| Language: | French |
| Network: | TF1 |
| Num Episodes: | 46 |
Archibald le Magichien (literally: Archibald the Magic Dog) is a French animated edutainment TV series that ran from 1980 until 1981. A total of 46 5-minute episodes were produced by DiC Audiovisuel.
This miniseries was one of the first productions of DIC Entertainment (then known as DIC Audiovisuel), produced only one year before Ulysses 31.
The last word in the title combines the words magie (magic) and chien (dog). The resulting portmanteau, magichien, is a pun on the word magicien (magician).
Archibald is a magician who has transformed himself into a dog and can't remember how to change himself back.[1] He befriends a young boy called Pierrot and teaches him the secrets of maintaining a good form and health.
The series was designed to teach child viewers how to take better care of their health. Among its many educational values were: The dangers of using tobacco, alcohol, exposure to sun, and the importance of maintaining one's hygiene such as brushing one's teeth, exercising, washing one's hands and eating balanced meals.[2]
Upstart production studio Gibson Associates announced a loose remake of Archibald with the working title Darrelia the Magi-Shun!, scheduled for a January 2024 release on YouTube.