# Once Upon a Time… Man (1978)

> A French animated series that follows a pair of cavemen as they are guided through the whole history of mankind, from prehistory to the twentieth century.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/5719

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 26 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, family, history
- Created by: Albert Barillé
- Network: France 3
- Cast: Roger Carel, Annie Balestra, Albert Barillé, Yves Barsacq, Claude Bertrand, Patrick Préjean
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264244/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: gentle, witty, curious, warm

## What critics say

Audiences rate this educational animated history series positively, valuing its accessible retelling of human history.

## Synopsis

Once Upon a Time... Man is a French animated educational series created by Albert Barillé for France 3. Across twenty-six half-hour episodes, it follows two prehistoric characters, the cheerful Pierette and the scruffy Le Nabot, who are led through humanity's development by the wise Maestro. The engine of the show is curiosity: each episode drops the characters into a new historical moment, from cave life and early tools to ancient civilizations, medieval life and the modern twentieth century, and they learn by experiencing it. The episodes work as self-contained lessons that still accumulate into one chronological arc, so the whole run reads as a long tour of world history. The tone is warm, witty and gently wondering, with comic bickering between the cavemen balancing the scholarly explanations. Its hand-drawn look and family-friendly pacing give it the feel of a classroom that is also an adventure, suited to children and adults who enjoy learning about the past.

## Shows like Once Upon a Time… Man

- [BoOzy’ OS (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/54709)
- [The Adventures of Tintin (1991)](https://ember.film/tv/1479)
- [Space Goofs (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/10988)
- [The Story of Perrine (1978)](https://ember.film/tv/39978)
- [Molang (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/71958)
- [Great Greek Myths (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/59969)
- [The Secret World of Santa Claus (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/12509)
- [The Why Why Family (1996)](https://ember.film/tv/8272)
- [The Long, Long Holiday (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/61524)
- [Once Upon a Time... Life (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/2500)

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