Lord Rataxes (also simply known as Rataxes) is the main antagonist in Laurent and Jean de Brunhoff's Babar books. He appears as the main antagonist of Nelvana's Babar: The Movie, and also in their Babar television series. In the series, Rataxes is the sometime enemy and sometime friend of Babar. His son named Victor is a friend of Babar's children.
He was voiced by the late Charles Kerr in the film and by the late Allen Stewart-Coates in the TV series.
Biography[]
Books[]
Rataxes first appears in The Travels of Babar. When Babar's friend Arthur ties a firecracker to his tail, Rataxes declares war on Babar's kingdom and leads his army to destroy Celesteville. Babar and Celeste (returning from their travels) decide to stop the rhinoceros army by frightening them. They dress their elephants up with elaborate wigs and paint giant faces on their butts, causing Rataxes and his army to panic, thinking they are attacked by monsters. Rataxes is captured and paraded through Celesteville in a cage.
Babar's strategy is loosely borrowed for Babar: The Movie. In the book, Rataxes remains on all fours, unlike the elephants, and wears a helmet similar to a Spanish Conquistador's. This design also carries over to the movie.
Babar: The Movie[]
- Main article: Lord Rataxes (Babar: The Movie)
For the film, Rataxes is recast as a more darker villain than in the books.
TV show[]
In the television series, Rataxes becomes a more comic figure. Although Rhinoland is still Celesteville's rival, Rataxes is more interested in outdoing them than conquering them. Mostly, his efforts to beat Celesteville are forced on him by his nagging wife Lady Rataxes. Some conflicts involve his efforts to make his son Victor as strong a leader as Rataxes believes himself to be. Victor's friendship with Babar's children leads to further conflicts between the two fathers.
Although he is officially an enemy of Babar, Rataxes occasionally becomes an ally, as he does in Babar's victory over the poacher who killed his mother.
Babar: King of the Elephants[]
In the reboot movie entitled Babar: King of the Elephants, Rataxes role is basically same as it was in the book. However, Arthur ties a tree to his tail instead of a firecracker due to it happening before Babar returned. Then, Arthur blew a raspberry with his trunk, making Rataxes charge and spread dust across the other rhinoceroses, other elephants were seen laughing with Arthur.
Out of revenge, Rataxes has the rhino attack the elephants' home, then he gathers an army to wage war on them. However, just like the book, they were scared off by the monster faces painted on the elephants. After that, Arthur apologizes for his prank and Rataxes apologizes for almost starting a war and the two made peace with each other.
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