Carrusel (Spanish pronunciation: [karuˈsel]) is a Mexican children's telenovela produced by Valentín Pimstein for Televisa. Based on the Argentinean character Jacinta Pichimahuida (first televised in 1966), it was originally broadcast on Televisa from 16 January 1989 to 1 June 1990. It covers daily life in a Mexican elementary school and the children's relationships with a charismatic teacher named Ximena. Among other plot devices, it deals with the differences between the upper and lower classes of Mexican society – specifically as seen in a romantic relationship between Cirilo, a poor black boy, and a spoiled white rich girl, Maria Joaquina Villaseñor.
Gabriela Rivero starred as main protagonist, while Janet Ruiz and Beatriz Moreno starred as main antagonists. Ludwika Paleta, Pedro Javier Viveros, Hilda Chávez, Flor Eduarda Gurrola, Joseph Birch, Abraham Pons, Mauricio Armando, Gabriel Castañon, Yoshiki Takiguchi, Manuel Fernández, Karin Nisembaum, and Silvia Guzmán starred as stellar performances.
A Brazilian version, titled Carrossel, aired on SBT from 20 May 1991 to 21 April 1992, and was remade for the 2012 Brazilian remake that aired from 21 May 2012 to 26 July 2013.
Contents
Plot
The story begins with the daily lives of a group of schoolchildren from a Mexican primary school ("Escuela Mundial") and the relations of the latter with their teacher, Ximena. In the series, several issues about life, while stressing values such as love, trust and friendship touched.
The characters
Teacher Ximena Fernández is something like the embodiment of all that is good. She is a teacher, friend and mother to her students. She shows friendliness and enormous patience, and she is loved by all.
Cirilo Rivera is a good boy, and the only child of black ancestry in school. He is the son of a humble carpenter and a housewife who adore him to the utmost.
María Joaquina Villaseñor is a rich girl, daughter of a renowned and prestigious physician (Dr. Miguel Villaseñor). Beautiful, selfish, overlooked by her classmates, but eventually learns to value the important things in life.
Laura Quiñones is a chubby romantic girl. She spends most of the day with a big sandwich in hand, and never misses an opportunity to let go a sigh and say, That's so romantic, or, You are very anti-romantic.
Kokimoto Mishima is a boy of Japanese origin and the only Asian child at school. Always with his hachimaki tied around his head, he was one of the henchmen and bodyguard of Pablo Guerra in the early chapters and later was replaced on paper as right arm by Mario Pablo Ayala. His signature phrase is: "Yyyaaaaa yyyyaaaaaa!!!" (a karate battle cry).
Bibi Smith is a girl of American origin. She is a polite and gentle girl, and a good friend. Bibi speaks Spanish imperfectly, since her native language is English.
David Rovinovich is a Jewish boy, angelic face and curly blond hair. He wastes no time with the girls, coming to fall in love with Valeria, one of his classmates.
Valeria Ferrer is the girlfriend of David Rovinovich. She is a cheerful girl and joker character who helps others but cannot help her joking, although not as bad as Pablo Guerra.
Jaime Palillo is a robust, stocky, rough and clumsy child, but also very brave to come forward and defend his friends, especially Cirilo. His biggest struggle is the school subjects. He's not outstanding in his studies, but gets some recognition after.
Cast
The children
Ludwika Paleta as María Joaquina Villaseñor
Pedro Javier Vivero as Cirilo Rivera
Johan Sierra as Pedro Simishikis
Joseph Birch as David Ravinovich
Gabriel Castañón as Mario Ayala
Hilda Chávez as Laura Quiñones
Manuel Fernández as Adrián García
Gina Garcia as Marcelina Guerra
Flor Edwarda Gurrola as Carmen Carrillo
Silvia Guzmán as Alicia Guzmán
Jorge Granillo as Jaime Palillo
Kristel Klitbo as Valeria Ferrer
Ramón Valdez Urtiz as Abelardo Cruz
Mauricio Armando as Pablo Guerra
Karin Nisembaum as Bibi Smith
Abraham Pons as Daniel Zapata
Yoshiki Takiguchi as Kokimoto Mishima
Rafael Omar as Jorge del Salto
Alíne Bernal as Clementina Suárez
The adults
Gabriela Rivero as Teacher Ximena Fernández
Augusto Benedico as Don Fermín #1
Armando Calvo as Don Fermín #2
Odiseo Bichir as Federico Carrillo
Rebeca Manríquez as Inés de Carrillo
Johnny Laboriel as José Rivera
Verónika con K as Belen de Rivera
Arturo García Tenorio as Ramón Palillo
Adriana Laffan as Luisa de Palillo
Álvaro Cerviño as Dr. Miguel Villaseñor
Karen Sentíes as Clara de Villaseñor #1
Kenia Gascón as Clara de Villaseñor #2
David Ostrosky as Isaac Ravinovich #1
Gerardo Paz as Isaac Ravinovich #2
Rossana Cesarman as Rebeca de Ravinovich
Beatriz Moreno as Directora Felicia Orraca
Raquel Pankowsky as Teacher Matilde Mateuche
Alejandro Tommasi as Alberto del Salto
Cecilia Gabriela as Roxana de del Salto
Marcial Salinas as Germán Ayala
Beatriz Ornella as Natalia de Ayala