Patito Feo (telenovela) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patito Feo La Historia Más Linda
Genre	Soap opera
Created by	Esteban Mejia – Alejandro Stoessel – Mario Schajris
Written by	Esteban Mejia and Marcela Citterio
Directed by	Jorge Montero
Theme music composer	Carlos Nilson – Mario Schajris
Opening theme	Todo se puede lograr
Ending theme	Amigos del Corazón
Composer(s)	Laura Natalia Esquivel Brenda Asnicar
Country of origin	Argentina
Original language(s)	Spanish
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	303 (Argentina) 265 (Europe)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Leonardo Blanco
Producer(s)	Esteban Mejia
Release
Original network	Canal 13
Original release	First Season: April 10, 2007 – December 14, 2007 Second season: April 23, 2008 – November 3, 2008
Chronology
Preceded by	Floricienta
Followed by	Atracción x4

Patito Feo (which means Ugly Duckling in English) is a fun TV show from Argentina. It's a comedy series made for kids and teenagers. The show stars Laura Natalia Esquivel, Brenda Asnicar, Juan Darthes, Griselda Siciliani, Gloria Carrá, and Gastón Soffritti.

The story is about two main groups: "Las Divinas" (The Divines) and "Las Populares" (The Populars). Brenda Asnicar leads Las Divinas, and Laura Esquivel leads Las Populares. The show was made by Ideas del Sur for Canal 13. It was shown all over the world by Televisa. The catchy opening song, "Un Rincón del Corazón" ("A Corner of the Heart"), is sung by Patito, played by Laura Natalia Esquivel.

About the Show's Success

The show first aired in April 2007 in Argentina. It quickly became super popular! Later that year, it started showing across Latin America on the Disney Channel. Soon, kids and teens everywhere loved it.

Patito Feo was a big hit not just on TV, but also with its merchandise. The show's music album was the best-selling album in Argentina in 2008. Over 100 different products were made, like toys and clothes. The official magazine sold out very quickly. Even a sticker album broke sales records for Panini in Argentina. The song Las Divinas became the most popular ringtone ever in the country!

The live show tours were also a huge success. In Argentina, over 400,000 tickets were sold for the first tour. More than 150,000 people saw the show in Buenos Aires. The cast then toured Latin America, selling over 700,000 tickets! They visited many countries like Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

In 2008, Patito Feo won a Martin Fierro Award. It was also nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Children & Young Adults program. This shows how much people loved the series!

Even though the show was very popular, some people had concerns. They worried that the "villains," a group of mean but beautiful girls called Las Divinas, were too popular. These girls often bullied Patito. Some groups worried about the message this sent to young girls.

Later, Patito Feo started airing in other countries. In early 2008, it came to France as De Tout Mon Coeur on the children's channel Gulli. It became the most-watched show there! Soon after, it was shown in Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

In Italy, the show was called Il Mondo di Patty and became a huge hit on Disney Channel. Because it was so popular, lots of merchandise was released. Laura Esquivel even visited Italy to promote the show. It became even more successful when it aired on the regular TV channel Italia 1.

In Spain, Patito Feo started on Cartoon Network in 2008. It was very popular, especially among young girls. In 2009, it moved to Disney Channel and became one of the top-rated shows, even more popular than Hannah Montana!

In Italy and Spain, over 200 different products were made, including toys, clothes, and even a video game for PlayStation. The show's music album sold incredibly well in both countries. It was also a big hit in Greece and Turkey. In Greece, the album sold so well it was certified 11 times Platinum!

Because of the show's success, Laura Esquivel started a successful acting career in Italy. She has starred in movies and TV shows there.

What Happens in the Story

First Season

The story begins with a single mom, Carmen, and her daughter, Patricia, who everyone calls Patito (Patty). They live in San Carlos de Bariloche, a small town in Argentina. Patito meets Matias and instantly likes him. He helps her after she falls off her bike. Matias is on vacation and soon returns to his hometown, Buenos Aires. Patito even names her dog after him!

Later, Carmen and Patito go to Buenos Aires for Patito's medical check-ups. There, Patito meets Leandro Díaz Rivarola, who is the hospital director. It turns out he is Patito's father, but neither of them knows it yet. Carmen and Patito stay in the city for Patito's treatment. Leandro hears Patito loves to sing and suggests she try out for the Pretty Land School of Arts. His mother runs the school. Patito agrees.

As time goes on, Leandro starts to think Patito might be his daughter. He takes a DNA test. The test shows he is her father! But Leandro's girlfriend, Bianca, secretly pays someone to change the test results. She wants to marry Leandro for his money and doesn't want him to leave her. Bianca has two children, Facundo and Antonella, from another rich man. She told her kids their father died. Bianca does everything she can to keep Leandro with her. She even pretends to be pregnant!

Carmen and her best friend, Ashley, find out Bianca isn't really pregnant. Bianca then threatens Carmen, saying she will take Patito away. Bianca's daughter, Antonella, goes to the same school as Patito and is Matias's girlfriend.

Because of all this, Carmen and Bianca become rivals. Patito and Antonella also become rivals at school. This leads to two rival dance groups: "Las Divinas" (The Divines), led by Antonella, and "Las Populares" (The Populars), led by Patito. Antonella often tries to make Patito's life difficult. She even tries to drown her once and stops her from releasing her music CD!

Eventually, Patito and Antonella become friends. They realize they both grew up without a father. Meanwhile, Bianca learns Carmen knows her secret. Bianca tells her friend, Polo, to get rid of Carmen. Polo tries to have Carmen hit by a car. But Antonella bravely saves Carmen, getting hurt herself. She ends up in the hospital in a coma.

When Antonella wakes up, her friend Pia and Bianca lie to her. They say Patito was happy Antonella got hurt so Patito could release her CD. So, Antonella and Patito become enemies again. Antonella, who is good at lying like her mom, pretends she can't walk to help Bianca keep Leandro. Later, Matias realizes he truly loves Patito and asks her to be his girlfriend. Patito happily says yes!

Patito isn't the only one who finds love. Leandro, even though he's married to Bianca, falls in love with Carmen. Carmen loves him back. But their relationship faces a big challenge when Carmen tells Leandro the truth: Patito is his daughter! They decide to tell Patito together when the time is right.

However, during a TV competition between Antonella and Patito, Leandro announces the truth. This happens when a judge is being mean to Patito about her looks. Patito is very angry and moves in with her father. She refuses to forgive Carmen. But on Carmen's birthday, they make peace. Carmen explains everything that stopped her from telling the truth earlier.

Main Characters

Las Populares

• Patricia (Patito) Diaz Rivarola Castro – Laura Natalia Esquivel: She is Carmen and Leandro's daughter. She leads "Las Populares." She is Matias's girlfriend and Josefina's best friend. She is Antonella's enemy.
• Matías Beltran – Gastón Soffritti: He is Patito's boyfriend and Josefina's brother. He used to date Antonella.
• Josefina Beltrán – Thelma Fardin: She is Matias's sister and Patito's best friend. She is Guido's girlfriend.
• Belen Demini – Maria Belen Berecoechea: She is Sol's twin sister and Camilo's girlfriend.
• Santiago Peep Maria Rodriquez – Nicolas Torcanowski: He is Sol's boyfriend. He likes to cook.
• Gonzalo Molina – Juan Manuel Guilera: He is a villain and Bruno's brother. He is Felicitas's boyfriend.
• Alan Tecrina – Nicolas Zuviria: He is Caterina's boyfriend.
• Felipe Sanchez – Rodrigo Velilla: He is Luciana's boyfriend and Matias's friend.
• Sol Demini – Sol Berecoechea: She is Belen's twin sister and Santiago's girlfriend. She is Patito's best friend.
• Tamara Valiente - Eva Quattrocci: She is Facundo's girlfriend and Patito's best friend. She used to be in "Las Divinas."

Las Divinas

• Antonella Lamas Bernardi – Brenda Asnicar: She used to be a villain and leads "Las Divinas." She is Facundo's sister and Bruno's girlfriend. She used to date Matias.
• Facundo (Facu) Lamas Bernadi – Brian Vainberg: He is Antonella's brother and Tamara's boyfriend. He is Matias's best friend.
• Caterina Artina – Camila Salazar: She is Alan's girlfriend and Pia's best friend.
• Pía Sanetti – Camila Outon: She is Vinny's girlfriend and Caterina's best friend.
• Luciana Mentitequi – Nicole Luis: She is Felipe's girlfriend.
• Bruno Molina – Andres Gill: He is Gonzalo's brother and Antonella's boyfriend. He is Guido's best friend.
• Guido Leinez – Santiago Talledo: He is Josefina's boyfriend and Santiago's best friend.
• Emma Taylor – Calu Rivero: She is a villain and Antonella's enemy.
• Felicitas Olga – Olivia Molina: She is Gonzalo's girlfriend and Wendy's best friend.
• Wendy Volterson – Brenda Chiclowsky: She is Felicitas's best friend.
• Guadalupe Fransico Dela Maria Consayez – Julia Meddleton: She is Tamara's enemy.
• Emanuele Hovare de Lano – Francisco Verardi

Second Season

In the second season, Patito is happy with her family and Matias. The Populars and the Divines join forces as "Populars & Divines" to compete in a tournament. They represent the Pretty Land School of Arts. A famous singer, Belinda, sees them perform. She offers them a spot on her international tour! But Antonella, who is now a pop star, doesn't want to work with Patito. This causes new fights between the groups.

Matias's love becomes a problem again between Patito and Antonella. A new girl named Linda also gets involved, making things complicated. This makes Patito stronger, and she feels more confident and beautiful.

Carmen and Leandro's love story gets even better. Carmen becomes pregnant, which brings happy times. However, Carmen gains a lot of weight, and Bianca tries to use this to break them up. Carmen hires a babysitter for the new baby. This babysitter turns out to be Bianca's secret sister! Bianca's mother, a frustrated actress, also appears. She helps Bianca and Antonella achieve their goals, no matter what. But she doesn't know about her forgotten daughter, which causes more problems for Bianca and Antonella. Carmen and Leandro get married in this season.

Where the Show Aired Around the World

Country	Language	Channel	Title
Argentina	Spanish	Canal 13, Disney Channel, Magazine	Patito Feo
Albania	Albanian	Junior TV	Bota e Patit: Historia më e bukur (Patty's World: The most beautiful story)
India	Hindi	Disney Channel India	Patito Feo (Patito Feo: The most beautiful story)
Turkey	Turkish	D Çocuk, ATV, Nickelodeon Turkey, Kidz TV	Patito Feo: En güzel hikaye (Patito Feo: The most beautiful story)
Italy	Italian	Disney Channel Italy, Italia 1, La5, Boing Italia	Il Mondo di Patty
San Marino	Italian	Disney Channel Italy
Greece	Greek	Mega Channel	Patty: Η πιο όμορφη ιστορία (Patty: The most beautiful story)
Cyprus	Greek	ANT1 Cyprus
France	French	Gulli / Cartoon Network / Boing (France) / IDF1	De tout mon Coeur (With all my Heart) / Le Monde de Patricia (Patricia's world)
Portugal	Portuguese	SIC, Panda Biggs	O Mundo de Patty
Spain	Spanish	Cartoon Network Spain, Disney Channel Spain, Telecinco	Patito Feo
Belgium	French	MTV Belgium	Le Monde de Patricia
Switzerland	French	MTV Switzerland
Chile	Spanish	TVN	Patito Feo
Colombia	Spanish	Caracol TV, Disney Channel
Mexico	Spanish	Televisa, Disney Channel
Dominican Republic	Spanish	Disney Channel, Antena Latina
Costa Rica	Spanish	Teletica
Honduras	Spanish	Televicentro
El Salvador	Spanish	Disney Channel
Panama	Spanish	Telemetro
Peru	Spanish	Disney Channel
Paraguay	Spanish	Telefuturo
Uruguay	Spanish	La Tele (Uruguay)
Venezuela	Spanish	Disney Channel
Ecuador	Spanish	Ecuavisa
Guatemala	Spanish	Disney Channel
Nicaragua	Spanish	Disney Channel
Ecuador	Spanish	Disney Channel
Bolivia	Spanish	PAT
United States	Spanish	Univision
Hungary	Hungarian	FEM3, Disney Channel Hungary		Patito Feo
Israel	Hebrew	ערוץ הילדים	פטיטו
Poland	Polish	Polsat	Brzydkie kaczątko
Czech Republic	Czech	Baltské televize	Ošklivé káčátko
Serbia	Serbian	Ultra	Ružno pače / Ружно паче (Ugly Duckling)
Montenegro	Serbian	Ultra
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Serbian	Ultra
Macedonia	Serbian	Ultra