Barbapapà sprouted like a plant from a garden. His name, meaning cotton candy in French ("barbe à papa"), perfectly suits his fluffy pink texture and form. As a Barbapapa, he possesses a large, blob-like body with a distinct head and arms, lacking legs in his standard shape. His core power is voluntary shapeshifting, morphing into any object or creature while always staying pink and keeping his facial features. This transformation is usually announced by the phrase "Clickety click, Barba-trick!", though some adaptations use variations like "All change!".

Gentle and helpful by nature, Barbapapà uses his abilities to aid humans, animals, and his family, solving conflicts and environmental problems. After journeying the world seeking companionship, he met Barbamama, a black female of his species. They became partners and produced seven children through eggs laid in the ground. Each child is a distinct color with a unique personality and interest: Barbabravo (red, athletic), Barbalib (orange, intellectual), Barbazoo (yellow, nature-loving), Barbabeau (black and furry, artistic), Barbalala (green, musical), Barbabelle (purple, fashion-oriented), and Barbabright (blue, scientific).

In "Barbapapà Around the World," the family travels globally with their dalmatian dog, Lolita. Barbapapà continues his role as protector and problem-solver, frequently intervening to help animals and address ecological issues. The series highlights environmental themes, consistent with his advocacy across all media, and emphasizes family cohesion as he supports his children's diverse pursuits through cultural and geographical adventures.

Barbapapà's design and core traits – his pink color, pear-shaped body, and gentle giant persona – remain consistent across books, animated series, and spin-offs. Later adaptations, including the 2019 reboot "Barbapapa: One Big Happy Family!", retain these fundamentals while slightly adjusting episodic structures and transformation phrases, such as updating the incantation to "Click clack click, Barbatrick!".