A color display device such as an active-matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus has a first substrate having pixel electrodes arranged in the form of the matrix, switching elements associated with respective pixel electrodes and color filters aligned with the respective pixel electrodes. The first substrate is composed of a laminate structure including, superposed in the mentioned sequence, a first layer having the switching elements, a second layer having the color filters, a third layer including a planarization film which fills convexities presented by the switching elements and the color filters, and a fourth layer having the pixel electrodes aligned with the color filter. The display device also has a second substrate including a counter electrode and adjoined to the first substrate leaving a predetermined gap left therebetween. A liquid crystal is charged in the gap between the first and second substrates.