Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder
	Logo for the original series.
Genre	Children's animation
Created by	Keith Chapman
Directed by	Steven Feldman, Fred Holmes, Brian Mack, Liz Whitaker (Ep 1); Sarah Ball, Brian Little
Voices of	Neil Morrissey; Rob Rackstraw; Kate Harbour; Rupert Degas; Colin McFarlane; Maria Darling; Emma Tate; Stephen White; June Whitfield; Wayne Forester[1]; Greg Proops; Lee Ingleby; Joanne Froggatt; Blake Harrison; Steven Kynman
Theme music composer	Paul K. Joyce
Country of origin	United Kingdom; United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	19
No. of episodes	250 (+10 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Kate Fawkes; Theresa Plummer-Andrews; Peter Curtis
Producer(s)	Jackie Cockle
Editor(s)	Alex McNeel
Camera setup	Single camera (1998), Multi-camera (2004-2009)
Production company(s)	Hot Animation (1998-2007); HIT Entertainment; SD Entertainment (Ready, Steady, Build!)
Distributor	HIT Entertainment
Release
Original network	CBeebies (UK) ; Nick Jr. (US, 2001–2004)[2]; PBS Kids (US, 2005–2018); Channel 5 (UK, 2015–present)
Picture format	4:3 (series 1); 16:9 (series 2–present)
Original release	Original series:; 28 November 1998 – 28 September 2004; Project: Build It:; 2 May 2005 – 3 October 2009; Ready, Steady, Build!:; 5 August 2010 –; 31 December 2011
External links
	Website

Bob the Builder is a 1998-2011 children's animated television show created in Britain by Keith Chapman. In the original series, Bob appears in a stop motion animated programme as a building contractor, specialising in masonry, along with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of anthropomorphised work-vehicles and equipment. The show is broadcast in many countries, but originated from the United Kingdom where Bob was voiced by English actor Neil Morrissey. The show later used CGI animation starting with the spin-off series Ready, Steady, Build!. British proprietors of Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine sold the enterprise in 2011 to US toy-maker Mattel for $680 million.[3]

In each episode, Bob and his group help with renovations, construction, and repairs and with other projects as needed. The show emphasises conflict resolution, co-operation, socialisation and various learning skills. Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it?", to which the other characters respond with "Yes we can!" This phrase is also the title of the show's theme song, which was a million-selling number one hit in the UK.

In October 2014, Bob the Builder was revamped by Mattel for a new series to be aired on Channel 5's Milkshake! in 2015. Amongst the changes were a complete overhaul of the cast, with Harry Potter actor Lee Ingleby replacing Neil Morrissey as the voice of Bob, and Joanne Froggatt and Blake Harrison were also confirmed as the voices of Wendy and Scoop respectively. The setting and appearance of the characters also changed, with Bob and his team moving to the bustling metropolis of Spring City. An American localisation of the new series debuted on PBS Kids in November 2015. The changes have been criticized by fans of the original version.[4][5]

Characters

Bob the Builder, the titular character, in his design used for the original series.

Merchandise

Various companies manufacture licensed Bob the Builder merchandise (e.g.: Brio, Lego Duplo, Hasbro, Learning Curve, etc.) since about 1999 to present. Sometimes some fans make fan-made merchandise for the television show, such as racing games that are not related to the show.

Lego Duplo/Explorer

Lego began manufacturing licensed Duplo Bob the Builder sets in 2001. Lego Explorer also made the sets using the same bricks that Duplo used (e.g. Naughty Spud, Wallpaper Wendy, etc.). The sets were aimed at younger children, two and up. Duplo manufactured the sets (e.g. Scoop at Bobland Bay, Muck Can Do It, etc.) until 2009 when Lego's contract expired.

Hasbro

Hasbro created licensed Bob the Builder characters. They included talking characters and others to go with the Bob the Builder line. The Hasbro line was discontinued in 2005 when Learning Curve took over.

Learning Curve

Learning Curve among countless others held a license to make the toys, but discontinued them. They first merchandised their Bob the Builder products in 2005 after the Hasbro range was discontinued. Learning Curve also created the Thomas & Friends characters, while the company still makes the sets (e.g. Scoop, Muck, Lofty, Dizzy, andys trailer etc.) and then sold them to stores. They discontinued them in 2010 and it is unknown if they could ever return to making them. The toys are currently available in the United Kingdom by Character Options.

Character World

In 2012, Character World announced that they had signed a license to manufacture official Bob the Builder bedding and bedroom textiles. A duvet cover is said to be available in the UK in late 2012.

Video games

Various companies released Bob the Builder games.

Fix it Fun! (Game Boy Color, NTSC/PAL) - 2000
Can We Fix It? (PC, PS1, NTSC/PAL) - 2001
Bob Builds a Park (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2002
Bob's Castle Adventure (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2003
Project: Build It (PS2, PAL only) - 2005
Bob the Builder: Can-Do-Zoo (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2008
Festival of Fun! (PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS, PAL only) - 2009

In the United States, Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?'s computer version sold 350,000 copies and earned $6.1 million by August 2006, after its release in August 2001. It was the country's 50th best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all Bob the Builder computer games released between January 2000 and August 2006 had reached 520,000 units in the United States by the latter date.[6]

Kiddie rides

Bob the Builder video-optioned Scoop kiddie ride

Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Ltd. released two kiddie rides based on the series, a Scoop in January 2000, and a Roley in March 2003. In March 2003, Scoop was re-released with a new dashboard and a Stamar soundboard. Then, in 2004, versions of both rides were released with video screens.

Impact

Bob the Builder was nominated in the BAFTA "Pre-school animation" category from 1999 to 2009, and won the "Children's Animation" category in 2003 for the special episode "A Christmas to Remember".[7] Of the show's success, Sarah Ball said:

I think diggers and dumpers fascinate kids in the same way that they are drawn to dinosaurs. They both have a timeless appeal. The technique of stop motion is very tangible - the characters look like you can just pick them up and play with them. It’s a safe, lovely, bright, colourful world, which is very appealing. Curtis Jobling did a fantastic job designing the show - it’s very simple and stylized but has such charm.

— Interview with Sarah Ball, Gurgle.com[8]

Bob the Builder has been parodied by Robot Chicken in the episode "More Blood, More Chocolate", and by Comedy Inc. as Bodgy Builder.

Bob has also been parodied on Cartoon Network's MAD on several occasions. In the episode "S'UP / Mouse M.D.", Bob is seen with a smashed thumb and asks "Can we fix it?" In another episode, Bob encounters the title character of Handy Manny, whom he tells to "Stop copying my show!"

A New Yorker cartoon shows a parent in a toy store asking for toys depicting Alex the Architect, supposedly a white-collar equivalent to Bob the Builder.

Some have complained about technical errors and lack of proper safety practices in the programme, especially the absence of protective eyewear.[9] However, in later episodes, Bob is seen using safety glasses.

Project Build It

In May 2005, a sort of spin-off series was released titled Bob the Builder: Project Build It. Bob hears of a contest to build a new community in a remote area called Sunflower Valley, outside of Bobsville. He moves from Bobsville (supposedly temporarily) with Wendy and the machines and builds a new Yard there. Bob convinces his father, Robert, to come out of retirement and take over the Bobsville building business. It is unknown whether Bob returned to Bobsville in the stop-motion series or not after this spin-off series was finished.

For the US version of the Project Build It series, different actors were found to do the voices for many of the human characters, including casting Greg Proops as the new voice of Bob, and Rob Rackstraw, who played the original Scoop, to be the voices of Spud the Scarecrow and Mr. Bentley for both the UK and the US. The show also added recycling and being environmentally friendly to its lessons, emphasising the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle."

This series premiered on September 3, 2005 in the United States.

Ready, Steady, Build!

The third spin-off was titled Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build! It was created by Keith Chapman and Mallory Lewis. The group, now joined by newcomer Scratch are now residing in the town of Fixham Harbour (which is very similar to Bobsville, and is even implied to be Bobsville in several episodes), deal with construction and other building tasks around the area. Unlike previous series, Ready, Steady, Build! is animated in full CGI animation, which allows for larger and more elaborate construction projects that would be too large or expensive for the model sets of the stop-motion series, though it still retains the theme song.[10]

Voice actors

Voice actors who have contributed to the original British version include Neil Morrissey, Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Rupert Degas, Colin McFarlane, Maria Darling, Emma Tate, Richard Briers, June Whitfield and Wayne Forester.

Celebrities who have provided voices for the series (usually for one-off specials) include John Motson, Sue Barker, Kerry Fox, Ulrika Jonsson, Alison Steadman, Stephen Tompkinson, Elton John, Noddy Holder, and Chris Evans (Bobsville's resident rock star Lennie Lazenby).

International broadcasts

Bob the Builder is shown in more than thirty countries, and versions are available in English, French, Spanish, Slovenian, German, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi and Croatian, among other languages. It was shown on CBeebies on BBC television in the UK.

The North American version of the show uses the original British footage and script, but dubs the voices in American accents and slang; for example, the word "soccer" is used instead of "football" to avoid confusion with the gridiron forms of the game. The original North American voice of Bob (and Farmer Pickles/Mr. Beasley/Mr. Sabatini) was William Dufris, however, he was replaced with comedian Greg Proops. More recently, Bob's US voice has been provided by Marc Silk, an English voice actor from Birmingham.[11][12]

When being exported to Japan, it was reported that characters of Bob the Builder would be doctored to have five fingers instead of the original four. This was because of a practice among the Yakuza, the famed Japanese mafia, where members would "cut off their little fingers as a sign they can be trusted and have strength of character, and will stay through."[13] In fact, Bob the Builder aired in Japan without such edits,[14] as did other series including Postman Pat and The Simpsons.

Videos

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions				Certifications (sales threshold)
Title	Album details	AUS [15]	IRE [16]	NZ [17]	UK [18]	Certifications (sales threshold)
Bob the Builder: The Album	Release date: 3 October 2001 Label: BBC Records Formats: CD	1	59	32	4	AUS: 2× Platinum[19] UK: Gold[20]
Never Mind the Breeze Blocks	Release date: 8 December 2008 Label: Universal Music Group Formats: CD, music download	—	—	—	87
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions			Certifications (sales threshold)	Album
Year	Single	AUS [21]	IRE [16]	UK [18]	Certifications (sales threshold)	Album
2000	"Can We Fix It?"	1	3	1	AUS: 2× Platinum[22] UK: Gold[20]	Bob the Builder: The Album
2001	"Mambo No. 5"	2	4	1	AUS: Platinum[22] UK: Gold[20]	Bob the Builder: The Album
2008	"Big Fish Little Fish"	—	—	81		Never Mind the Breeze Blocks
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

gollark: Wasn't that one kind of terrible? Tiny sample size and an actively involved experimenter?

gollark: Milgram obedience experiments?

gollark: So just use 6 important people.

gollark: If you have differences you're testing two things at once, people's importance rankings *and* general deontological/utilitarianism leaning.

gollark: The 5 people and 1 person are the same apart from position generally.

References

"Bob the Builder – Cast and Crew". TV.com. 28 November 1998. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
"Nick Jr. Parents--Play to Learn with Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Little Bill and More!". Archived from the original on 20 December 2004.
BBC Radio Four commentary by Gerald Scarfe 8 March 2013; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01r12ln .
"Why some people are very angry about the new Bob the Builder". The Independent. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
"Bob The Builder's Makeover Angers Fans". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
Edge Staff (25 August 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century". Edge. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012.
"Awards Database". Retrieved 27 November 2010.
"Interview with Sarah Ball, Bob the builder & Chuggington writer and director". Gurgle.com. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
"FLUID POWER SAFETY INSTITUTE - Toy Safety - ATTENTION PARENTS! - Bob the Builder Alert!". Archived from the original on 5 November 2002.Archived from the original on 11 October 2009.
"Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
"Silk TV". Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
"Marc Silk". Retrieved 7 April 2010.
"Bob the Builder fixed for Japan". BBC News. 20 April 2000. Retrieved 11 August 2006.
"2009 June 10 Japanese TV Ads Children Program Thomas & Friends and Bob The Builder". YouTube. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
"australian-charts.com: Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"irishcharts - Discography Bob the Builder". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"BPI search results". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
"ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Singles". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

External links

Bob the Builder at BBC Programmes

Channels

Others

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[1] "Bob the Builder – Cast and Crew". TV.com. 28 November 1998. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2012.

[2] "Nick Jr. Parents--Play to Learn with Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Little Bill and More!". Archived from the original on 20 December 2004.

[3] BBC Radio Four commentary by Gerald Scarfe 8 March 2013; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01r12ln .

[4] "Why some people are very angry about the new Bob the Builder". The Independent. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.

[5] "Bob The Builder's Makeover Angers Fans". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 19 November 2015.

[edgesales-6] Edge Staff (25 August 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century". Edge. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012.

[7] "Awards Database". Retrieved 27 November 2010.

[gurgle-8] "Interview with Sarah Ball, Bob the builder & Chuggington writer and director". Gurgle.com. Retrieved 27 November 2010.

[9] "FLUID POWER SAFETY INSTITUTE - Toy Safety - ATTENTION PARENTS! - Bob the Builder Alert!". Archived from the original on 5 November 2002.Archived from the original on 11 October 2009.

[RSB-10] "Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2010.

[SilkTV-11] "Silk TV". Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.

[MarcSilk-12] "Marc Silk". Retrieved 7 April 2010.

[13] "Bob the Builder fixed for Japan". BBC News. 20 April 2000. Retrieved 11 August 2006.

[14] "2009 June 10 Japanese TV Ads Children Program Thomas & Friends and Bob The Builder". YouTube. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.

[15] "australian-charts.com: Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[IRE-16] "irishcharts - Discography Bob the Builder". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[17] "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[UK-18] "Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[19] "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[BPI-20] "BPI search results". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[21] "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

[AUS-22] "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Singles". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2011.

Best-selling singles by year in the United Kingdom
1952–1969	1952: "Here in My Heart" – Al Martino 1953: "I Believe" – Frankie Laine 1954: "Secret Love" – Doris Day 1955: "Rose Marie" – Slim Whitman 1956: "I'll Be Home" – Pat Boone 1957: "Diana" – Paul Anka 1958: "Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley 1959: "Living Doll" – Cliff Richard (UK) 1960: "It's Now or Never" – Elvis Presley 1961: "Wooden Heart" – Elvis Presley 1962: "I Remember You" – Frank Ifield (UK) 1963: "She Loves You" – The Beatles (UK) 1964: "Can't Buy Me Love" – The Beatles (UK) 1965: "Tears" – Ken Dodd (UK) 1966: "Green, Green Grass of Home" – Tom Jones (UK) 1967: "Release Me" – Engelbert Humperdinck (UK) 1968: "Hey Jude" – The Beatles (UK) 1969: "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies
1970–1989	1970: "The Wonder of You" – Elvis Presley 1971: "My Sweet Lord" – George Harrison (UK) 1972: "Amazing Grace" – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (UK) 1973: "I Love You Love Me Love" – Gary Glitter (UK) 1974: "Tiger Feet" – Mud (UK) 1975: "Bye Bye Baby" – Bay City Rollers (UK) 1976: "Save Your Kisses for Me" – Brotherhood of Man (UK) 1977: "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" – Wings (UK) 1978: "Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" – Boney M. 1979: "Bright Eyes" – Art Garfunkel 1980: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – The Police (UK) 1981: "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (UK) 1982: "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (UK) 1983: "Karma Chameleon" – Culture Club (UK) 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid (UK) 1985: "The Power of Love" – Jennifer Rush 1986: "Don't Leave Me This Way" – The Communards (UK) 1987: "Never Gonna Give You Up" – Rick Astley (UK) 1988: "Mistletoe and Wine" – Cliff Richard (UK) 1989: "Ride on Time" – Black Box
1990–2009	1990: "Unchained Melody" – The Righteous Brothers 1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" – Bryan Adams 1992: "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston 1993: "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" – Meat Loaf 1994: "Love Is All Around" – Wet Wet Wet (UK) 1995: "Unchained Melody" – Robson & Jerome (UK) 1996: "Killing Me Softly" – Fugees 1997: "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (UK) 1998: "Believe" – Cher 1999: "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears 2000: "Can We Fix It?" – Bob the Builder (UK) 2001: "It Wasn't Me" – Shaggy featuring Rikrok (UK) 2002: "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" – Will Young (UK) 2003: "Where Is the Love?" – The Black Eyed Peas 2004: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid 20 (UK) 2005: "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay (UK) 2006: "Crazy" – Gnarls Barkley 2007: "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis (UK) 2008: "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (UK) 2009: "Poker Face" – Lady Gaga
2010–present	2010: "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem featuring Rihanna 2011: "Someone like You" – Adele (UK) 2012: "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra 2013: "Blurred Lines" – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 2014: "Happy" – Pharrell Williams 2015: "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson (UK) featuring Bruno Mars 2016: "One Dance" – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (UK) 2017: "Shape of You" - Ed Sheeran (UK) 2018: "One Kiss" - Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa (UK) 2019: "Someone You Loved" - Lewis Capaldi (UK)

Children's programming on CBS in the 2000s
First-run animated series	Dora the Explorer (2000–2006) Little Bill (2000–2006) Little Bear (2000–2001) Franklin (1998–1999; 2000–2002) Kipper (2000–2001) Maisy (2000–2001) Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (2000–2001) Oswald (2001–2002) Bob the Builder (2001–2002) Hey Arnold! (2002–2004) The Wild Thornberrys (2002–2004) As Told by Ginger (2002–2003) Pelswick (2002–2003) Rugrats (2003) ChalkZone (2003–2004) All Grown Up! (2004) The Backyardigans (2004–2006) Go, Diego, Go! (2006) Horseland (2006–2008; 2011) Sushi Pack (2007–2009) Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot (2007–2009) DinoSquad (2007–2008) Busytown Mysteries (2009–2013)
First-run live-action series	Blue's Clues (2000–2006) The Brothers García (2004) LazyTown (2004–2006) Cake (2006) Dance Revolution (2006–2007)
Rebroadcasts	Madeline (2006–2007) Sabrina's Secret Life (2006–2008; 2010–2011) Strawberry Shortcake (2007–2009) Noonbory and the Super Seven (2009) Sabrina: The Animated Series (2009–2011)