It's a Big Big World
It's a Big Big World is an American children's television show on PBS Kids, that debuted January 2, 2006, created by Mitchell Kriegman, the creator of the Muppet television series, Bear in the Big Blue House. It was originally part of Miss Lori and Hooper's schedule block, but was cancelled and replaced on January 8, 2010, though it still aired in reruns on most PBS stations until September 2010 and was released on DVD. The show revolves around a group of animals living in "The World Tree" in the rainforest along the Amazon River with the Pico da Neblina mountain background. The main character and host is Snook the sloth.
| It's a Big Big World | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Created by | Mitchell Kriegman |
| Starring | Peter Linz Melissa Creighton Tyler Bunch Julie Westwood James Godwin Tim Lagasse Aymee Garcia |
| Theme music composer | TTG Music Lab |
| Opening theme | "It's a Big Big World" performed by Peter Linz |
| Ending theme | "It's a Big Big World" (instrumental) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 47 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Mitchell Kriegman Marianne Culbert Michael Klinghoffer |
| Producer(s) | Mary James Anne Martin Richards |
| Production location(s) | Wainscott Studios, Wainscott, New York |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Big Big Productions Shadow Projects(uncredited) |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | PBS Kids |
| Original release | January 2, 2006 – January 8, 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Bear in the Big Blue House The Book of Pooh |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The series was taped at Wainscott Studios at the East Hampton Airport industrial complex in Wainscott, New York. The only studio to use Shadowmation, a technique created by Mitchell Kriegman, to bring the puppets to life by combining live action animatronic characters with computer generated animation in real time, high definition virtual environments powered by video game engines.
Character guide
- Snook – A pale-throated three-toed sloth, Snook helps his friends learn all about the 'Big Big World' around them. He's slow-moving (but smart) and often takes naps, but is always up for a scientific investigation. He also enjoys singing and dancing with all of his friends in the World Tree. In addition to interacting with the other characters, Snook regularly breaks the fourth wall, often to explain a fact or ask a question. Like Big Bird from Sesame Street or Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House, Snook is a full-bodied character, as well as the only one not requiring 3 performers.
- Burdette – Burdette the resplendent quetzal bird sometimes seems like a controlling older sister, who thinks she knows more than everyone around her. However, Burdette is sincere, and while investigating things with her friends in the World Tree, she's sometimes surprised to learn new things about herself too.
- Bob – Bob the southern tamandua loves the ants (eating them really) that live all around him in the World Tree, and he's always trying new things out to make them like him more. Bob also worries a lot about things that he thinks might happen. He also gets a little timid around Greenie because of Greenie's deep, loud voice and gruff demeanor.
- Smooch and Winslow – Smooch and Winslow are two playful sibling monkeys - common marmosets to be exact - who're always stirring things up. Smooch, the girl monkey, is always trying to figure out the mysteries of the world around her, and Winslow is the goofy creative thinker. With such different personalities, these two monkeys don't always see eye to eye, but their little disagreements frequently lead to great adventures.
- Madge – Madge is a Galápagos tortoise. Madge has a map of the world on her shell. She's the oldest and wisest creature in the World Tree, and the one everyone comes to when they have a problem to solve. She traveled all over the world and shares her experiences with everyone. Her library is the place to visit for answers to scientific questions. Madge isn't in Season 2 and is replaced by Riona the baby sloth.
- Oko – An old brown howler, Oko is a trickster who always shows up when least expected. Oko can be grouchy and mischievous, but he also shares mysterious stories and little bits of wisdom with the others. A tai chi master, he carries an old walking stick that he can twirl from his feet to his hands and back again in the blink of an eye. Oko, along with Greenie, appears less often and did not return in season 2. He has a friend named Tsetse, who sometimes gives good advice.
- Wartz – Wartz is a red-eyed tree frog. Wartz has gone through his metamorphosis, growing from a tadpole into a frog. Best friends with Smooch and Winslow, Wartz wants to get along with everyone and will agree with anyone, no matter what they're saying. He doesn't return as a main character in Season 2 but he still appears in the theme song for both seasons.
- Ick – Ick is a redtail catfish who lives in the pond under the world tree. In "The Sting," where it's revealed that Greenie is afraid of bees, Ick stirs up a little joke by making a buzzing sound, showing his naughty side. Ick has misanthropic tendencies and isn't in Season 2.
- Riona – Snook's niece, a baby sloth that first appeared in Season 2.
Puppeteers
- Peter Linz: Snook/Oko
- Melissa Creighton: Burdette
- Aymee Garcia: Smooch
- Tyler Bunch: Winslow/Riona
- James Godwin: Bob
- Tim Lagasse: Ick /Wartz/Greenie/Oko (pilot)
- Julie Westwood (voice): Madge
Additional puppetry was provided by Carol Binion, Eric Engelhardt, Jim Kroupa, Paul McGinnis, John Kennedy, Jodi Eichelberger, Heather Asch, Amanda Maddock, David Jordan, and Lara MacLean.
Many of the puppeteers come from similar shows, primarily Bear in the Big Blue House, Jellybean Jungle, and The Book of Pooh, another show involving Shadowmation, a technique that combines live-action, bunraku-style puppetry, and computer-generated animation.
Episodes
Typical episode format
Each episode begins with the opening theme song, "It's a Big Big World" that's followed by a short (10-12 minute) story involving some or all of the main characters. In season 1, this first story was followed by another song, called "Curve of the World", sung by all the characters. (In the Miss Lori and Hooper block, this song wasn't shown.) Then comes a second 10-12 minute story, which may be thematically linked to the first story but isn't usually a direct continuation of the plot. In season 2, both stories were followed by Snook singing "Tell Me 'Bout the Best Parts of your Day" to Riona, which led to a discussion about what the characters did and learned that day. At the end of all episodes, Snook sings the closing song, "Try to Touch the Sky", although this is often followed by short segments in which Snook ends an exploring or scientific activity and gives some fun facts about the various species of animals that live in the World Tree.
Season 1 (2006–2007)
| Season | Titles | Airdates[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 Episode 01: | “Not Found Here” | January 2, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 02: | "Ant Ray Vision; Moving On Up" | January 3, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 03: | "Balance; Ick Alone" | January 4, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 04: | "Burdette Queen Ant; One Monkey Too Many" | January 5, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 05: | "My Friend Will Bee Right Back; Learning to Fly" | January 11, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 06: | "Spirit; Shell" | January 12, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 07: | "Out on a Limb; The More Things Change" | January 13, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 08: | "Dancing; King of the Tree" | January 16, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 09: | "Burdette Bald Eagle; Hot Ice" | January 31, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 10: | "Color My World; Smooch's Caterpillar" | February 1, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 11: | "Mini Monkey; The Five Senses" | February 2, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 12: | "Wartz's Workout; Hot Enough for You?" | February 20, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 13: | "Windy Night; So Long Planty" | February 21, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 14: | "Hold on Rainbow; Where Have All the Berries Gone?" | February 22, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 15: | "Sappy Monkey; Growing Pains" | April 4, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 16: | "The Big Sneeze; Go to Sleep Wartz" | April 5, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 17: | "Down in the Dumps; Who Moved My Sunflower?" | April 6, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 18: | "The Itch; Everything's Going to Be Just Fine" | April 17, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 19: | "What a Wonderful Leaf; Roots Rock" | April 18, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 20: | "Making Tracks; Map It Out" | April 19, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 21: | "Hide and Seek; Take Care of Yourself" | April 20, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 22: | "World Tree Day; World Tree Cuisine" | April 21, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 23: | "The Sloth Must Be Crazy; Smarter Than You Think" | July 10, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 24: | "Fish Out of Water; Burdette's Nest" | July 11, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 25: | "Bones; Food and Plenty of It" | July 12, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 26: | "The Sting; Growing" | July 13, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 27: | "The Big Race; You Are What You Are" | September 4, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 28: | "Madge Is Missing; The Anteater Songbook" | September 5, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 29: | "Get Well Moon; Take Your Time" | September 6, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 30: | "A Bird Tale; Friendship" | September 7, 2006 |
| Season 1 Episode 31: | "Eyes and Noses; Snook's Songbook" | January 15, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 32: | "The Hatch; Sounds of the Forest" | January 16, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 33: | "Guardians of the Sappenwood Tree; Over the Hills and Far Away" | January 17, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 34: | "Oko's Birthday; Spinning a Tale" | January 18, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 35: | "Echoes; A Good Heartbeat" | January 19, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 36: | "Sleepover; The Disappearing Waterhole" | April 16, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 37: | "Flying Fish; Smooch and Winslow's Songbook" | April 17, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 38: | "Sloth Lessons; The Avocado Queen" | April 18, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 39: | "In Good Voice; Wartz's Family Tree" | April 19, 2007 |
| Season 1 Episode 40: | "Big Big Waterhole; Oko's Songbook" | April 20, 2007 |
Season 2 (2009–2010)
| Season | Titles | Airdates[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Season 2 Episode 01: | "Hanging With a Sleepy Sloth; Enough Is Enough" | October 19, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 02: | "Winslow Is It; The Fourth R" | October 20, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 03: | "Making New Friends; Little Things" | October 21, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 04: | "Things That Go Bump; What's That Smell" | October 22, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 05: | "Why Can't I Fly; Big Big Dinner Party" | October 29, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 06: | "Winslow's Gone Bananas; I Love Purple" | October 30, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 07: | "Big Book of Babies; Club Craze" | January 8, 2010 |
Broadcast
The show debuted on PBS Kids on January 2, 2006 and aired as part of the Miss Lori and Hooper block, until 2010, when it was replaced by Super Why!. It also aired on Nick Jr. in Australia.[2]
It premiered in Latin America on May 28, 2007 on Discovery Kids, but the series was shortly cancelled afterwards, due to low ratings.
DVDs
Six DVDs were released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. They're:
- The Sky Above (2007) released January 30, 2007
- Safe and Sound (2007) released May 22, 2007
- Let's Investigate the World (2007) released May 22, 2007
- The Earth Needs You (2007) released May 22, 2007
- You Can Do It (2007) released August 14, 2007
- The Big Big Sleep (2007) released August 14, 2007
Other DVDs:
- Be Healthy and Happy (2008) released March 25, 2008
- Everyone's Different (2008) released March 25, 2008
Funding
- Sony TV (2006-2007)
- Stonyfield Farm (2009)
References
- "It's a Big Big World Episodes". LocateTv. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20111013051529/http://www.nickjr.com.au/shows.php?sh=16