It's a Big Big World
It's a Big Big World is an American children's television series that aired on PBS Kids from January 2, 2006, to January 8, 2010. The series was created by Mitchell Kriegman, the creator of the Muppet television series, Bear in the Big Blue House. After the series ended, reruns continued to air until April 30, 2010. The show revolves around a group of animals living in "The World Tree" in the rainforest along the Amazon River with the brazilian highest mountain Pico da Neblina as the mountain background. The main character and host is Snook the sloth.
| It's a Big Big World | |
|---|---|
Title card | |
| Created by | Mitchell Kriegman |
| Starring |
|
| Opening theme | "It's a Big Big World" performed by Peter Linz |
| Ending theme | "It's a Big Big World" (instrumental) |
| Composer | TTG Music Lab |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 47 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Mitchell Kriegman Marianne Culbert Michael Klinghoffer |
| Producers | Mary James Anne Martin Richards |
| Production locations | Wainscott Studios, Wainscott, New York |
| Running time | 27 minutes |
| Production companies | Big Big Productions Sony Pictures Television Shadow Projects (uncredited) |
| Original release | |
| Network | PBS Kids |
| Release | January 2, 2006 – January 8, 2010 |
| Related | |
| Bear in the Big Blue House The Book of Pooh | |
The series was taped at Wainscott Studios (now the LTV (Local TV, Inc.) studios) at the East Hampton Airport industrial complex in Wainscott, New York. Wainscott Studios is 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.
Characters edit
- Snook (performed by Peter Linz) is a pale-throated three-toed sloth who serves as the host of the show. He lives in the World Tree and loves nothing more than to help 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 one of the only two not requiring 3 performers, the other being Madge.
- Burdette (performed by Melissa Creighton) is a crested quetzal bird who 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 (performed by James Godwin) is a southern tamandua who loves studying the ants 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.
- Smooch (performed by Aymee Garcia) and Winslow (performed by Tyler Bunch) 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 (the boy monkey) 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 (performed by Julie Westwood) is an old yellow-footed 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. Like Snook, Madge is a full-bodied character. Madge disappears in Season 2. However, in one Season 2 episode, Snook mentions her name (which is in one of the final two episodes; in Big Book of Babies).
- Oko (performed by Peter Linz) is an old brown howler and 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. He has a friend named Tsetse, who sometimes gives good advice. Oko disappears in Season 2.
- Wartz (performed by Tim Lagasse) is a red-eyed tree frog. Wartz has gone through his metamorphosis, growing from a tadpole into a frog in the very first episode. 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 was written off from the show in Season 2, but he can still be seen in the theme song. He provides all of the comic relief moments in the series until Riona replaces him for that.
- Ick (performed by Tim Lagasse) is a redtail catfish who lives in the pond under the world tree. He has misanthropic tendencies, as shown through his love of playing pranks on whoever he comes across. Although Ick disappears in Season 2, his pond still remains in the theme song and in some Season 2 episodes.
- Riona (performed by Tyler Bunch) is Snook's niece who is a baby sloth that serves as the co-host of Season 2 and provides all of the comic relief moments in that season (replacing Wartz).
Puppeteers edit
- Peter Linz as Snook/Oko
- Melissa Creighton as Burdette
- Aymee Garcia as Smooch
- Tyler Bunch as Winslow/Riona
- James Godwin as Bob
- Tim Lagasse as Ick/Wartz
- Julie Westwood as Madge
Additional puppetry was provided by Patrick Holmes, Carol Binion, Frankie Cordiro, 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 edit
Series overview edit
Typical episode format edit
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) edit
| 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: | "Big Big Waterhole; Oko's Songbook" | 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: | "Sleepover; The Disappearing Waterhole" | April 20, 2007 |
Season 2 (2009–2010) edit
| Season | Titles | Airdates[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Season 2 Episode 01: | "Hanging With a Sleepy Sloth; Enough Is Enough" | November 16, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 02: | "Winslow Is It; The Fourth R" | November 17, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 03: | "Making New Friends; Little Things" | November 18, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 04: | "Things That Go Bump; What's That Smell" | November 19, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 05: | "Why Can't I Fly; Big Big Dinner Party" | December 29, 2009 |
| Season 2 Episode 06: | "Winslow's Gone Bananas; I Love Purple" | January 1, 2010 |
| Season 2 Episode 07: | "Big Book of Babies; Club Craze" (series finale) | January 8, 2010 |
Broadcast edit
In the United States of America, the show aired on PBS Kids from January 2, 2006 to April 30, 2010, and aired as part of the preschool block from September 4, 2006 to August 31, 2007.
The show internationally aired on Nick Jr. in Australia, and Nick Jr 2 in United Kingdom.[2]
Home media edit
DVD edit
Six DVDs were released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
- The Sky Above (January 30, 2007)
- Investigate the World (January 30, 2007)
- Safe and Sound (May 22, 2007)
- The Earth Needs You (May 22, 2007)
- You Can Do It (August 14, 2007)
- The Big Big Sleep (August 14, 2007)
Other DVDs:
- Be Healthy and Happy (March 25, 2008)
- Everyone's Different (March 25, 2008)
Streaming edit
Episodes of the show are currently available on YouTube since July 27, 2015. The show was added to Amazon Prime Video on August 12, 2022 after PBS Kids acquired the streaming rights on July 27, 2022, officially marking the program's return to PBS Kids in any platform after 12 years.
References edit
External links edit
- at the Wayback Machine
- Website
- It's a Big Big World on IMDb