'''Little Bird''' first appeared on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' in [[Season 1 (1969-1970)|Season 1]], and was often used as a foil to [[Big Bird]], due to their contrasting sizes. Little Bird was a refurbished version of the Muppetised [[Kenner Gooney Bird]], created by [[Jim Henson]] for ''Easy Bake Oven'' commercials in 1968.
'''Little Bird''' first appeared on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' in [[Season 1 (1969-1970)|Season 1]], and was often used as a foil to [[Big Bird]], due to their contrasting sizes. Little Bird was a refurbished version of the Muppetised [[Kenner Gooney Bird]], created by [[Jim Henson]] for ''Easy Bake Oven'' commercials in 1968.
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Even though Little Bird is primarily performed by a female puppeteer, the character is male. The song "Mr. Big Bird, Mr. Little Bird" appears on the ''[[Grin & Giggle with Big Bird]]'' LP. The 1973 [[Character Style Guide]] from [[Sesame Workshop|CTW]] also describes him as a "he." In episode 59 of ''[[The MuppetCast]]'', Fran Brill confirmed in an e-mail that she always thought of Little Bird as a male.
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Even though Little Bird is primarily [[Characters Performed by Their Opposite Gender|performed by a female puppeteer]], the character is male. The song "Mr. Big Bird, Mr. Little Bird" appears on the ''[[Grin & Giggle with Big Bird]]'' LP. The 1973 [[Character Style Guide]] from [[Sesame Workshop|CTW]] also describes him as a "he." In episode 59 of ''[[The MuppetCast]]'', Fran Brill confirmed in an e-mail that she always thought of Little Bird as a male.
Although Little Bird appeared on ''SesameStreet''mostoften during the 1970s,thecharacter continued toappearfrequently in books throughoutthe1980sand1990s. He made a cameo in "[[WonderfulYucky]]", singingabouthislunch, the contents of which are wonderful to him but yucky to a passer-by. LittleBird also made a few cameo appearances during the 1980s and 1990s. On-screen appearances include a brief fly-by in the song "[[Do-Op Hop]]," at [[Birdland]] in "[[The Birdland Jump]]," and contributed a line to "[[We Are All Earthlings (song)|We Are All Earthlings]]." Little Bird's most recent US puppet appearance was in a 1999 ''Sesame Street'' group shot photo (pictured). Little Bird also appears as one of the animatronic figures in the ride ''[[Spaghetti Space Chase]]'' at [[Universal Studios Singapore]].
Henson, who originated the Bird in the Kenner commercials, performed Little Bird in at least two sketches from the first season: a sketch from [[Episode 0028]] in which he meets Big Bird, and the game show "[[Pick Your Pet]]." Although Little Bird was used sporadically on the show, he proved effective with test audiences: {{quote|Although he did not appear often, children were really attentive to Little Bird. They participated fully during his "Imagination Game". Perhaps he could play a greater role on the street.<ref>[[Talk: University of Maryland|The Response of Children in Six Small Viewing Groups]] page 4</ref>}}
Henson, who originated the Bird in the Kenner commercials, performed Little Bird in at least two sketches from the first season: a sketch from [[Episode 0028]] in which he meets Big Bird, and the game show "[[Pick Your Pet]]." Although Little Bird was used sporadically on the show, he proved effective with test audiences: {{quote|Although he did not appear often, children were really attentive to Little Bird. They participated fully during his "Imagination Game". Perhaps he could play a greater role on the street.<ref>[[Talk: University of Maryland|The Response of Children in Six Small Viewing Groups]] page 4</ref>}}
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Little Bird has also appeared in a sketch where a [[Cows|cow]] named [[Lola (cow)|Lola]] tries to find a home and encounters an unsuccessful attempt to live in Little Bird's nest. In that sketch, Little Bird is performed by [[Jerry Nelson]].
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In addition to the sketches listed [[Little Bird#sketches|below]], Little Bird was featured in "[[Wonderful/Yucchy]]", singing about his lunch, the contents of which are wonderful to him but yucky to a passer-by. He also appeared in a sketch where a [[Cows|cow]] named [[Lola (cow)|Lola]] tries to find a home and encounters an unsuccessful attempt to live in Little Bird's nest. In that sketch, Little Bird is performed by [[Jerry Nelson]].
Little Bird was used rarely on the show itself as the 1970s ended (although he continued as a frequent character in books, most often flying or perched in the background, as recently as 2010). However, he made a few cameo appearances on the show during the 1980s and 1990s. On-screen appearances include a brief fly-by in the song "[[Do-Op Hop]]," at [[Birdland]] in "[[The Birdland Jump]]," and a line in "[[We Are All Earthlings (song)|We Are All Earthlings]]." Little Bird's most recent US puppet appearance was in a 1999 ''Sesame Street'' group shot photo (pictured). Little Bird also appears as one of the animatronic figures in the ride ''[[Spaghetti Space Chase]]'' at [[Universal Studios Singapore]].
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Marionette versions of Little Bird have been used often for flying scenes such as in the "[[Number Song Series|Song of One]]," "[[I Whistle a Happy Tune]]," and "[[Do-Op Hop]]".
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Marionette versions of Little Bird have been used often for flying scenes such as in the "[[Number Song Series|Song of One]]," "[[I Whistle a Happy Tune]]," and "Do-Op Hop".
Little Bird's birthday is marked in [[:Category:Sesame Street Calendars|Sesame Street Calendars]] as December 17th.
Little Bird's birthday is marked in [[:Category:Sesame Street Calendars|Sesame Street Calendars]] as December 17th.
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*''[[The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites]]'' (1981)
*''[[The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites]]'' (1981)
*''[[Big and Little Stories]]'' (1982)
*''[[Big and Little Stories]]'' (1982)
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* ''[[Who's Who on Sesame Street|More Who's Who on Sesame Street]]'' (1982)
*''[[The Sesame Street Question and Answer Book About Animals]]'' (1983)
*''[[The Sesame Street Question and Answer Book About Animals]]'' (1983)
*''[[Early Bird on Sesame Street]]'' (1983)
*''[[Early Bird on Sesame Street]]'' (1983)
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*''[[Sesame Street 123]]'' (1991)
*''[[Sesame Street 123]]'' (1991)
*''[[Sleep Tight!]]'' (1991)
*''[[Sleep Tight!]]'' (1991)
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*''[[My Name Is Big Bird]]'' (1992)
*''[[We're Different, We're the Same]]'' (1992)
*''[[We're Different, We're the Same]]'' (1992)
*''[[From Trash to Treasure]]'' (1993)
*''[[From Trash to Treasure]]'' (1993)
Revision as of 03:21, 3 May 2014
Template:Performer
Little Bird and his fellow neighbors in 1999.
Little Bird first appeared on Sesame Street in Season 1, and was often used as a foil to Big Bird, due to their contrasting sizes. Little Bird was a refurbished version of the Muppetised Kenner Gooney Bird, created by Jim Henson for Easy Bake Oven commercials in 1968.
Even though Little Bird is primarily performed by a female puppeteer, the character is male. The song "Mr. Big Bird, Mr. Little Bird" appears on the Grin & Giggle with Big Bird LP. The 1973 Character Style Guide from CTW also describes him as a "he." In episode 59 of The MuppetCast, Fran Brill confirmed in an e-mail that she always thought of Little Bird as a male.
Henson, who originated the Bird in the Kenner commercials, performed Little Bird in at least two sketches from the first season: a sketch from Episode 0028 in which he meets Big Bird, and the game show "Pick Your Pet." Although Little Bird was used sporadically on the show, he proved effective with test audiences:
“Although he did not appear often, children were really attentive to Little Bird. They participated fully during his "Imagination Game". Perhaps he could play a greater role on the street.[1]”
In addition to the sketches listed below, Little Bird was featured in "Wonderful/Yucchy", singing about his lunch, the contents of which are wonderful to him but yucky to a passer-by. He also appeared in a sketch where a cow named Lola tries to find a home and encounters an unsuccessful attempt to live in Little Bird's nest. In that sketch, Little Bird is performed by Jerry Nelson.
Little Bird was used rarely on the show itself as the 1970s ended (although he continued as a frequent character in books, most often flying or perched in the background, as recently as 2010). However, he made a few cameo appearances on the show during the 1980s and 1990s. On-screen appearances include a brief fly-by in the song "Do-Op Hop," at Birdland in "The Birdland Jump," and a line in "We Are All Earthlings." Little Bird's most recent US puppet appearance was in a 1999 Sesame Street group shot photo (pictured). Little Bird also appears as one of the animatronic figures in the ride Spaghetti Space Chase at Universal Studios Singapore.
Marionette versions of Little Bird have been used often for flying scenes such as in the "Song of One," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," and "Do-Op Hop".
Big Bird sees Little Bird and wonders what kind of animal he is. He tries to communicate with Little Bird by barking, meowing, and mooing, until he finally asks what Little Bird is. After Little Bird tells Big Bird that he's a bird, Big Bird doesn't believe him, thinking that birds are big, so Little Bird compares their similarities until he convinces Big Bird that he is a bird.
Little Bird plays an imagination game with the audience. He closes his eyes, and imagines things. He ends the game by imagining a monster behind him, and when he opens his eyes, Herry Monster appears behind him.
A casa is drawn for Little Bird, who replies "Casa".
International appearances
On Sesamstrasse, his name is Klein Bibo, "klein" being German for "little", and "Bibo" referring to the translated name for Big Bird.
In Sesame Street books that are translated to Dutch, his name is Pinorino, referring to Pino from Sesamstraat.
Between 2003 and 2005 the puppet was used on Sesamstrasse for an unnamed bird and Turbo Theo in episodes 2214 and 2222, respectively. The puppet was also used as a cuckoo bird, that Finchen helped to find a new sound.
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