Changes: Sally Cruikshank

Revision as of 00:03, 24 February 2007

Sally Cruikshank began her career as an independent animator while a college student in the 1970s. In 1975, while working in San Francisco for Snazelle Films, she wrote, designed, directed, and animated (with only minimal assistance) Quasi at the Quackadero, a surreal short featuring art deco-ish, vibrantly colored, indistinct characters, reminiscent equally of birds and frogs. The short, which was later chosen for inclusion in the 1994 book The 50 Greatest Cartoons, led to other projects, including animating a nightmare television sequence for Twilight Zone: The Movie (partially directed by John Landis).

Between 1989 and 1997, she lent her "neo-thirties" style to a number of Sesame Street animated inserts, mostly dealing with directional concepts such as "in and out" or "next to" (the latter presented as a satirical look at a bizarre social gathering). Many of these use jazz lyrics and 30s style swing. She also created an animated frog to join Kermit for Jimmy Buffett's performance of "Caribbean Amphibian" in Elmopalooza.

In a 1997 interview, Cruikshank discussed her relationship with Children's Television Workshop: "[They] sent three songs and that is how it started... [I] didn't use the curriculum, I've had a really easy time [essentially] just adapting songs. Arlene Sherman [CTW producer] has been tuned into my musical interest, so she has chosen appropriate music. I've really liked working with them because they give you complete freedom and they're very supportive and non-interfering. I wish there were more work like that available."

Sesame Street Filmography

Above It All: A parody of the Late Laura Branigan's "Gloria". A song about flying and seeing the world from a bird's eye view. (EKA: Episode 2615)

Beginning, Middle and End: Vaguely bird-like creatures use a picture book to explain beginning, middle, and end.

Counting Skits

Dance Myself to Sleep: A song previously used in a Bert and Ernie segment, featuring an insomniatic lion. (EKA: Episode 3978)

From Your Head: A frog explains about using the imagination; vocals by jazz singer Betty Carter. (EKA: Episode 3979)

In and Out Crowd: A hip group sing about hanging out with the in crowd, and the out crowd, not as a study in social cliques, but to demonstrate the prepositions.

I'm Curious: A character's curiosity takes him variously underground, underneath, behind, and underwater. (EKA: Episode 3187)

Island of Emotion: A reggae song about an island where happiness, sadness, love, and surprise manifest themselves in various ways. (EKA: Episode 3980)

Ooh What a Fabulous Party: A party; gathering dignitaries and celebrities from many lands and even planets, and including such figures as "the bowling pin heiress," features a seemingly endless guest list, placed "next to" each other.

Part of the Whole

Your Feets Too Big: Song from Ain't Misbehavin, previously performed on The Muppet Show, here sung by a shoe salesman voiced by Kevin Clash.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Sesame Street Filmography==
+*'''Above It All''':  A parody of the Late Laura Branigan's "Gloria". A song about flying and seeing the world from a bird's eye view. {{eka|2615}}
-*'''[[From Your Head]]'''- A frog explains about using the imagination; vocals by jazz singer Betty Carter
+*'''Beginning, Middle and End''':  Vaguely bird-like creatures use a picture book to explain beginning, middle, and end.
-*'''[[Your Feets Too Big]]'''- song from ''Ain't Misbehavin'', previously performed on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', here sung by a shoe salesman voiced by [[Kevin Clash]]
+*'''Counting Skits'''
-*'''Beginning, Middle and End'''- Vaguely bird-like creatures use a picture book to explain beginning, middle, and end.
+*'''[[Dance Myself to Sleep]]:'''  A song previously used in a Bert and Ernie segment, featuring an insomniatic lion. {{eka|3978}}
-*'''Oh What a Fabulous Party'''- A party, gathering dignitaries and celebrities from many lands and even planets, and including such figures as "the bowling pin heiress," features a seemingly endless guest list, placed "next to" each other.
+*'''[[From Your Head]]''':  A frog explains about using the imagination; vocals by jazz singer Betty Carter. {{eka|3979}}
-*'''In and Out Crowd'''-- A hip group sing about hanging out with the in crowd, and the out crowd, not as a study in social cliques, but to demonstrate the prepositions.
+*'''In and Out Crowd''':  A hip group sing about hanging out with the in crowd, and the out crowd, not as a study in social cliques, but to demonstrate the prepositions.
-*'''Island of Emotion'''
+*'''I'm Curious''':  A character's curiosity takes him variously underground, underneath, behind, and underwater. {{eka|3187}}
-*'''Part of the Whole'''
+*'''Island of Emotion''':  A reggae song about an island where happiness, sadness, love, and surprise manifest themselves in various ways. {{eka|3980}}
-*'''I'm Curious'''
+*'''Ooh What a Fabulous Party''':  A party; gathering dignitaries and celebrities from many lands and even planets, and including such figures as "the bowling pin heiress," features a seemingly endless guest list, placed "next to" each other.
-*'''Above It All'''-A parody of the Late Laura Branigan's "Gloria". A song about flying and seeing the world from a bird's eye view.
-*'''Dance Yourself to Sleep'''
+*'''Part of the Whole'''
+*'''[[Your Feets Too Big]]''':  Song from ''Ain't Misbehavin'', previously performed on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', here sung by a shoe salesman voiced by [[Kevin Clash]].
-*'''Counting Skits'''
 ==External Links==