It's a Big Big World facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 (2006-01-02) – January 8, 2010 (2010-01-08)
Chronology
Related shows	Bear in the Big Blue House The Book of Pooh

It's a Big Big World is an American children's television show on PBS Kids, that aired 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 continue 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 Pico da Neblina mountain background. The main character and host is Snook the sloth.

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 is a pale-throated three-toed sloth who serves as the protagonist and host of the show. Snook 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. Snook is performed by Peter Linz.
• Burdette is a resplendent 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. Burdette is performed by Melissa Creighton.
• Bob 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. Bob is performed by James Godwin.
• 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. Smooch is performed by Aymee Garcia while Winslow is performed by Tyler Bunch.
• 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 Like Snook, Madge is a full-bodied character. Madge disappears in Season 2 and is performed by Julie Westwood. 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 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 and is performed by Peter Linz.
• 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 disappears in Season 2 but he still appears in the theme song. Wartz is performed by Tim Lagasse.
• Ick is a redtail catfish who lives in the pond under the world tree. Ick has misanthropic tendencies, as shown through his love of playing pranks on whoever he comes across. Ick disappears in Season 2 and is performed by Tim Lagasse. Although he disappears in Season 2, his pond still remains in the theme song and some Season 2 episodes.
• Riona is Snook's niece who is a baby sloth that first appeared in and serves as the co-host of Season 2. Riona is performed by Tyler Bunch.

Puppeteers

• Peter Linz: Snook/Oko
• Melissa Creighton: Burdette
• Aymee Garcia: Smooch
• Tyler Bunch: Winslow/Riona
• James Godwin: Bob
• Tim Lagasse: Ick /Wartz
• Julie Westwood: 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 2 (2009–2010)

Broadcast

The show debuted on PBS Kids on January 2, 2006 and ran until April 30, 2010, and aired as part of the preschool block until August 31, 2007. It also aired on Nick Jr. in Australia, and it also aired on Nick Jr. 2 in United Kingdom.

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.

• The Sky Above (January 30, 2007)
• Safe and Sound (May 22, 2007)
• Let's Investigate the World (May 22, 2007 (2007-05-22))
• The Earth Needs You (May 22, 2007 (2007-05-22))
• You Can Do It (August 14, 2007 (2007-08-14))
• The Big Big Sleep (August 14, 2007 (2007-08-14))

Other DVDs:

• Be Healthy and Happy (March 25, 2008 (2008-03-25))
• Everyone's Different (March 25, 2008 (2008-03-25))

Funding

• Sony (2006-2010)
• Stonyfield Farm (2009-2010)