Shaun the Sheep facts for kids

Shaun the Sheep is a fun stop-motion animated TV show from the United Kingdom and Germany. It's a spin-off from the famous Wallace and Gromit films. The show is all about Shaun, a very clever sheep, and his exciting adventures on a small farm.

Shaun first appeared in a Wallace and Gromit short film called A Close Shave in 1995. He also showed up in "Shopper 13" from the Wallace and Gromit's Cracking Contraptions series in 2002.

The Shaun the Sheep TV series first aired in the UK on CBBC on 5 March 2007. It has been shown in 180 countries around the world. Each episode is about seven minutes long. There are 150 episodes in total.

The show also inspired its own spin-off called Timmy Time. This series follows Shaun's little cousin, Timmy, and is made for younger kids. There are also two full-length movies: Shaun the Sheep Movie (released in 2015) and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (released in 2019). A 30-minute TV special, Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas, aired in 2015.

Recently, the sixth series of the show, called Adventures from Mossy Bottom, started streaming on Netflix.

What is the Story About?

Shaun is a super smart sheep who lives with his flock at Mossy Bottom Farm. This farm is a traditional small farm in northern England. In every episode, Shaun and his friends try to make their everyday farm life more exciting.

Their attempts often turn into funny, sitcom-style adventures. They love to copy human activities and use human tools. This usually leads to funny conflicts with Bitzer, the farm's sheepdog. Together, they all try to keep their secret from the Farmer: that the animals are very clever and act like humans!

Meet the Characters

Series director Richard Goleszowski with models of a generic sheep, Bitzer, Timmy, and Shaun

The show has many memorable characters. Here are some of the main ones:

Main Characters

• Shaun is the main character and the leader of the sheep flock. He is clever and confident, and he loves to cause a little mischief. But he's also great at getting himself and his friends out of trouble. Since there's no talking in the show, Shaun communicates by bleating. He often draws diagrams on a blackboard to explain his ideas to the other sheep. He is good friends with Bitzer, even though he sometimes plays pranks on him. Justin Fletcher does Shaun's vocal sounds.

• Bitzer is the Farmer's loyal sheepdog. He wears a blue hat, a black collar, and a wristwatch. He often carries a clipboard. Bitzer walks on two legs or all fours, depending on what he needs to do. He barks and growls to communicate. He also uses a whistle to give orders to the sheep. Bitzer takes his job very seriously, but he is a good friend to Shaun. He tries his best to keep the flock out of trouble. John Sparkes does Bitzer's vocal sounds.

• Shirley is the biggest sheep in the flock. She is a gentle giant and is usually seen eating peacefully. She is so big that things often disappear into her wool! She sometimes gets stuck and needs the other sheep to help her out. But her size can also be very useful, like when they need a strong push. She loves to eat and will charge towards food, even if it's not really food.

• Timmy is Shaun's little cousin and the only lamb in the flock. He is often the innocent cause of the chaos. Timmy sometimes tries to act like the older sheep. He can be responsible, but other times he acts like a normal baby, crying when things are taken from him. He is a toddler in the series and often sucks on a dummy. The spin-off series Timmy Time shows his adventures at preschool.

• Timmy's Mother is Shaun's aunt. She wears curlers in her wool and can sometimes be a bit careless with Timmy. But if Timmy goes missing, she gets very worried until he is safe again.

• Nuts is a unique and helpful sheep. He often joins Shaun and the flock in their adventures. What makes him special is that he has two different-sized eyes and a different-shaped nose.

• Hazel is a very timid sheep. She gets scared easily and often bleats nervously. When the Farmer's caravan rolls away, Hazel is terrified. But she finds out she is much braver than she thought when she chases after it with the flock.

• The Flock are the other sheep. They usually follow Shaun and each other. They are obedient and generally a happy group, though sometimes they argue. Unlike Shaun, they are not very smart, which can cause problems when they get interested in human things. Shaun and Bitzer usually have to fix the mess.

• The Farmer is a balding man who runs the farm with Bitzer. He is the sheep's main challenge because they need to keep their cleverness a secret from him. He is usually unobservant, which makes it easier for them. But he loves trying new hobbies, which can complicate things. He often makes funny noises or mutters to himself. His bad attempts at dating are a running joke in the show.

• The Naughty Pigs live next to the sheep field. They often try to bother Shaun and his flock and get them into trouble. They are scared of Bitzer, but they will bully him if they get a chance. The Farmer tells them off in the episode "Pig Trouble." They communicate with oinks and squeals.

• Pidsley is the Farmer's orange cat. He was a small character in Series 1 but became a main troublemaker in Series 2. He wants all of the Farmer's attention and is jealous of Bitzer. He also doesn't like the sheep, thinking they are silly. He communicates with meows and purrs.

Other Farm Animals and Visitors

• Mower Mouth is a goat who loves to eat everything. He causes trouble for Shaun and the flock because he is always looking for his next meal.

• The Bull is strong and easily angered by Shaun's tricks or the color red. He appears in several episodes.

• The Ducks appear often. Sometimes there is one duck, and sometimes there are two. They often get into funny situations because of Shaun's adventures.

• The Aliens appear in a few episodes. They are green with one large eye. They have advanced technology, but they act like humans and are usually friendly.

• The Granny is a short-tempered old lady who doesn't see very well. She is known for hitting people (or animals) with her handbag if they annoy her by mistake.

• The Pizza Delivery Boy is a young man who rides a moped. Bitzer often "borrows" his moped to chase the sheep. He also works as a postman sometimes.

• The Farmer's Girlfriend first appears in Series 2. She seems adventurous and loves animals.

• The Farmer's Niece appears in a few episodes. She loves horses and often annoys Shaun, Bitzer, and the flock. She is also a spoiled child who screams when things don't go her way. She is one of the few humans who knows what the animals are up to.

Episodes and Specials

The first two series of Shaun the Sheep each had 40 episodes. The third series had 20 episodes. The fourth series started in 2014, and the fifth series aired in 2016.

There were also short 1-minute 3D videos released on Nintendo's Video service. These were later put on the official Shaun the Sheep YouTube channel. Another series of 1-minute sports shorts, called Championsheeps, aired during the Summer of 2012.

List of Shaun the Sheep episodes

Television Specials

A special half-hour TV show, Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas, was shown on BBC One on Boxing Day 2015.

A second half-hour special, Shaun the Sheep: A Winter’s Tale, was made in late 2020 and will air for Christmas 2021 on BBC One.

Netflix and the Sixth Series

The sixth series of Shaun the Sheep, called Adventures from Mossy Bottom, came out on Netflix in March 2020. It was released in many countries, including Spain, Poland, the UK, US, Canada, and Latin America.

This new series has a new electronic version of the theme song and a new opening sequence. It also introduced new characters like a super-fast squirrel named Stash, a fancy neighbor Farmer Ben and his dog Lexi, and the Rita delivery lady.

Spin-off Show: Timmy Time

In 2009, Aardman Animations released Timmy Time. This show is for preschoolers and focuses on Timmy, Shaun's little cousin. It shows Timmy's adventures as he goes to preschool for the first time and learns how to play with other young animal friends.

Other Fun Stuff

Movies

Aardman Animations made a full-length movie called Shaun the Sheep Movie. It was written and directed by Richard Starzak and Mark Burton. The movie came out on 6 February 2015 and got great reviews from critics. It earned over $106 million worldwide.

A sequel, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, was released on 18 October 2019.

Video Games

There have been several video games based on Shaun the Sheep.

• In 2008, a game called Shaun the Sheep was released for the Nintendo DS.
• A second game for Nintendo DS, Shaun the Sheep: Off His Head, came out in Europe in 2009.
• The Shaun the Sheep website also has online games, like Home Sheep Home. This game was also made into an app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad in 2011.
• A sequel, Home Sheep Home 2, was released in 2011 for computers and Apple devices. It later came to Steam in 2014.
• In 2016, a special level called Shaun's Mossy Mole Mischief was added to Super Mario Maker, along with Shaun's costume.
• A movie version of Home Sheep Home called Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition was released for Nintendo Switch in 2019.
• A Shaun the Sheep game is planned for The Sandbox voxel world.
• In 2021, Shaun the Sheep was added to RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch.

Live Shows

On 9 March 2011, Shaun the Sheep had its first live theatre show called Shaun's Big Show. This musical/dance show was 100 minutes long and featured all the main characters.

In 2015, Shaun also appeared in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs pantomime show in Bristol.

Promoting the Show

In 2013, the International Rugby Board and Aardman Animations announced that Shaun and other characters would help promote the 2015 Rugby World Cup to children.

In 2015, Shaun the Sheep became the face of a campaign called "Holidays at Home are Great." In the advertisement, Shaun and the flock decide to have their own holiday around the UK while the Farmer is away.

Shaun in the City

In 2015, Shaun the Sheep was part of two public art events to raise money for sick children in UK hospitals. These events were called Shaun in the City.

• 50 large sculptures of Shaun, decorated by artists and celebrities, appeared in London in the spring.
• Another 70 sculptures appeared in Bristol during the summer.

All 120 sculptures were sold at an auction in October 2015. They raised over £1 million for charities that help children.

Shaun the Sheep Land

A Shaun the Sheep theme park, called Shaun the Sheep Land, opened at Skånes Djurpark in Sweden in early Summer 2016.

The Shaun the Sheep Experience

In 2015, a family attraction based on Shaun the Sheep opened at Lands End. It was even renamed "Lamb's End" for the time it was open! It featured original sets, models, and characters from Aardman's productions. Visitors could use green screen technology to "star" in a scene from the show and meet other Aardman characters like Wallace and Gromit and Morph.

Images for kids

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  Series director Richard Goleszowski at Canterbury's Anifest 2008 with models of a generic sheep, Bitzer, Timmy, and Shaun

See also

In Spanish: Shaun the Sheep para niños