It's A Big Big World
About the show
IT'S A BIG BIG WORD is an innovative half-hour animated series that employs a unique, patented process combining puppetry, animatronics and computer generated animation, is produced by PBS KIDS and distributed by Sony Pictures Television International.
A new world of adventure and discovery is launched in IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD, a new half-hour animated series from award-winning television veteran Mitchell Kriegman (Bear in the Big Blue House, Clarissa Explains It All). A diverse group of characters and their lush rainforest home are brought to life through "Shadowmation," a unique, patented process combining puppetry, animatronics and computer generated animation. Young viewers will be engaged by the loveable characters and exciting stories while learning age-appropriate science and geography concepts.
IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD takes its audience into the World Tree, home to the animals and the show's metaphor for the world as a whole. From a distance, it looks just like an enormous tree full of branches and leaves, but when viewed closer, its real complexity begins to reveal itself. Teeming with tree houses and habitats perfect for all of the different animals that live there, it has seemingly endless levels, and lots of nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered.
Joining Snook, an energetic giant sloth, are his friends in the World Tree, including Smooch and Winslow, two rambunctious marmoset siblings; Wartz, an eager-to-please singing tree frog; Madge, an ancient she-turtle with a map of the world on her back; Burdette, a bird who thinks she knows it all; Bob the Anteater, who is constantly overwhelmed; Ick, a braggart fish; Oko, an old monkey trickster, and many more.
Throughout the series, kids will get to know Snook and his many friends as they investigate the world around them, and learn how different things live, grow and change in an engaging and visually appealing way. For example, one story features Smooch and Winslow who, with Snook's help, look everywhere for their missing friend Wartz. They are finally surprised to learn that he is hopping at the bottom of the tree -- hopping because he has changed from a swimming tadpole to a frog!
According to series creator Kriegman, "Children today are more affected by the global community than ever before. IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD offers parents and kids a very natural, positive way to think and talk about the world around them. From a distance, the world still makes a lot of sense. The series presents science not just as a bunch of facts, but as a process of discovery."
John F. Wilson, PBS senior vice president for programming, says "IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD is a great way for kids to learn about the world through the animals in the 'World Tree,' and it is presented in a humorous way that parents and caregivers will enjoy watching, too."
Age-appropriate scientific concepts such as discovering what is essential for life to exist (food, water, air), understanding life cycles and learning how different creatures live and grow will be explored and reinforced through engaging stories and songs. The series will also introduce children to geography, providing them with a basic understanding that the world is bigger than their immediate surroundings -- giving them a sense that they are an important part of a larger community.
"It's really important to turn kids on to science early," says Kriegman. "IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD has a multi-level science curriculum that taps into a child's natural fascination with the world around them in an engaging and playful yet scientific way. Each of the characters has a unique perspective and scientific approach, giving children great models for their own investigations."
The program's curriculum and content is also being shepherded by educators and scientific advisors, including Tina Grotzer one of the lead educational researchers for Harvard University's Project Zero -- which seeks to understand and enhance learning, thinking and creativity -- and Dr. Daniel Anderson, a prominent psychologist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who has been involved in the development of numerous children's television projects including Sesame Street, Blue's Clues, and Dora the Explorer.
Using "Shadowmation," a unique, patented animated process that utilizes real time virtual sets and bun raku style team puppetry, the show integrates live action animatronic characters and computer generated animation in real time, high definition virtual environments. Combining all the advantages of animatronics, the expressiveness of live performance, and the freedom and range of computer animation, it has a distinctive and compelling immersive visual quality.
The creator of shows such as Clarissa Explains It All, Bear in the Big Blue House and Book of Pooh, Mitchell Kriegman is committed to developing innovative content for kids and their parents. Kriegman's goal is to continue to create emotionally expressive characters that further a child's sense of learning. A provider of the highest quality age-appropriate and diverse programming for kids, PBS KIDS' programs consistently earn more prestigious awards than any other broadcast or cable network, winning the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers.
IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD Character Descriptions
Snook is an energetic, giant, dancing sloth who's dedicated to protecting, helping and caring for his friends. He may be slow, but he's a big thinker with big thoughts and a fascination for science. A natural investigator, when the monkeys and the other young characters rouse him with a question or a problem, he goes from sloth to sleuth in one wag of the tail. Snook has a warm clumsiness about him and he loves to sing and dance with his friends.
Smooch and Winslow are two playful sibling monkeys (marmosets to be exact) who frequently disagree and are always hanging around - and on - Snook. Though they get in everyone else's hair, cause turmoil and constantly awaken Snook, they also frequently instigate great investigations. Smooch, the girl monkey, is the scientist of the pair, always trying to figure out the mysteries of the world around her. Winslow is the goofy, creative thinker. If they want to know where rain comes from, he's ready with a theory: it's sad clouds crying. Instead of just accepting her brother's outlandish theories, Smooch will figure out how to prove they're true... or not.
Burdette, the bird, is the classic "bossy older sister," who always assumes she knows more than everyone, and yet is sometimes surprised to learn things herself (for instance, flying isn't a talent but an ability). Still, if Burdette is your friend, she's your friend for life. Steadfast, earnest, and protective, she's motherly in the way that only a person who's a little older than you can be.
Madge the turtle is the incarnation of knowledge and nurturing as she watches over all the creatures in the jungle with her wise bespectacled eyes. Madge literally carries the world on her back because somehow, throughout her world travels over the centuries, the continents and oceans just seemed to etch themselves upon her shell, making her the largest Map Turtle in the world. She's hundreds of years old, but she always makes sure to have her claws clipped and her glasses just "so."
Bob the Anteater is an adorable, but frequently forlorn, young creature who seems a bit overwhelmed just about all the time. He is especially ambivalent about the ants that make up his diet. Though he adores them, his earnest enthrallment makes the ants very nervous.
A cantankerous old monkey, Oko is a trickster who always shows up when least expected. Oko can be mysterious and grouchy but also shares exotic tales with the others. He's a tai chi master and 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 is frequently found training with his sensei, a fly.
Wartz is one of a gaggle of identical Red-Eyed Tree Frogs that make their home in the World Tree, and he's best friends with the monkeys. Wartz just wants to be everyone's friend and will twist himself into knots of obsequiousness to agree with everyone. He's the guy who will laugh at your joke, then, when pressed, admit he didn't really understand it.
