One of the best things we saw today—and in a long time—was the tweet below that compiled a popular Tumblr post. On Tumblr, users were surprised to discover that there were different incarnations of Big Bird in Sesame Street productions around the world. More and more people added “their” Big Birds, leading to the declaration that this felt like an alternate universe and also that we were entering the Bigbirdverse.
Well colour me shooketh at this revelation. pic.twitter.com/L7dvVWmO71
— Neil Scully (@neilscully) February 3, 2021
Of course, to anyone who grew up with these Big Birds, that there were different versions and adaptations of the character wasn’t news. But you may be surprised to learn just how many alternate Big Birds there are, and how they vary in appearance (it’s now established that they’re all canonically cousins). Let’s run down our Big Birds by the sheer chaotic energy that they embody.
8. Big Bird (U.S.)
The Big Bird on Sesame Street in the U.S. actually had many versions over the years. But generally Big Bird is a giant plain yellow bird and pretty mild-mannered. I was always more of a Snuffleupagus girl myself.
8. Da Niao (大鸟) (China)
Sesame Street in China, Zhima Jie (芝麻街), used the same Big Bird as the U.S. version. Synergy! It’s still an enormous bird wandering amongst the local children.
7. Poupas (Portugal)
Poupas from the Portuguese production Rua Sésamo seems rather chill, all things considered. A Big Bird-type in orange, with white, pink, and brown accents, Poupas’s chaotic energy is brought to fruition in its colorful plumage. Check out those tailfeathers! Que lindo.
6. Minik Kuş (Turkey)
All orange and pink primaries, Turkey’s Minik Kuş of Susam Sokağı has a similar color scheme to Poupas. But Minik Kuş takes the chaotic edge with its daring fashion choices. Just look at that stylish neckerchief. Our blundering yellow Big Bird would never.
5. Abelardo Montoya (Mexico)
The fabulously-named Abelardo Montoya is Mexico’s Big Birdian cousin on Plaza Sésamo. A vibrant green, with a pink throat and a red-feathered face, Abelardo has a parrot-like beak.
Abelardo has bridged the Bigbirdverse and crossed over.
And they’re all cousins!! 🥺🥺🥺
There’s a couple of episodes where Abelardo goes to the US to visit his cousin Big Bird on sesame street 💕 pic.twitter.com/lD0a8uNkOv— Stephanie Flores 💐💕 (@Fannii94) February 5, 2021
Abelardo’s chaos emerges in the fact that he was actually once a dragon, and he is imminently meme-able.
Must not make meme… must not… pic.twitter.com/NDiTuRZHRa
— EDSer (@EDSer53874642) February 5, 2021
4. Pino (Netherlands)
The Dutch version of Big Bird, Sesamstraat’s Pino, is also later established to be Big Bird’s cousin, and the two appear able to coexist in the same reality. Pino is a lovely soothing shade of pale blue, but Pino’s true chaos comes from, as Wikipedia puts it, the whimsical “multicolored feathered ‘sprigs’ from top of head.” Pino has also looked far less grounded in its checkered past.
3. Toccata (France)
Toccata from 1, Rue Sésame, the first French take on Sesame Street, appears to be an unholy hybrid of a seagull and an albatross. Maybe it’s just my experience with seagulls and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but Toccata gives off a sinister energy. You wouldn’t want this seabird around your neck.
2. Garibaldo (Brazil)
The original Brazilian Vila Sésamo features a mighty blue bird by the name of Garibaldo. Garibaldo is … a lot. Something about those red-rimmed eyes and sharp beak leave me ready to learn my letters before Garibaldo comes after me.
Okay, okay!!!! The letter T!!!!! I promise I’ll remember!
1. Caponata (Spain)
What?????
No really I just—
Why is this happening?
This is certainly a … big bird. Please don’t come for me at night, Caponata.
Wikipedia has the longest descriptive entry for Spain’s Caponata from Barrio Sésamo: “Primarily orange and yellow feathers on body; red-and-white striped legs, red shoes with bows. Wears a curly pink wig.” Some choices were made here. There were choices, that were made.
Caponata is an agent of pure and unbridled chaos. I’m speechless.
Want to keep track of the whole Big Big family for the future? Luckily, there’s some wonderful art to help with that.
Just learned about Big Bird’s cousins around the world and had to draw some of them.#SesameStreet #BigBird #AbelardoMontoya #PlazaSesamo #Pino #Garibaldo #MinkKus #Caponata pic.twitter.com/s884qZrYDN
— anaid melendez (@dymaraway) August 9, 2019
Wait, you still can’t get enough international Muppets? Twitter users gave us a few more to ponder:
In the Arabic version, we have No’man the camel. He disappeared during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (costume was supposedly stolen by Saddam’s forces), but reappeared when the show was revived in 2015. pic.twitter.com/w5BET2GFQ0
— Zyido زيدو (@Zyido_) February 4, 2021
in Indonesia version, Jalan Sesama, we have Tantan the Orang Utan. but she’s not big as the character of Big Bird representation on another Sesame Street. pic.twitter.com/Smg6Gwyub3
— …. .- — (@ilhamhidayats) February 5, 2021
India’s gali gali sim sim had a purple lion named Boombah! Everyone had an Indian name too pic.twitter.com/hUd7m1qUE2
— din djragon (@dragon_nyra) February 5, 2021
Russia has this guy. pic.twitter.com/bxR4I2cEYK
— Hanbidge (@Hanbidge) February 4, 2021
In South Africa we have a giant Meerkat named Moshe. pic.twitter.com/JFHrm22BAp
— Sachi (@Miss_Sashi) February 5, 2021
And finally, please meet Cookie Monster’s British cousin, Biscuit Monster:
Hahaha, omg I wasn’t aware of this and it’s made my day! “Me terribly sorry!” 😂 pic.twitter.com/wSK3gv4aR6
— Joanne Howe (@aburidashi) February 5, 2021
Here some things that we saw today that had nothing to do with bird suits:
- The Senate says no to the $15 minimum wage push thanks to Republicans, which is real rich coming from a bunch of people who earn $174,000 per year. (via NPR)
- I would watch Christopher Meloni in anything, even another Law & Order go-round:
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Well… I think it’s official official now so…. see ya in April. And May. And… https://t.co/2M7GuQgvMJ
— Chris Meloni (@Chris_Meloni) February 4, 2021
- Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint has said he’s only seen three Harry Potter movies. A good move on his part. (via Buzzfeed)
- Veronica Lodge is apparently the “She-Wolf of Wall Street” after the Riverdale time jump. What even is Riverdale now? (via The Wrap)
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“In #Minari, Steven Yeun is letting all that he is—Korean, American, actor, father—become universal onscreen without explanation or compromise, shifting the status quo and clearing a path for others like him.”https://t.co/VgmmgJu69x
— Minari (@MinariMovie) January 22, 2021
- German authorities confiscated millions of dollars in Bitcoin from a fraudster … only he won’t give them the password. (via Reuters)
What did you see today?
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