Animal Jam
Encyclopedia
Animal Jam is a children's television show created by John Derevlany
(who also wrote most of the episodes) and produced by Jim Henson Television
which first aired on February 24, 2003. The show is sort of like an "American Bandstand
" for preschool kids.
-monkey
) and Edi (a zebra
), as well as a giant dancing elephant
named Bozark.
John Derevlany
John Derevlany is a writer, director, and performer best known for playing "Crackers the Corporate Crime Fighting Chicken" in Michael Moore's TV Nation. He also created the preschool dance and movement show Animal Jam for Jim Henson Productions and the Discovery Channel, wrote many episodes of...
(who also wrote most of the episodes) and produced by Jim Henson Television
Jim Henson Television
Jim Henson Television is the television production arm of The Jim Henson Company. It was originally founded as Henson Associates then named Jim Henson Productions in 1989 than its present name in 1997....
which first aired on February 24, 2003. The show is sort of like an "American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
" for preschool kids.
Production
The show featured many innovations in puppet design and production from the Jim Henson Company. It aired on TLC for several years, and ran on Discovery Kids until the channel was replaced by The Hub. Several shows are also available on DVD.Plot
It features dozens of kids dancing to songs with movement themes, and was hosted by two puppet characters named Waffle (a cowCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
-monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
) and Edi (a zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
), as well as a giant dancing elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
named Bozark.
Characters
- Waffle the CowCattleCattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
-MonkeyMonkeyA monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
(performed by Rickey Boyd) -
- Edi the ZebraZebraZebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
(performed by Leslie Carrera-Rudolph) -
- Bozark the ElephantElephantElephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
(performed by David Maida) -
- DJ 1 the PandaGiant PandaThe giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
(performed by John KennedyJohn Kennedy (puppeteer)John Kennedy is a puppeteer who has worked with The Jim Henson Company since 1990. From 1991 until 2003, Kennedy took over Jim Henson's role of Dr. Teeth, after which Bill Barretta took over in 2005. Kennedy has also voiced Kermit the Frog in Disney Cruise Lines.-Characters:* Dr. Teeth * Multiple...
) -
- DJ 2 the KoalaKoalaThe koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
(performed by John TartagliaJohn TartagliaJohn Nicholas Tartaglia is an American singer, actor, dancer, puppeteer.Tartaglia was born in Maple Shade, New Jersey, U.S.. He joined Sesame Street's puppetry team at the age of 16 part-time, performing as a right hand and many minor characters, including Phoebe and being the backup for Kevin...
) -
- DJ 3 the LeopardLeopardThe leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
(performed by Andy Stone) -
Puppeteers
- Rickey Boyd - Waffle the Cow-Monkey
- Leslie Carrera-Rudolph - Edi the Zebra
- John KennedyJohn Kennedy (puppeteer)John Kennedy is a puppeteer who has worked with The Jim Henson Company since 1990. From 1991 until 2003, Kennedy took over Jim Henson's role of Dr. Teeth, after which Bill Barretta took over in 2005. Kennedy has also voiced Kermit the Frog in Disney Cruise Lines.-Characters:* Dr. Teeth * Multiple...
- DJ 1 the Panda - David Maida - Bozark the Elephant
- John TartagliaJohn TartagliaJohn Nicholas Tartaglia is an American singer, actor, dancer, puppeteer.Tartaglia was born in Maple Shade, New Jersey, U.S.. He joined Sesame Street's puppetry team at the age of 16 part-time, performing as a right hand and many minor characters, including Phoebe and being the backup for Kevin...
- DJ 2 the Koala Bear - Andy Stone - DJ 3 the Leopard
Later appearances
- Waffle the Cow-Monkey, DJ 1, DJ 2, DJ 3, and Pancake the Cow made appearances in Puppet Up!Puppet Up!Puppet Up! – Uncensored is a live show produced by The Jim Henson Company combining puppetry and improvisational comedy. The show is advertised for "adults only" and as "uncensored." However one rare and "exclusive" set of shows "for children" were held in Edinburgh in 2006.The sketches in the live...
- Bozark the Elephant appeared in the movie Old DogsOld Dogs (film)Old Dogs is a 2009 American ensemble comedy film directed by Wild Hogs Walt Becker and starring Robin Williams and John Travolta with an ensemble supporting cast played by Kelly Preston, Matt Dillon, Justin Long, Seth Green, Rita Wilson, Dax Shepard, and Bernie Mac...
. He alongside Scales the Dragon from "Little Mermaid's Island" were seen as part of Jimmy Lunchbox's show.
External links
- Animal Jam at Muppet Wiki