Follow That Bird

From Muppet Wiki

Follow That Bird title card.

The original VHS release featured the film's movie poster mostly unaltered.

Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird was the first feature-length film to star characters from Sesame Street.

The plot involves an organization of birds called the Feathered Friends sending Big Bird to Ocean View, Illinois, to live with a bird family, the Dodos. However, after deciding that he isn't happy with this bird family, he heads back to Sesame Street, not realizing that it will take more than just three hours to get back home.

Big Bird's road trip makes the news, and his friends on Sesame Street team together to find him. Also seeking the bird are Miss Finch, the social worker from Feathered Friends who sent Big Bird to live with the Dodos, and the Sleaze Brothers, owners of a carnival who want Big Bird as their main attraction.

Notes

• The street set used in this movie is a rebuilt version of the show set, made to look more realistic. The expanded street includes a bakery, a grocery store, a fire station, an auto body shop, and a bookstore.

• The Dodo family's home address is 35 Canary Row, Ocean View, Illinois.

• The movie was filmed on location in Ontario, Canada, and at Toronto International Studios. Thus, in addition to the regular Sesame Street puppeteers, many of the performers from Fraggle Rock were used for the film.

• In addition to its own storybook adaptation, this movie inspired two storybooks, Big Bird's Day on the Farm and Big Bird Joins the Carnival. Welcome Home, Big Bird takes place after the movie.

• A widescreen DVD presented in the film's original 1.85:1 screen-aspect ratio has never been released in North America. To date, all copies there are presented full screen 1.33:1.

Songs

• Grouch Anthem
• Ain't No Road Too Long
• One Little Star
• Easy Goin' Day
• Upside Down World
• I'm So Blue

Cast

To date, all home video releases have presented the film in a cropped pan-and-scan 1.33:1 format. Original film prints screened for public viewings present the film in its original 1.85:1 screen-aspect ratio.

• Muppet Performers

Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Kathryn Mullen, Jerry Nelson, Martin P. Robinson, Bryant Young, Fred Garbo Garver, Cheryl Wagner, Patricia Leeper, Gordon Robertson, Jeff Weiser, Shari Weiser, Tim Gosley, Noel MacNeal, Robert Stutt, Lee Armstrong, Robert Mills, John Pattison, Frank Meschkuleit, Terry Angus, Matthew Pidgeon, Stephen Brathwaite, Tom Vandenberg, Francine Anderson, Ron Wagner, Martine Carrier, Karen Valleau, Michelle Frey, Gus Harsfai, Patricia Lewis, Charlotte Levinson, Carolanne MacLean, Peter McCowatt, Brian Moffatt, Myra Fried, Jani Lauzon, Sandra Shamas, Kevin Clash, Pam Arciero

• Sesame Street Cast

Linda Bove as Linda

Emilio Delgado as Luis

Loretta Long as Susan

Sonia Manzano as Maria

Bob McGrath as Bob

Roscoe Orman as Gordon

Alaina Reed as Olivia

Kermit Love as Willy

• Human Cast

Dave Thomas as Sam Sleaze

Joe Flaherty as Sid Sleaze

Alyson Court as Ruthie

Benjamin Barrett as Floyd

Richard Campbell as Boy with apple

Liston Bates as Rescue Boy

Tawny Richard as Rescue Girl

Adrian McCalla as Kid at map

Tanya Marie Cook as Tanya

Shawna Stoll as Airline Announcer

• Cameo Guest Stars

Paul Bartel as Grouch Cook

Sandra Bernhard as Grouch Waitress

John Candy as State Trooper

Chevy Chase as Newscaster

Waylon Jennings as Truck Driver

Muppet cast

• Muppet Characters

Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Ernie, Bert, Kermit the Frog, Cookie Monster, Grover, Count von Count, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster, Miss Finch, Mommy Dodo, Daddy Dodo, Donny Dodo, Marie Dodo, Madame Chairbird

• Background Characters

Barkley, Herry Monster, Gladys the Cow, Elmo, Bruno the Trashman, Grundgetta, Two Headed Monster, Sherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Biff, Sully, Buster the Horse, Forgetful Jones, Simon Soundman, Dr. Nobel Price, Poco Loco, Maurice Monster, Bruce Monster, Prairie Dawn, Roosevelt Franklin, Ferlinghetti Donizetti, Homer Honker, Honkers, Slimey, Oswaldo the Grouch, Grouches, Anything Muppets, Sesame Street Monsters, Board of Birds

Additional credits

• Producer: Tony Garnett
• Executive Producer: Joan Ganz Cooney
• Associate Producers: Pat Churchill, Martin G. Baker
• "Sesame Street" Muppet Consultant: Kermit Love
• New Character Design: Michael K. Frith

See also

• Follow That Bird (soundtrack)
• Follow That Bird (video)