3rd & Bird is a British-Emirati television programme aimed at young children, commissioned by Michael Carrington and broadcast on the BBC, which revolves around a community of birds and their adventures. The series premiered on CBeebies in June 2008. Described in its initial press release as "a charming new animated series all about community", the programme format generally involves one or more of the characters encountering a problem which must be solved using the social skills which pre-school children must develop in order to make their way in the world.
3rd & Bird was created by Josh Selig for Little Airplane Productions. The show uses an animation style known as "photo-puppetry", in which the animation is created by the use of manipulation of photographs (similarly to Selig's previous venture Wonder Pets).
Video 3rd & Bird
Cast
Main cast
- Samuel (voiced by Sam Lewis) - The eldest of the Lovebird children, Samuel is a green lovebird. He acts as a role model to his younger sister, Muffin, and often tries to teach her how to be responsible.
- Muffin (voiced by Eden Jarrett) - A pink lovebird and Samuel's younger sister. Not yet old enough to fly, she usually rides on Samuel's back. Muffin calls Samuel "Sam'el," Rudy "Udy," and Mr. Beakman "Beaky."
- Rudy (voiced by Morgan Gayle) - Rudy is a cockatoo (despite resembling a cockatiel more closely) and Samuel's best friend. She wears a bracelet of colored stones on her ankle.
- Mr. Beakman (voiced by Michael Fenton Stevens) - The children's teacher, a wise toucan who frequently acts as the voice of parental authority. He shows an interest in mariachi bands.
Supporting cast
- Mrs. Billingsley (voiced by Anna Nygh) - A New Zealand gardening kiwi and the oldest bird in the treetop community. She wears a sunhat and is incapable of flying, which occasionally causes problems.
- Missy (voiced by Charlotte Leslie-Cameron) - A fashionable great blue turaco who speaks with a thick French accent. She refers to Samuel and his friends as "little birds."
- Quinn - (voiced by Preston Nyman) - A puffin who works as an inventor. He occasionally displays arrogance, as he believes that his ability to build unique contraptions makes him better than the rest of the birds.
- Mr. and Mrs. Lovebird (voiced by David Beckford and Candida Gubbins, respectively) - Samuel and Muffin's parents. Despite being rarely seen, they care deeply for their children.
- Baby Jordan (voiced by Reiss Lewin) - Mr. Beakman's nephew, who often uses big words like his uncle. He calls Muffin "Uffin."
- Elliot (voiced by George Phillips) - A worm who is friends with Samuel, Muffin, and Rudy.
The cast also includes world champion musical whistler, Michael Barimo, whose whistling accompanies the music of the show.
Maps 3rd & Bird
Episodes
51 episodes of the series were produced, making up two series.
Broadcast
In 2009, BBC Worldwide sold the rights of the show to Canada-based Treehouse TV. In 2010, Disney Channel bought the rights to the show and is airing it on Playhouse Disney. In September 2011 the show airing was moved to Disney Junior.
Merchandising
In January 2009, BBC Worldwide announced plans to release 3rd & Bird merchandise, including wooden stacking toys, pull along vehicles, play sets and musical instruments, as well as wheeled toys, including trikes, scooters, and ride-ons. The product line was released in spring 2010.
Two compact discs featuring the 3rd & Bird theme song (along with many other CBeebies show tracks) were released by CBeebies titled CBeebies: Song Time (2010) and CBeebies: The Album (2012).
DVDs/Books
A DVD containing 8 episodes of the series was released in March 2009, and will be accompanied by a series of books tying into the show. The DVD release, entitled Bird's The Word!, contains the following episodes:
Fly Muffin!;
Bird Theatre!;
Muffin Express!;
A Chorus for Us!;
To Play or Not to Play!;
The Rudy Show!;
Meet Elliott!;
Costume Party!
A second DVD, Muffin Land!, was released in June 2009, and contained the following episodes:
Muffinland!;
Muffin's Shop!
Dinosaur!;
Go Camping!;
Playhouse!;
Cowgirl!;
Muffin's Plant!;
Baby Jordan!
References
External links
- 3rd & Bird at BBC Programmes
- 3rd & Bird on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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