Shaun the Sheep 3742296 224584064 2008-07-09T15:01:39Z SkyWalker 1057636 /* External links */ {{Infobox Television | show_name = Shaun the Sheep | image = [[Image:Shaun the Sheep.PNG|250px]] | caption = | genre = Animated [[children's television series]] | creator = [[Nick Park]] | developer = [[Richard Goleszowski]]<br />[[Alison Snowden]]<br />[[David Fine]] | presenter = | starring = | voices = [[Justin Fletcher]]<br />[[Kate Harbour]]<br />[[John Sparkes]]<br />[[Richard Webber]] | narrated = | theme_music_composer = Mark Thomas | opentheme = Sung by [[Vic Reeves]] | endtheme = | country = UK | language = Not language specific. | num_series = 2 | num_episodes = 40 | list_episodes = List of Shaun the Sheep episodes | producer = [[Aardman Animations]] | executive_producer = [[Miles Bullough]]<br />[[Peter Lord]]<br />[[Nick Park]] | location = | camera = | runtime = 7 minutes | network = [[BBC One]], [[CBBC]], [[Disney Channel]] | picture_format = [[PAL]] ([[576i]]), [[Widescreen]] | audio_format = [[Stereo]] | first_run = | first_aired = [[5 March]] [[2007]] | last_aired = Present | preceded_by = | followed_by = | related = | website = http://www.shaunthesheep.com | imdb_id = 0983983 | tv_com_id = 70311 }} '''''Shaun the Sheep''''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[stop-motion]] [[animated]] [[children's television series]] produced by [[Aardman Animations]], first aired in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] on CBBC in March 2007. == History == The character first appeared in the 1995 [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-[[Academy Award for Animated Short Film#1990s|winning]] [[Wallace and Gromit]] short film ''[[A Close Shave]]''. Sucked into [[Wallace and Gromit#Wallace|Wallace]]'s ''Knit-o-matic'' contraption, the sheep is accidentally [[Sheep shearing|shorn]], so Wallace names him "Shaun" (a [[pun]] as "Shaun" is pronounced "shorn"). Shaun later appeared in the 2002 series ''[[Cracking Contraptions]]'' episode, ''Shopper 13'', ostensibly to rescue a wayward wheel of [[Edam (cheese)|cheese]]. The popularity of the character, as expressed in the success of Shaun the Sheep merchandise, led to this spin-off series of 40 7-minute episodes.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3684150.stm Shaun the Sheep gets his own show]. BBC News, 23 September, 2004.</ref> The second series (the second lot of twenty episodes) started on 3 September, 2007 at 4.10pm on the new look CBBC, with two episodes being shown. Some characters also appeared in two idents for the relaunched CBBC.<ref>[http://rfrancis51284.byethost13.com/websitebaker-2.6.7/wb/pages/bbc/cbbc.php Web<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == Synopsis == A premise of the series is that Shaun the sheep exhibits human intelligence, creativity, and behaviour in a barnyard, which usually provides a [[situational comedy]] conflict which Shaun must resolve before the end of each episode. Recurring themes include the characters evading the sheepdog Bitzer (but he is sometimes with the sheep in their escapades) and avoiding discovery by the Farmer. In the first episode, a stray cabbage bouncing into the field provokes an impromptu [[football (soccer)|football]] game. In the second episode, a freezing cold [[sheep dip]] sends Shaun on a commando raid to get hot water from the Farmer’s bathtub. Episodes are a combination of [[slapstick]] and classic [[silent comedy]] in Aardman’s recognisable animation style. There is no spoken dialogue, even by human characters. In this way it is reminiscent of early silent comedy films and even [[Pingu]]. == International broadcasters == The series has been aired on Danish television, is currently airing on Indian (Nick), Icelandic, German, Japanese, Finnish, Polish, Croatian, Dutch, Norwegian, and American television, and is scheduled for broadcast in 73 countries in total. <!-- Some of the episodes shown in Germany have not been broadcast in the UK as of April 2007.{{fact}} -- the episode titles seem to have changed, that's all. See Talk. -- Lexein --> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Country ! Channel(s) |- | {{Flagcountry|Australia}} | [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] and [[Nick Jr. Australia|Nick Jr.]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Austria}} | [[Österreichischer Rundfunk|ORF]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Brazil}} | [[Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Belgium}} | [[RTBF]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} | [[Radiotelevision of Bosnia-Herzegovina|RTV]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Canada}} | [[Teletoon (Canada)|Teletoon]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Croatia}} | [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Colombia}} | [[Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Czech Republic}} | [[Cartoon Network]] and [[Česká televize]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Denmark}} | [[Disney Channel]] and [[DR1]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Estonia}} | [[Eesti Televisioon|ETV]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Finland}} | [[YLE]] |- | {{Flagcountry|France}} | [[Disney Channel France|Disney Channel]] and [[TF1]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Germany}} | [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]], [[KI.KA]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Hong Kong}} | [[TVB Pearl]] from Aug 12, 2007 |- | {{Flagcountry|Hungary}} | [[Cartoon Network]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Iceland}} | [[Sjónvarpið]] |- | {{Flagcountry|India}} | [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] |- |- | {{Flagcountry|Ireland}} | [[RTÉ Two]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Israel}} | [[Logi Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Italy}} | [[Disney Channel (Italy)|Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Japan}} | [[NHK]] |- | {{Flagcountry|South Korea}} | [[Educational Broadcasting System|EBS]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Latvia}} | [[TV6 Latvia]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Malaysia}} | [[Disney Channel Asia]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Mexico}} | Disney Channel México |- | {{Flagcountry|New Zealand}} | [[TV2 (New Zealand)|TV2]] and [[Nickelodeon New Zealand]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Netherlands}} | [[Nickelodeon (Netherlands)|Nickelodeon]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Norway}} | [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Philippines}} | [[Disney Channel Asia|Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Poland}} | [[Cartoon Network]] and [[TVP1]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Portugal}} | [[RTP2]] and [[Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Russia}} | [[2x2 (TV channel)]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Serbia}} | [[Fox televizija]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Singapore}} | [[Disney Channel Asia]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Slovakia}} | [[Cartoon Network]] and [[Slovenská televízia|STV]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Spain}} | [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Sweden}} | [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Switzerland}} | [[Schweizer Fernsehen|SF]], [[Télévision Suisse Romande|TSR]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Taiwan}} | [[Disney Channel]] |- | {{Flagcountry|United Kingdom}} | [[BBC One]], [[BBC Two]], [[CBBC]] |- | {{Flagcountry|United States}} | [[Disney Channel]], [[Toon Disney]] |- | {{Flagcountry|Vietnam}} | [[Disney Channel Asia]] |} == Episodes == {{Main|List of Shaun the Sheep episodes}} == Reception == Reviews of the series were consistently positive. Harry Venning of "The Stage" found "characterisation charming and the animation superb. All this before even a mention of how funny and splendidly slapstick the script is."<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/16183/tv-review TV Review] The Stage. Harry Venning. [[12 March]], [[2007]]. Retrieved [[3 April]] [[2007]]</ref> The Guardian noted that the series "hits the four-to-seven-year-old age group smack in the eye."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,,2027294,00.html Last Night's TV] Guardian UK. [[6 March]] [[2007]]. Nancy Banks-Smith. Retrieved [[3 April]] [[2007]].</ref> Charles Arthur wrote "classic Aardman style that leaves me laughing out loud."<ref>[http://www.charlesarthur.com/blog/?p=867 Roll over, Pixar - Shaun the sheep’s here to tickle your funny bone] CharlesArthur.com [[20 March]] [[2007]]. Retrieved [[3 April]] [[2007]]</ref> On forums, the show has received rave reviews, with Shaun becoming a favourite among adults as well as children.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=546809 Forum entry] DigitalSpy.</ref><!-- this citation is DOOMED: blog, non-notable author. Find a better source, please. --Lexein --> <!-- Charles Arthur's BLOG review included here, because he is an ESTABLISHED PRINT JOURNALIST. This was one of 3 reviews found as of 3 April 2007. It can/should go away when more reviews appear in legit press. --Lexein --> The Daily Mail's "Weekend Magazine" gave it an average of five stars in the past six months ==Major characters== '''Shaun''' the Sheep has an inquisitive, mischievous nature which distinguishes him from the other sheep, and leads him into tricky situations from which he usually recovers. He is popular, and is a natural leader. He is also a moral character who will try to "make things right". '''Bitzer''' <!-- discussion taken to Talk --Lexein --> is the long-suffering sheepdog who watches the flock. His dimmish owner never notices the flock is anything but normal, and Bitzer tries to keep it that way. He tolerates antics, but steps in if things get out of hand. Bitzer acts as foreman, blowing his whistle, checking the sheep into and out of the field and lunching with a flask of [[tea]] and [[sandwich]]es. However, Bitzer never misses an opportunity to take it easy, which gives the animals opportunity for mischief. The relationship between Bitzer and the animals is essentially friendly, and he seems to be friends with Shaun, but not to the extent of abandoning his duties. Bitzer will do anything when he is offered a game of "Fetch". He also enjoys listening to electronic music on his MP3 player. A character designed by a ''[[Blue Peter]]'' competition winner, ''XX2000 Robot Dog'', will replace Bitzer in one episode.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/28/shaun.shtml Blue Peter reveals new character for Shaun the Sheep.] BBC Press Release. [[March 28]], [[2006]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-30]]</ref> '''The Farmer''' is a solitary and plain figure, who tends to his [[smallholding]] farm with loyal Bitzer. He goes about his business expressing little emotion except the occasional burst of frustration when things go wrong, or an air of bemusement at the results of some of Shaun’s antics. He is enthusiastic about new technology. Like all the human characters in the series, we see him from the animals’ point of view and his speech comes across as a series of grunts and mumbles. He is unaware that his farmyard charges are anything other than normal animals. '''The Flock''' are typical sheep, content to spend the day chewing the cud until Shaun gets an idea into his head, when they will easily follow his lead. They are an enthusiastic audience for Shaun, but are clumsy, easily frightened and not bright, which undermines Shaun’s exploits. While the flock mainly acts as a unified entity, some characters stand out within the group: :'''Shirley''' is so much bigger than the other sheep that she has to be pushed from place to place and can eat just about anything that comes her way. She is useful as a trampoline, a battering ram and her capacious fleece provides a hiding place for unlikely items. :'''Timmy''' is an adorable baby lamb who sucks a [[Pacifier|dummy]] and gets into dangerous situations. He loves teddy bears and will cry if he is without them. He likes pizza, and only has one tooth. :'''Timmy's Mother''' wears curlers in her hair, and is a bit careless about maternal duties. But when her offspring goes astray, she is inconsolable until he is safely back in her care. '''The Naughty Pigs''' are housed in a yard next to the field, and are the bane of the sheep's life. Mocking, cantankerous, greedy and generally lazy, they still find time to disrupt Shaun’s schemes. ==Minor characters== ===Animals=== '''The Cockerel''' appears at the start of the opening credits. '''The Mother Hen''' and her annoying, chirpy Chicks appear in ''Who’s The Mummy?''. '''Baby Chicks''' are chicks that easily annoy Shaun. They always follow wherever Shaun goes and they like the fleece of Shaun. They appear in ''Who's The Mummy''. '''The Duck''' suffers collateral damage due to Shaun’s exploits in ''Off The Baa'' and ''Bath Time''. '''Mower Mouth''' the Goat is an unstoppable eating machine – while not an unfriendly character, all his considerable energy is focused on his next meal. He appears in ''Mower Mouth'' and ''Saturday Night Shaun''. '''The Bull''' is belligerent, powerful, and easily provoked by Shaun’s antics and the colour red. He appears in ''The Bull'', ''Saturday Night Shaun'', ''Who's The Mummy?'' and ''Heavy metal Shaun''. When Shaun orders a red bed sheet, he stops chasing the other sheep (painted red) around the farm. '''The Mole''' is a rude pest in ''Mountains Out Of Molehills''. He is fearless when mocking Shaun, but not so brave when Mother Mole turns up. '''The Bees''' '''She-Bitzer''' is a female dog belonging to campers who pitch their tent by the sheep field in ''Fetching''. After a brief courtship, she and Bitzer are cruelly separated when her owners pack up and leave the field. '''Pidsley''' is the Farmer's lazy and selfish cat who can be remarkably quick and vicious, and dislikes it when the sheep sneak into the farmer's house. Appears in ''Timmy In A Tizzy'' and ''Saturday Night Shaun''. '''The Frog''' is found in the scarecrow's hat, then in the pocket of the coat which Shaun takes. He is given as currency along with three buttons, a small comb and a kazoo in exchange for a number of pizzas. He seems unwilling to become the pizza delivery boy's pet. '''The Mouse''' is used by the Naughty Pigs as a prank on the flock in ''Things That Go Bump''. ''' The Naughty Pigs''' live in a sty adjacent to the sheep field, and take much pride in insulting the sheep and waylaying their schemes, often quite cruelly. They generally get their come-uppance. ===Humans=== '''Pizza Delivery Boy''' is a teenager who rides a [[moped]] and works in the local [[pizzeria]]. Also [[wiktionary:moonlighting|moonlights]] as a postman in ''Saturday Night Shaun''. '''The Farmer’s Niece''' is a sweet [[cherub]] whose over-enthusiastic love of animals spells trouble for Shaun. '''The Ramblers''' are a liberal, nature-loving couple in ''Shaun Shoots The Sheep''. '''The Scarecrow''' is not a human character, but a handy prop which Shaun uses in ''Take Away'' and ''Things That Go Bump''. <!-- '''The Camper''' is a rude litterbug who sets up his tent in the sheep’s field in ''Camping Chaos''. Unconfirmed episode: not on official site. --> <!-- '''Aliens''' An '''Extra-Terrestrial''' crash-lands his flying saucer in the sheep’s field in ''Alien''. The sheep treat him like any other species, helping him return home. In ''Shaun and the Aliens'', we meet his pesky joy-riding off-spring and his wife. -- Not mentioned on website --> '''Fair Stall Man''' is confused when sheep win on his fair stall and the sheep choose a cuddly toy that they want. '''Bus Driver''' is a bus driver '''The Granny''' is a short-tempered, short-sighted old lady, appears in ''Takeaway'' and ''Save The Tree''. '''The Camper''' is a man who camps on the farmer's field. He leaves litter around the field. The flock enjoys messing in his things, which angers him. ''' The Art Collector''' is never seen but arrives in a stretched limo buying the sheep's much overpainted canvas for a large wad of notes, which the farmer receives with ecstasy. ==References to popular culture== <!-- if notable (noted in published reviews), should be in main text --Lexein--> As with the series' parent show Wallace and Gromit, there many allusions to scenes from movies such as ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[The Lion King]]'', ''[[E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial]]'', ''[[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Pulp Fiction (film)|Pulp Fiction]]''. These include: *Shirley's training in the episode ''Shape Up With Shaun'' is based on the film ''[[Rocky]]''. *The paintings parodied in ''Still Life'' include the [[Mona Lisa]] and Constable's [[The Hay Wain]]. *In ''Buzz Off Bees'', the Farmer appears in his hooded beekeepers outfit, with accompanying [[Darth Vader]]-style heavy breathing. *The infamous shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's [[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]] is spoofed in the episode ''The Little Sheep of Horrors'', whose name is based on the 1960 film ''[[The Little Shop of Horrors]]'' and its [[Little Shop of Horrors (film)|1986 remake]]. *In ''Hiccups'', Shaun turns his guitar amplifier up to 11 in a reference to a scene in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]''. *In ''Fleeced'', the Farmer drags one of the sheep away for shearing, slamming a large metal sliding door closed behind him. This is particularly reminiscent of the original ''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre|Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]''. **Also in ''Fleeced'', the sheep breakout and accompanying music is very reminiscent of British [[WW2]] [[POW]] films (eg ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]''). *In ''Shaun Encounters'' the alien thrashes his car with a tree branch in the same way as [[Basil Fawlty]] in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''. *In one episode a sheep is reading a magazine called "Bleat", A spoof of celebrity gossip magazine "[[Heat (magazine)|Heat]]". *Near the end of ''Off the Baa'' the well-known ''[[Nessun Dorma]]'' theme from [[Puccini]]'s opera [[Turandot]] is used. *At the end of ''Mower Mouth'' the shrubs are clearly reminiscent of those in ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]''. ==Video game== On June 16, 2008, [[D3 Publisher|D3Publisher of America]] announced it will release a video game based on the television series. The ''Shaun the Sheep'' game is being developed by Art Co. exclusively for Nintendo DS. It will be released in the fall of 2009. D3 also published the game based on Aardman's 2006 film ''[[Flushed Away]].''<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18932 |title = D3 Announces ''Coraline'' And ''Shaun The Sheep'' Adaptations |accessdate = 2008-06-16 |author = Remo, Chris |date = 2008-06-16 |publisher = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.shaunthesheep.com Official website] *[http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/shaunthesheep/index.html Official Disney Channel Website] *[http://www.shaun-sheep.com Fan site] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/cartoons/shaunthesheep/ ''Shaun the Sheep''] at [[bbc.co.uk]]/cbbc *[http://www.aardman.com/ Aardman Animation official website] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/09_september/23/shaun.shtml BBC Press release (animation series)] *[http://www.timmythelamb.com Timmy the Lamb tribute website] *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qbLPoBe4x8 CBBC 2007 Ident (Featuring Shaun, Timmy and 2 other Sheep)] *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2u0Q1cjWcs 2nd CBBC Shaun The Sheep Ident (After launch Promo)] {{Wallaceandgromit}} [[Category:BBC children's television programmes]] [[Category:Stop-motion animated films]] [[Category:Wallace and Gromit characters]] [[Category:Films featuring anthropomorphic characters]] [[Category:Fictional sheep]] [[Category:Aardman Animations]] [[Category:2000s British television series]] [[Category:2007 television series debuts]] [[Category:Clay animation television series and films]] [[Category:Shows broadcast by Teletoon]] [[de:Shaun das Schaf]] [[fa:شاون گوسفند]] [[fr:Shaun le mouton]] [[hu:Shaun, a bárány]] [[ja:ひつじのショーン]] [[no:Sauen Shaun]] [[pl:Baranek Shaun]] [[sr:Овчица Шон]]