Peep and the Big Wide World

Peep and the Big Wide World
Format	Animated television series
Created by	Kaj Pindal
Starring	Scott Beaudin as Peep Jamie Watson as Quack Amanda Soha as Chirp
Country of origin	United States
Production
Producer(s)	WGBH Boston 9 Story Entertainment
Running time	22 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	TLC Discovery Kids PBS Kids (only in reruns) BYUTV (2012)
Original run	April 12, 2004 – present

Peep and the Big Wide World is an animated cartoon that teaches nature and basic science concepts to preschoolers. The main characters include a baby chicken named Peep and his friends Quack, a purple duck, and Chirp, a red robin with pink eyelids. The current show, narrated by Joan Cusack is based on a National Film Board of Canada cartoon short of the same name, created in 1988 by Kaj Pindal and narrated by Peter Ustinov. The original short comprised three 10-minute films featuring Peep, Quack, and Chirp as they meet a cat, a ladybug, a turtle and a frog who speaks from both sides of his mouth.

The show is produced by WGBH (PBS) in Boston and 9 Story Entertainment in Toronto. In the US, this show formerly aired on Discovery Kids as part of its commercial-free and sponsor-free "Ready, Set, Learn!" programming block. In Canada, it airs on TVOntario. DVDs and books are also available for purchase. Peep and the Big Wide World is currently sponsored by the National Science Foundation in conjunction with WGBH-TV as part of an education and outreach program. The principal investigator is Kate Taylor, also of the ZOOM block. The National Science Foundation is the only permanent sponsor of the show. The Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded the show for only season two. The Discovery Kids Foundation funded the show for only season one.

Overview

Young viewers follow Peep, Chirp, and Quack as they investigate and explore the world around them. Following the 9-minute animated segment, there is a 2-minute live-action segment with children exploring and demonstrating the same topic presented in the animated segment. Animation consists of bright colors and simple shapes.

Peep (voiced by Scott Beaudin) is a chick who lives in a can near a trash dump. Chirp (Amanda Soha) is a young, hydrophobic robin living on a nearby tree branch. Several episodes depict her trying to learn to fly. Quack (Jamie Watson), the oldest of the three, is a duck who lives in a nearby pond. Quack often mentions his high opinion of ducks. Chirp is often depicted as the most out-spoken of the trio, often pointing out mistakes made by Quack and Peep. Peep is depicted as a kind, but wide-eyed character, easily becoming distracted by falling leaves, sunflowers, new noises, and the like.

Season 1 episodes

(This list is incomplete) Episodes consist of two 9 minute animated segments, each followed by a 2 minute live-action segment. Occasionally, networks such as TVO will use individual segments as filler for commercial-free programming.

#	Original Airdate	Title	Plot/Notes
1/1-1	April 12, 2004	"Spring Thing"	At the end of winter Peep, Quack, and Chirp find a flower that which they believe to be the last one in the world, and try to protect it.
		"Springy Thingy"	Peep, Quack, and Chirp learn about springs when they encounter a frog, a spring mattress, and a jack-in-the-box.
2/1-2	April 13, 2004	"A Duck's Tale"	After meeting a skunk for the very first time, Quack is inspired to examine the various defenses that many animals have.
		"Quack's Tracks"	On the first snowy day of Winter, Peep loses Quack and uses his tracks to find him.
3/1-3	April 14, 2004	"Quack and the Very Big Rock"	The birds learn about leverage when Quack gets frustrated by a large rock in his way of visiting Peep.
		"Shadow Play"	The birds discover their shadows and how they change with the movement of the sun.
4/1-4	April 15, 2004	"Current Events"	Peep borrows a toy boat from Nellie's yard and sets off with Chirp for Green Island where Quack is visiting.
		"Quack Loses his Hat"	In order to save Quack, who's stuck inside a pickle jar, Peep must figure out how to float a duck.
5/1-5	April 15, 2004	"Night Lights"	When Quack wakes up too early, he thinks the sun is gone, but afraid that the sun forgot to rise, he and Peep find a flashlight.
		"Sounds Like..."	Peep and Chirp get lost, but use a variety of sounds to find their way home.
6/1-6	April 19, 2004	"The Windy Day"	A windy day helps Chirp to "fly", but she discovers it isn't as easy as it looks.
		"Peep Feet"	The birds learn about the benefit of standard measurement.
7/1-7	April 20, 2004	"Newton's Big Adventure"	Newton explores his surroundings.
		"Peep Crosses the Road"	Peep decides to cross a road to find the answer to "Why did the chicken crossed the road?".
8/1-8	April 21, 2004	"Stormy Weather"	Peep's first encounter with thunder and lightning.
		"Peep in Rabbitville"	Peep learns about a rabbit's perspective on life.
9/1-9	April 22, 2004	"Quack's Stuck Stick"	Peep discovers a beaver dam and a young, toothy beaver, while Quack loses his favorite stick.
		"Peep's Can"	Peep searches for a house he can call home.

Other episodes

(This list is incomplete)

All Fall Down

The birds learn the names of the fall leaves.

Marble Mover

Peep and Quack work to get a marble rolled up-hill, and later Chirp helps too.

The Red Ballmoon

Chirp uses a balloon to help her fly.

Bedtime Story

The birds tell stories about the day they were born.

Birds of a Feather

Peep discovers a feather and sets out to find its rightful owner.

Big Bird

Chirp meets an adult robin who can sing, build nests, take baths, and fly.

Bridge the Gap

The birds discover pine-cones but must build a bridge to reach them.

Chirp Builds a Nest

Chirp tries to build a nest.

Chirp's Flight Program

Chirp copies other birds in an attempt to fly.

Chirp Flies the Coop

Chirp tries to decide whether to go south with Robin, or stay and face another winter.

Chirp Sorts It Out...Sort Of...

Chirp's interest in collecting becomes a mania.

Count Them Out

The birds learn more about collecting.

A Daring Duck

Chirp tries to find a way to fly across Quack's pond.

The Deep Duck Woods

The birds become lost in the "Deep Dark Woods".

A Delicate Balance

The birds figure out how to reach sunflower seeds.

The Disappearing Drink

Chirp believes someone is stealing her water.

Door Tour

The birds try to add a door to Peep's can.

Dry Duck

Quack's pond dries up when the beavers move away.

Fair Shares

The birds figure out how to share two crackers among the three of them.

Faster Than a Duck

The local animals all race to see who is the fastest.

The Feats of Peep

Peep discovers how to pull large loads with a small piece of string.

Finders, Keepers

Quack finds a slice of bread and considers whether to save it.

Finding Time

Quack thinks he is turning into a duck-fish.

The Fish Museum

Fish Jr. wants to wear sneakers and sit in a tree and enlists Quack's help.

Flipping Newton

The birds try leverage to right a flipped Newton.

Flower Shower

Chirp discovers a pink cherry orchard.

Give Me a Call

Quack tries to track down an annoying sound.

Go West Young Peep

Peep and Chirp try to discover where the sun goes at night.

Hear Here

Quack decides to give a concert.

Hide and Go Peep

The birds play hide and go seek.

Hoop Tricks

Chirp finds a bracelet and discovers all the things it can do.

I Spy a Spider

The birds discover a spider web.

In a Bind

Chirp finds a golden string.

The Incredible Shrinking Duck

Quack learns how snow melts.

The Last Straw

Peep and Chirp discover that a drinking straw has many uses.

The Many Moons of Quack the Duck

Quack insists that there are many moons in the sky — the day moon, the night moon, and so on.

Meeting Halfway

Newton is delighted to learn of another turtle and the birds arrange a meeting.

Mirror, Mirror in the Dump

The birds find a mirror.

M-U-D Spells Trouble

The birds experiment with mud.

The Mystery of the Thing That Went and Came Back

Peep accidentally sets sail in the Good Ship Easter Egg. But Peep was alone! How could he get out now?

One Duck Two Many

Another duck tries to move into Quack's pond.

Peep's Coloring Quest

The birds experiment with a pair of orange sunglasses.

Peep Deep in the Big Muddy

On a hot summer's day, Peep discovers a mucky way to cool off.

A Peep of a Different Color

Peep, Quack, and Chirp discover paint.

Peep Feet

The birds learn that a step means one thing to a cat, another thing to a rabbit, and something else altogether to a Peep.

Peep's Lost Leaf

One windy day, Peep spies the "perfect" leaf and decides to chase it down.

Peep's Moon Mission

Peep, Quack and Chirp argue over whether the moon is perfectly round.

Peep's New Friend

Peep befriends a caterpillar.

Peep's Night Out

Goaded by Squeak, Peep decides to experience life after dark.

Peep Plants a Seed

Peep discovers a patch of sunflowers and decides to grow one for himself.

Peep Prints

The birds discover you can make prints with berry juice.

The Perils of Peep and Chirp

Emboldened by the ice, Peep and Chirp try to walk across Big Bay.

Quack Goes Nuts

The birds help Squirrel get to his acorns.

Quack Hatches an Egg

Quack decides that a baby duck would make his pond even more perfect than it already is.

Quack Quack

The birds meet another Quack. Megan Mullally guest-stars as Quack #2.

Quack Quiets the Universe

Quack has another sleepless night.

The Real Decoy

Quack finds a decoy duck.

Reflection Affection

The birds experiment with mirrors.

Robin in the Bat Cave

The birds play hide and seek again. But the birds need to get out of there.

The Root Problem

There's a snake in Quack's pond.

Save It for Later

Chirp tries to protect her acorn collection.

Smaller Than A Peep

Peep discovers a magnifying glass.

Snow Daze

The birds consider the difference between ducks and beavers.

The Sounds of Silence

Quack decides not to talk until Chirp begs him to.

Star Light, Star Bright

The birds wish upon a star.

Stick With Me

Peep goes in search of his favorite (lost) dandelion seed, and discovers that the world is full of sticky things.

Stuck Duck

Quack gets stuck in a hollow log.

That's a Cat

It's Peep's first day on earth, and all the other animals gather round to teach him about cats.

There's No Place Like Home

Quack sets out to prove that his pond is the best and biggest pond in all the world.

The Tooth, the Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Tooth

Beaver Boy loses a tooth.

Tree Feller

Beaver Boy is ready to cut down his first tree.

The Trip to Green Island

Peep and Chirp finally get to Green Island.

The Trouble with Bubbles

Quack discovers bubbles, but no one believes him.

Under Duck

Quack discovers fish in his pond.

Wandering Beaver

Beaver Boy wants to visit Quack's pond but keeps getting lost.

The Whatchamacallit

The birds are determined to find out what a "whatchamacallit" is.

The Winter of Quack's Discontent

Quack's pond is covered with ice.

Who Stole the Big Wide World?

The birds wake up to find the world is gray and everything in it is gone, only that Chip knows that it's actually a foggy day.

The Lurmies Are Coming

Quack alerts Peep and Chirp that they must build an elevated path to escape the dreaded, lurking Lurmies.

An Inconvenient Tooth, Part 1

Beaver Boy cuts down too many trees, and the birds need him to stop doing that.

An Inconvenient Tooth, Part 2

Beaver Boy discovers that growing trees is hard.

Season 4 episodes

Magic Duck Dance

Quack believes his dancing causes an acorn to fall from a tree, and rain.

Quack's Square Deal

Chirp is collecting things that are square, so Quack starts a collection with pointy tips.

Chirp, Chirp, Tweet, Tweet, Chirp

Chirp tries to create her own birdsong.

You Can Count on Bunnies

Peep and Quack look for lost bunnies.

Bringing Spring

The birds help a young groundhog find her shadow.

House of Sand and Frog

Chirp moves into a beautiful sandcastle.

Characters

Main article: List of Peep and the Big Wide World characters

• Peep: A curious and easily distracted 5-year-old chick, who lives in a tin can that somebody littered, and is a good friends with Chirp and Quack.
• Quack: A duck-loving and vain 8-year-old duck who acts as a leader to Chirp and mostly Peep and lives in a typical pond and wears a sailor's hat.
• Chirp: A young but realistic 6-year-old robin who lives in a short tree and rolls her eyes at Quack, but is a good friend to Peep. She appears to be hydrophobic.

Minor Characters

• Beaver Boy: A young, eager beaver who lives in a dammed pond down-stream from Quack's pond.
• Newton: A relaxed male turtle who lives under an apple tree and is the oldest, wisest animal around.
• Fish Junior: An innocent fish who lives under the water in Quack's pond and idolizes Quack.
• Hoot: A terrifying but polite owl who lives in the Deep Dark Woods. She's friendly with Peep and Chirp, but not with Quack.
• Beaver Dad: Beaver Boy's firm dad.
• Beaver Mom: Beaver Boy's friendly mom.
• Nellie: A knowledgeable dog who lives in a doghouse, which is a great discovery hall for Peep, Chirp, and Quack.
• The Rabbits: Three shy but frisky rabbits who once met an intruder named Peep.
• Squeak: A disturbed mouse who lives under a discarded brick and always comes up out of it when she hears something dangerous.
• Squirrel: A perky squirrel who lives in an oak tree and speaks in signs and squeaks.
• Tom: A mischievous cat who often causes trouble for Peep, Chirp, and Quack.
• Skunk: A rude skunk that bothers Quack by drinking water from his pond and usually responds with "whatever".
• The Ants: A group of busy ants that desperately look for food most of the time.
• Quack 2 (voiced by Megan Mullally): A snobby, entitled pink female duck who lives in a pond built by Peep, Chirp, Quack, Beaver Boy, Beaver Dad, and Beaver Mom.
• Robin (voiced by Holly Hunter): An adult robin who lives in a tree next to a puddle and was Chirp's teacher for a while.
• Willow: A relaxed (not quite as much as Newton) female turtle who lives under a willow tree and is the second-oldest, second-wisest animal around.
• The Blue Jays: Two high spirited male blue jays that annoy Peep, Quack and Chirp.

Music composition

Music for Peep and the Big Wide World is composed by Terry Tompkins and Steve D'Angelo, from Eggplant. The opening theme is performed by Taj Mahal.

Funding

• Chuck E. Cheese's
• ExxonMobil
• Toyota
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Viewers Like You

External links

• Peep and the Big Wide World (Current series) at the Internet Movie Database
• Peep and the Big Wide World (1988) at the Internet Movie Database
• Kaj Pindal at the Internet Movie Database
• Peep and the Big Wide World Official website
• WGBH
• 9 Story Entertainment
• National Science Foundation grant information
• Watch the original Peep and the Big Wide World at NFB.ca
• Read Goodman Research Group's executive summary of the Peep website evaluation