Shaun the Sheep
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Shaun the Sheep is a British animated children's television series produced by Aardman Animations. A spinoff from Wallace and Gromit, the show is currently airing in the UK, on BBC One and the CBBC Channel. The series will air from 2007 to 2009.
The character of Shaun the Sheep was originally introduced in the Oscar winning Wallace and Gromit short film A Close Shave, and Cracking Contraptions, testing Wallace's invention, the Shopper 13. Shaun was so named after being shorn by one of Wallace's contraptions, after which he wore a woolen sweater. As pronounced in some British English dialects, "Shaun" is a homophone for "shorn". The popularity[citation needed] of the character led to this spinoff series.
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[edit] Synopsis
A premise of the series is that Shaun the sheep exhibits human intelligence, creativity, and behavior in a barnyard, which usually produces a situational comedy conflict which Shaun must resolve before the end of each episode. Recurring themes include the characters evading the sheepdog Bitzer, and discovery by the Farmer. In the first episode, a stray cabbage bouncing into the field provokes a football feud. In the second, a freezing cold sheep dip sends Shaun on a commando raid to get hot water from the Farmer’s bathroom.
The show introduces new Aardman characters such as the Naughty Pigs, Timmy the baby lamb and the enormous Shirley, a sheep who eats anything and everything.
Episodes are a combination of slapstick and classic silent comedy in Aardman’s recognisable animation style. There is little spoken dialogue, even by human characters. In this way it is reminiscent of early silent comedy films and even Pingu.
[edit] International broadcasters
The series has been aired on Danish television.
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Major Characters
[edit] Shaun
Shaun's inquisitive, imaginative, impetuous and mischievous nature 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, but his independence is sometimes undermined by his naiveté. He is also a moral character who will try to "make things right".
[edit] Bitzer
Bitzer is the long-suffering sheepdog who watches the flock. He wants a quiet life, but this is impossible with Shaun around. He tolerates the antics, but steps in if things get out of hand. If he can benefit, he will participate in Shaun’s schemes – as long as the Farmer never finds out. Bitzer acts as a factory foreman, checking the sheep into and out of the field on his clipboard and bringing a flask of tea and sandwiches to work. He relaxes by listening to drum and bass on portable media player or doing the crossword puzzle, which provides Shaun opportunity for mischief. Although Shaun is a source of frustration, the relationship between them is essentially friendly. But Bitzer’s loyalty is ultimately to the Farmer.
[edit] The Farmer
A solitary and plain figure, the Farmer tends to his smallholding farm with loyal Bitzer. He goes about his business with determination, expressing little emotion except the occasional burst of frustration when things go wrong, or an air of bemusement at the result 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.
[edit] The Flock
The flock are typical sheep, content to spend the day chewing the cud. But when Shaun gets an idea into his head, they happily follow his lead. They are easily amused and influenced, and are an enthusiastic audience for Shaun. Thare are also clumsy, cowardly and not bright, which undermines Shaun’s exploits.
While they are mainly a group of indistinguishable and undistinguished animals who usually act as one, there are a few more individualistic characters who stand out within the group:
[edit] Shirley
Much bigger than any other member of the flock, Shirley has to be pushed from place to place and can eat just about anything that comes her way. She is also useful as a trampoline, a battering ram and her capacious fleece provides a hiding place for all manner of unlikely items.
[edit] Timmy
Adorable but not as innocent as he looks, Timmy is a baby lamb who sucks a dummy and gets into dangerous situations. He loves teddy bears and will cry if he is without them. He likes pizza, and has only has one tooth.
[edit] Timmy's Mother
With curlers in her hair, Timmy’s mother is a bit careless about maternal duties, leaving much work to Shaun. But when her little boy (frequently) goes astray, she is inconsolable until he is safely back in her arms.
[edit] The Naughty Pigs
Housed in a yard by the field, the Naughty Pigs are the bane of Shaun’s life. Mocking, cantankerous and greedy, they disrupt Shaun’s schemes, but are too lazy to come up with any good ideas for themselves.
[edit] Minor Characters
[edit] Animals
[edit] The Cockerel
Appears at the start of the opening credits.
[edit] The Mother Hen
She and her annoying, chirpy Chicks appear in Who’s The Mummy.
[edit] The Duck
In several episodes, including Off The Baa and Bath Time, He suffers collateral damage due to Shaun’s exploits. As seen in Bitzer Puts His Foot In It, he has several duck friends.
[edit] Mower Mouth
The goat is an unstoppable eating machine – while not an unfriendly character, all his considerable energy is focused on his next meal.
[edit] The Bull
Short-tempered, belligerent and powerful, he is easily provoked by Shaun’s antics and the color red. He appears in The Bull and Heavy Metal Shaun. When Shaun orders a red bed sheet, he stops chasing the other sheep (painted red) around the farm.
[edit] The Mole
A rude pest in Mountains Out Of Molehills. He is fearless when mocking Shaun, but not so brave when Mother Mole turns up.
[edit] She-Bitzer
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.
[edit] Pidsley
The Farmer’s lazy and selfish cat, who can be remarkably quick and vicious. Does not like sheep. Appears in Timmy In A Tizzy.
[edit] The Frog
A nondescript frog found in the scarecrow's hat, then in the pocket of the coat which Shaun takes. He is given as currency along with 3 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.
[edit] Humans
[edit] Pizza Delivery Boy
A gormless teenager who rides a moped and works in the local pizzeria. Also seen moonlighting as a postman in Saturday Night Shaun.
[edit] The Farmer’s Niece
A sweet little cherub whose over-enthusiastic love of animals spells trouble for Shaun.
[edit] The Ramblers
A liberal, nature-loving couple who appear in Shaun Shoots The Sheep.
[edit] The Camper
A yobbish litterbug who sets up his tent in the sheep’s field in Camping Chaos.
[edit] The Scarecrow
Not a human character, but a handy prop which Shaun uses in Take Away and Things That Go Bump.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Trivia
- One episode will feature a character designed by a Blue Peter competition winner.[citation needed]
- The theme tune is sung by the comedian Vic Reeves.
- It will be released on DVD in the UK on the 17th of September.
