Bear in the Big Blue House: Return to Woodland Valley

Bear in the Big Blue House: Return to Woodland Valley is a sequel series to the Jim Henson Company show that ran from 1997 to 2006. The new show premiered on the Disney+ streaming service, which co-produced along with The Muppets Studio and The Jim Henson Company, on November 24th, 2023, with a season of 30 episodes.

As in the original series, the main character is Bear; a warm, friendly caregiver who invites viewers into his Big Blue House for a day of fun and learning with his friends Tutter the mouse, Ojo the bear cub, Treelo the lemur, Pip and Pop the twin otters (all of whom are now noticeably older than in the original series). The series also stars Ray the sun (who Bear sometimes talks to during the day), Shadow (a sentient shadow that presents stories and songs through shadow puppet segments) and Luna the moon (who Bear talks to and sings "The Goodbye Song" with every night). In contrast with the entirely physical Big Blue House set of the original series, the reboot is a hybrid of practical set design, Shadowmation (developed by original show creator Mitchell Kriegman) and StageCraft, the virtual production technology that had been used on The Mandalorian. CGI animation is also used for wide shots of the smaller characters in comparison to Bear, and for shots of Bear and others pulling off actions that would've been difficult to accomplish using puppetry.

Many of the creative team and puppeteers from the original Bear in the Big Blue House return for this series (even bringing back the original Ojo, Vicki Kenderes-Eibner, to reprise her role), and Mitchell Kriegman is credited as creative consultant (and wrote/directed the first episode). However, the voices of Luna, Shadow and Ray are recast to other actors; Jennifer Hudson succeeds the late Lynne Thigpen as the voice of Luna, Ken Page replaces the late Geoffrey Holder as Ray, and Shadow is voiced by British puppeteer Sarah Burgess, taking over from Tara Mooney. The final episode ends with dedications to Thigpen and Holder. Other recurring puppeteers include Heather Asch, Kevin Clash, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alice Dinnean, John Kennedy, Jim Kroupa, Tim Lagasse, Bruce Lanoil, Drew Massey, John Tartaglia, and Victor Yerrid, with guest/occasional performances by Pam Arciero, Jennifer Barnhart, Bill Barretta, Warrick Brownlow-Pike, Julianne Buescher, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Ryan Dillon, Louise Gold, Brian Henson, Eric Jacobson, Rick Lyon, Jim Martin, Joey Mazzarino, Anney McKilligan Ozar, Carmen Osbahr, Karen Prell, Martin P. Robinson, David Rudman, and Matt Vogel.

The Bear puppet built for this series (by Puppet Heap Workshop, based on Paul Andrejco's original designs) is more intricate than from the original. While Noel MacNeal is still the lead puppeteer and voice of Bear, the puppet now includes a hidden sleeve in Bear's right arm for a second puppeteer to insert their arm into in real time (the second performer, who stands outside the Bear costume, is digitally removed later). Three mechanisms are included inside Bear's head, allowing his eyes, nose and ears to move separately from Bear's mouth and hands (a third puppeteer work the eyes and nose off-screen using a modified Wii remote and nunchuk controller; while the ears, which can wiggle a la Fozzie Bear, are animated via a small motor that can be triggered by the right hand puppeteer holding a modified buzzer in their left hand). The other main characters also get technological upgrades; Tutter is now able to move every part of his body, from his ears to his toes, separately from each other (requiring a team of five puppeteers led by Peter Linz, who originally performed the character), while Treelo now includes mechanisms for the movement of his fingers (controlled by original/lead performer Tyler Bunch moving triggers at the bottom of Treelo's arm rods) and tail (moved by another puppeteer via a joystick), in addition to his eyelids (moved by a third puppeteer using a modified PlayStation controller).

Peter Lurye returns to write the score for the new series and even pen some original songs. Along with new compositions, the series sees performances of songs from the original Bear as well as songs from other Muppet programs, like Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock and The Muppet Show. For instance, the episode "Opposites Attract", which centers around opposites, includes "Up and Down", a song written for the first season of Sesame Street; while the final episode, "A Trip Down Memory Lane", focused on growing up and nostalgia, features "Bring Back the Wonder" from Fraggle Rock.

Principal photography for the series took place continuously between April to October 2022, with production units at LTV Studios in Wainscott, New York and at Manhattan Beach Studios in California. The two units were necessary so that the 30 episodes could be filmed simultaneously in a relatively short timespan; however, this meant that most often, the performers working in the New York unit would have to dub over the puppeteers in the California unit, and vice versa.

Credits

Based on the TV show created by Mitchell Kriegman

Executive Producers: Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter, Halle Stanford

Co-Executive Producers: Tyler Bunch, Rick Fernandes, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal, Alex Rockwell

Produced by Chelsea DeVincent, Jim Lewis, Rita Peruggi, Vince Raisa, Claudia Silver, Mike Steinbach, Kevin Strader

Written by Lou Berger, John Derevlany, Annie Evans, Joe Fallon, Christine Ferraro, Jordan Gershowitz, Louise Gikow, Scott Gray, Chris Hoey, Ron Holsey, Mitchell Kriegman, Ray Lankford, Jim Lewis, Noel MacNeal, Joe Mazzarino, Brian Meehl, J Milligan, Chris Moore, Bill Prady, Mark Saltzman, Ken Scarborough, Craig Shemin, Claudia Silver, Judy Spencer, Jocelyn Stevenson, Kevin Strader, Kirk Thatcher, Belinda Ward, Ellis Weiner, Andy Yerkes, Kelly Younger

Directed by Tyler Bunch, Kevin Clash, Rick Fernandes, Shannon Flynn, Dean Gordon, Tom Guadarrama, David Gumpel, Mitchell Kriegman, Noel MacNeal, Hugh Martin, Jim Martin, Joe Mazzarino, J Milligan, Scott Preston, John Tartaglia, Kirk Thatcher, Chuck Vinson, Matt Vogel

Creative Consultants: Mitchell Kriegman, Tyler Bunch, Vicki Eibner, Jim Kroupa, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal

Puppets Built at Puppet Heap Workshop, LLC

Original Puppet Designer: Paul Andrejco

Production Designer: Chris Renaud

Costume Designer: Lisa Davis

Music by Peter Lurye

The Residents of the Big Blue House

Noel MacNeal as Bear

Peter Linz as Tutter & Pip

Vicki Eibner as Ojo

Tyler Bunch as Treelo & Pop

Heather Asch as Treelo (understudy)

Other Characters

Luna: Jennifer Hudson (voice), Alice Dinnean (puppeteer)

Shadow: Sarah Burgess (voice), John Tartaglia (puppeteer)

Ray: Ken Page (voice), Kevin Clash (puppeteer)

Leslie Carrara as Mayor Pecker

Matt Vogel as Doodle the Rooster

Alice Dinnean as Grandma Flutter & Tally

Tyler Bunch as Doc Hogg & Luke

Jim Kroupa as Jeremiah Tortoise, Otto Otter & Doc Owl

Eric Jacobson as Harry the Duck

Julianne Buescher as Etta Otter

Peter Linz as Jack the Dog, Jacques the Beaver & Skippy

Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Lois, Annette & Lilly

John Kennedy as Rocko and Mayor's Security #3

Victor Yerrid as Big Old Bullfrog

Ursa: Carmen Osbahr (voice), Drew Massey (puppeteer)

Jen Barnhart as Miss Maxwell

Anney Ozar as Rita

Noel MacNeal as Moss

Heather Asch as Keisha

Joe Mazzarino as Mayor's Security #1

Bruce Lanoil as Mayor's Security #2

Karen Prell as Christine

Guest Characters

Kevin Clash as Doc Stripes

Officer Z.N. Chimp: Marty Robinson (voice), John Kennedy (puppeteer)

David Rudman as Grandpa Sputter

Principal Camembert: Brian Henson (voice), Tim Lagasse (puppeteer)

Chef Mort: Warrick Brownlow (voice), John Tartaglia (puppeteer)

Mama Bear: Louise Gold (voice), Victor Yerrid (puppeteer)

Bill Barretta as Papa Bear

Pam Arciero as Sister Bear

Spot Barker: Ryan Dillon (voice), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (puppeteer)

Rick Lyon as Sammy Silvertongue

Jim Martin as Fireman Farley

Bear Assistant Puppeteers: John Kennedy, Jim Kroupa

Tutter Assistant Puppeteers: Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Tim Lagasse, Bruce Lanoil, John Tartaglia

Treelo Assistant Puppeteers: Drew Massey, Victor Yerrid

Additional Puppeteers: Brad Abrell, Cat Adell, Christian Anderson, Joe Annabi, Rachel Appelbaum, Connor Asher, Grant Baciocco, Greg Ballora, Dave Barclay, Bill Barkhurst, Aretta Baumgartner, Erwin Bayan, Nate Begle, Tau Bennett, Sara Berman, Carol Binion, Ron Binion, Dave Bizzaro, Tim Blaney, Marcelo Bottaro, Phoebe Bottoms, Lindsey Briggs, Matt Brooks, Jordan Brownlee, Harrison Bryan, Melvin Campbell, Jennifer Carleton, Kevin Carlson, Raymond Carr, Brian Carson, Chris Chappell, Kristin Charney, Brian Clark, Ceili Clemens, John Cody, Josh Cohen, Jimmica Collins, Jeff Conover, Frank Cordero, David Corris, Melissa Creighton, Carol D'Agostino, Nathan Danforth, Dorien Davies, Audrey Densmore, Kristina Dizon, Jamie Donmoyer, Ben Durocher, Jodi Eichelberger, Emmanuel Elpenord, Artie Esposito, Peggy Etra, Mary Faber, David Feldman, David Fino, Genevieve Flati, Bryan Forrest, Thom Fountain, Brad Freeman Jr., Lexy Fridell, Mark Gale, Aymee Garcia, Rob Gardner, Cam Garrity, Dan Garza, Noah Ginex, James Godwin, Sam Gold, Art Grueneberger, James Gruessing, BJ Guyer, Jenny Hann, Terri Hardin, Forrest Harding, Langston Hatch, Zach Haumesser, Chris Thomas Hayes, Andy Hayward, Chris Heady, Rachel Herrick, Patrick Holmes, Keri Horn, Charles Hubbell, Alissa Hunnicutt, Jason Jacoby, Haley Jenkins, John Jennings, Patrick Johnson, Scott Johnson, Sean Johnson, Victoria Johnson, Avery Jones, Brian Jones, Ulysses Jones, Chris Kauffmann, James Kemp, Kathleen Kim, Donna Kimball, Joe Kovacs, Mary Kowal, Andy Kraft, Adam Kreutinger, Matt Krygier, Erik Kuska, Mike Latini, Matt Lavin, Mindy Leanse, Adrian Leonard, Len Levitt, Jayden Libran, Spencer Lott, Paul Louis, Derek Lux, Darci Lynne, Lara MacLean, Marta MacRostie, Amanda Maddock, Brendan Malafronte, Andy Manjuck, Dave Manley, Emily Marsh, Karen Maruyama, Ed May, Cathy McCullough, Paul McGinnis, Jess McKay, Megan McNerney, Ted Michaels, Tracy Mick, Danny Montooth, Kirsty Moon, Geoff Moonen, Alison Mork, Jason Murphy, James Murray, Sarah Nolen, Kevin Noonchester, Sarah Oh, Mike Oosterom, Bret O'Quinn, Adam Pagdon, Chris Palmieri, Christine Papalexis, Chris Patstone, Michael Paul, Annie Peterle, Marc Petrosino, Fergie Philippe, Felix Pire, Dave Quesal, Mike Quinn, Amber Reeder, Rachel Redleaf, Paul Rice, Abby Roderick, Emory Royston, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Amy Rush, Joe Sabatino, Keith Saltojanes, Liz Sanford, Nicolette Santino, Michael Sare, Rob Saunders, Ben Schrader, Mike Schupbach, Nicole Scott, Tomas Seidita, Joe Selph, Chad Shohet, Ben Siemon, Jessica Simon, Lake Simons, Michelan Sisti, David Skelly, Colleen Smith, Jeff Speetjens, David Stephens, Kenny Stevenson, Andy Stone, Ian Sweetman, Miles Taber, Zach Tolchinsky, Alan Trautman, Cheri VandenHeuvel, Art Vega, Jack Venturo, Mike Verdi, Russ Vick, Alex Villa, Amanda Villalobos, Russ Walko, Robin Walsh, April Warren, Stacy Weingarten, Dan Weissbrodt, Steve Widerman, Susan Widerman, Chad Williams, Noel Williams, James Wojtal, Chase Woolner, Blake Worrell, Eric Wright, Gretchen Wylder, Matt Yates

Shadow Segments by Manual Cinema: Lizi Breit, Kara Davidson, Drew Dir, Sara Fornace, Jyreika Guest, Ben Kauffman, Charlotte Long, Julia Miller, Andrew Morgan, Jeff Paschal, Shay Turnage, Eunice Woods

Shadow Puppetry Supervisor: Jon Ludwig

PUPPET WORKSHOP

Supervisor, New York: Ed Christie

Supervisor, Los Angeles: Jane Gootnick

On-Set Crew: Heather Asch, Rachel Burson, Gretchen Crookes, Andrea Detwiler, Brad Elliot, Artie Esposito, Alex Ferguson, Rob Gardner, Scott Johnson, Tim Lagasse, Tom Newby, Tomas Seidita, David Skelly, Russ Walko

For Puppet Heap: Paul Andrejco, Lauren Attinello, Megan Bailey, Marc Borders, Barbara Bosak, Matt Brennan, Kelli Burton, Michael Bush, Steph Cathro, Ceili Clemens, Melissa Creighton, Carol D'Agostino, Isabelle Dufour, Rich Dyar, Henri Ewaskio, Duncan Gillis, Vanessa Gillis, James Godwin, Tony Grosso, Brian Haimes, Liz Hara, Paul Hartis, Deb Hertzberg, Ann Holdgruen, Lisa Howard, Ulysses Jones, Jean Keevins, Jim Kroupa, Janet Kuhl, Molly Light, Peter MacKennan, Lara MacLean, Amanda Maddock, Cathy McCullough, Tom McLaughlin, Casey Miller, Colette Nickola, Danielle Obinger, John Orberg, Anna Paniccia, Jane Pien, Diana Schoenbrun, Mike Schupbach, Brendan Yi-Fu Tay, Sally Thomas, David Valentine, Laureen Vierno, Nate Wilson, James Wojtal, Cynthia Woodie

For The Jim Henson Company N.Y. Creature Shop

Creative Supervisor: Jason Weber

Workshop Manager/Puppet Costume Supervisor: Connie Peterson

Additional Puppet Design by Ed Eyth

Puppet Construction Supervisor: Rollie Krewson

Additional Puppet Construction: Ron Binion, Dave Bizzaro, Kate Brehm, Matt Brooks, Brian Carson, John Cody, Nicolina Dante, Rosa Douglas, Ben Durocher, Victoria Ellis, Joel Gennari, Andrea Gilletti, Tyler Hall, Joshua Holden, Joe Kovacs, Sara Lafferty, Spencer Lott, Anney Ozar, Gabriella Padilla, Lily Rosen, Kate Rusek, Sierra Schoening, Jessica Simon, Keely Snook, Stacy Weingarten, Matt Witham

Puppet Costumes: Carol Binion, Erin Black, Mary Brehmer, Bob Flanagan, Muriel Grabe, Michelle Hickey, Doug James, Ariella Knight, Kari Love, Stephen Rotondaro, Polly Smith

Assistant to the Creative Supervisor: Carolyn Fanelli

For The Jim Henson Company L.A. Creature Shop: Peter Abrahamson, Jasper Anderson, Laura Baker, Greg Ballora, Robert Bennett, Peter Brooke, Dorothy Bulac, Tamara Carlson, Joe Colwell, John Criswell, Wolfgang Criswell, Jeff Cruts, Duke Cullen, Richard Darwin, Robin Dufay, Deborah Galvez, Patrick Gerrety, Connie Grayson, BJ Guyer, Beth Hathaway, Eric Hayden, Marian Keating, Frank Langley, Russ Lukich, Greg Manion, Karen Mason, Tammy McKinnon, Mike Oosterom, Gary Pawlowski, Tim Rose, Lex Rudd, Rob Saunders, Mike Scanlan, Amber Skowronski, Norman Tempia, Jill Thraves, Chad Waters, Haley Who, Kristen Willet, Scott Woodard, Julie Zobel