#pcqposting | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

threesthoughts · 8 days ago

Text

…Yapping about Peep: take 4

A quick yap session In celebration of the 2004 Cartoon’s 21st Anniversary since it’s premier

Also this is 2 days late because my other ones kept getting deleted idk what this even is

(A/N: Author tends to ramble about who knows what? Also, i refer to the show by its full name or as Peep, which was its name at some point in production) I tried to keep it brief.

Peep and the Big Wide World is a cartoon that is built on one principal: "Just because you're four or five years old doesn't mean you're not a scientist." Peep is all about fostering curiosity, discovery, and innovation- while having an absurd amount of fun doing so. Chances are you won't even realize you're learning! It is witty, fun, and optimistic- a perfect cartoon for kids, and you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone that watched it that it didn't make an impact on. Peep is a cartoon that doesn't talk down to kids. It never belittles their intelligence, it's not afraid to use more complex words. Lessons are never explicitly stated, instead they are allowed to come naturally, a nice breath of fresh air when it is so much easier to make cartoons become preachy instead. The animation itself is colorful, yet calm is a gentle pace. The music, art, lessons, all wonderful. Peep is all around a incredible cartoon. That's why I would like to open this post with a brief rundown of the people behind the show.

And of course, we start with none other than Kaj Pindal himself.

Peep and all his friends were first created by Pindal back in 1962. Pindal began as a cartoonist creating many anti-Hitler cartoons, even though at the time, Denmark, his homeland, was under German occupation, making this very dangerous. Pindal was an animator, teacher, and activist, who worked for many projects with the NFB- many to serve as activism, speaking out against car culture, tobacco, and to educate about safe sex practices, and HIV/AIDS. Pindal recognized the sheer power that animation held. I present to you this story taken from Pindal's Blogspot:

"In the mid 80s, As Kaj was working on the direct-to-video version of “Peep and the big wide world” at the NFB studio in Toronto, a gentleman came to see producer Mike Scott, his name was Peter Dalglish. Although Dalglish went to law school, he decided the world didn't need another corporate lawyer, so he founded "Street kids international". At the time he was working with kids in Sudan, The problem of AIDS has come along at the time, and he realized how big a problem that was. He needed to inform the kids about protection. But he also knew it wasn't easy for white westerners to deliver messages to these kids worldwide, as the kids wouldn't relate easily...but he noticed how much they liked TOM & JERRY cartoons, and seeing how fascinated the kids were with Animation, Dalglish concluded he has to warn them about AIDS through animated cartoons."

Knowing this, there's no surprise that Peep and the Big Wide World turned out the way it did. It was the recognition of the power of art and the desire to create something great with it that made it- despite Peep! a show focused on STEM concepts- so great. It is the art- the writing, the animation, the music that brings it to life and connected with so many people And we have Pindal to thank for that.

(I STRONGLY advise you go check out his blog- complied by two of his (former) students. There is a treasure trove of information about him. I could talk so much more about him.)

Moving on from Pindal, we have Karen Worth, another key player in making Peep the show that it is.

Worth was the PatBWW science advisor. While Pindal created the 1962 and 1988 short films, it is Worth that carries the show in terms of scientific content. Peep, was underwritten by the NSF- the National Science Foundation. Worth is the author of the book "The Essentials of Science and Literacy" and specializes in science literacy connection for young students. I'm going to link a list of the books she wrote or helped to write if this part is especially interesting to you.

Finally, I want to talk about Joan Cusack.

Cusack is the narrator of Peep, and she is critical to the success of the show. Humor is important. Especially to a show that appeals to young kids. But Peep is also a show that is very much focused on the adults watching as well. I'm referring more to the parents, guardians, and educators rather than the Tumblr Fandom, but I digress. Peep was made to be an anywhere tool: In classrooms, at home, etc. Adult support is key in child development, and it is the adult encouragement and guidance that can do absolute wonders in instilling a life long love of science.

Having Cusack around really helps at retaining adult interest , her delivery and talent shine though in every line, and she delivers something with a edge to it, a mild contrast to the childlike wonder of the other characters, but it's never to the point of being cynical or distracting. Cusack's narration offers something for the adults at home to connect to, (she is a Golden Globe and Academy Award nominee, after all,) connecting parents to what their kids are watching connects them with their education, and their kids all at once.

Of course, there are so many people that are involved with the making of a show- writers, storyboard artists, directors, voice actors, the kids that have their two minute segments between the Peep episodes, and so many more people. These are but three.

The eponymous Peep and all of his friends are our guides though their- and our- worlds. After all, good story is nothing without good characters- and Peep certainly has good characters.

Quack:

Quack is the fan-favorite. There is no doubt in my mind to this, it’s basically a given. Even if he isn’t your favorite, there’s always something to say about Quack. Like Cusack, I strongly believe he serves as a bridge between show and parents and teachers- though let's be real, EVERYONE gets a kick out of Quack.

“There’s nothing better than ducks”

Quack is the arrogant, sometimes mean, egotistical know-it-all of the three main birds, but he has a heart of gold and will always come though for his friends. Also, did I mention he's absolutely hilarious yet? Because he is. Sometimes, Quack can be egotistical and mean- but he never gets too badly scolded for it. Which I can appreciate it. Quack is young. Lots of kids tend to have egos to them at this age- the show doesn’t feel the need to lecture its audience for it- it does a wonderful job at show, not tell when it comes to his pride and his jerkish tendencies. He is the oldest of the birds, and can sometimes come across as pessimistic, but he's never above joining in on the fun with his friends, and still has a strong childlike innocence to him.

What I love about Quack is that even though he can be very strong in his beliefs and convictions, but isn't above giving other opinions a chance. Of course, he tends to have a lot of blind spots, and tends to rely on the most basic principals and generalization too much, but he's still learning.

His voice actor is phenomenal. I cannot think of a better voice for Quack.

Even though Quack is undoubtedly the comic relief of the trio, and often the most childish, he is still knowledgeable, especially about ducks and swimming, and for some reason jokes and other human expressions.

My favorite parts is when he does feel and not being so cocky. I much prefer when he’s insecure, sympathetic, sad, but these wouldn’t hit so hard without his attitude, would it?

My favorite Quack episodes:

The Fish Museum

A Daring Duck

Peep's Can

Quack's Stuck Stick

Give Me a Call

Quack interestingly also got more episodes about him than Peep- even though Peep is the main character

Chirp:

Chirp is a savage. Like lowkey she I think she has some of the best lines. I personally think Chirp is like, the coolest character. In the fandom she seems to be generally liked, with only a few people that don’t like or care for her much.

“I came here to explore, and I’m going to explore!”

Chirp- the knowledgeable, determined one of the trio. She is the most book smart and socially intelligent of the three a good majority of the time. She is generally kind and hospitable, but quick to temper and obsession, and very assertive with her beliefs. She also has very strong convictions- dare I say even stronger than Quack? Maybe. What makes Chirp so compelling is her overarching story.

Hooboy.

Chirp wants to fly. Over the whole series Chirp wants to fly. This leads to some very interesting character moments where we see her determined attitude, but we also see doubt and hurt. This is makes her a very real and relatable character- we see the dream, the effort, the pain. We see Chirp be reckless, we see her be defensive. We see all sorts of human emotion- her story is one that can apply to any one of us- i love this for Chirp. I love that her dream to fly- and feelings associated with it- can be applied to all sorts of stories in real life. There is obviously how kids want to grow up and have more freedoms and escape the injustice of youth,but you can also read into it as an exploration of identity- gender, race, class, anything, because Chirp’s story might be case specific, but there’s still so many people that can connect to it for completley different reasons.

I personally like the duality of Chirp. She seems to operate very smoothly- almost suave around nearly everyone- even dangerous characters like Tom, but she still gets flustered around the likes of Robin and Hoot. She’s practical, but still young and still full of whimsy

Favorite Chirp Episodes:

Chirp Chirp, Tweet Tweet, Chirp

Peep:

Wow. Peep. Peep is one of my favorite protagonists ever. He’s the baby of the group, leading him to be gentle and easily distracted, but he is still the most observant of the trio. He is a quiet protagonist. Despite his quiet, observant nature, Peep still is an active character in the story, but it never puts pressure on Peep to need to save the day all the time.

"Yes we will! I know we will!"

Peep is agreeable, gentle, and sweet. He is often the most reasonable and rational person of the group, but he still recognizes emotion and tries to keep everyone happy- even at the expense of his happiness sometimes. He is always ready to help his friends. He is a quiet extrovert. He is fair and just. He is the embodiment of Peep and the Big Wide World’s message. You can be great even if you’re young.

As I said, Peep is one of my favorite MCs ever. Shows have a tendency to put their main characters on a pedestal or have them preach at you. Sometimes shows- and people put a lot of pressure on observers. You better have something amazing up there, or else you’re boring. Weird. Bad. This never happens. The narrative allows Peep to simply be… small. To just be. Because not everyone is a talker in real life, and I feel thats even rarer in media. Of course, in a show all about science, observation is a huge part of that, so the reasoning tracks. It’s still something i appreciate though.

Even if he isn’t very relatable to everyone, he still manages to be enjoyable. Literally impossible to find a Peep hater. He still is a great character to connect with the audience.

Interestingly, in the 1962 version, he was a boy, in 1988, she was a girl, and in 2004 was reverted back to being male.

Peep is one of the most whimsical characters i have came across. I love him, he’s amazing. We should all aspire to be more like Peep. He teaches that the mundane and small is just as amazing and has the potential to be exciting and new as any ‘big’ adventure can be.

HE LIVES IN A CAN??? CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS MORE

Favorite Peep episodes:

That’s a Cat

Smaller than a Peep

All Fall Down

Group Dynamic:

This photo does a good job, i think.

I would say that these three and their dynamic are what hold their show together. It’s a good balance. The way they play off of each other is enjoyable, fun, and heartwarming. 10/10 group of friends here. They all have a unique role and the group feels incomplete without anyone of them.

Peep and Chirp are the most standard dynamic. They’re very supportive, kind, and have the same thirst for adventure, but they still round each other out well. Peep is gentle to Chirp’s aggressive. She’s cunning to his naive. Their moments in the show are some of the sweetest things to watch in it, they literally just have fun together and vibe together.

Quack and Peep work well because they’re so different. There’s a nice/mean, street-smart/book-smart dynamic to it. I love them because Peep, by simply existing brings out a side to Quack that we’re not every accustomed to, a good majority of his sympathetic moments are because of Peep. Peep also is genuinely kind and tolerant of Quack, and respects him a great deal. They're both comedic and heartwarming.

Chirp and Quack at first look like polar opposites. Chirp is the sky, Quack is the sea. Chirp is fire, Quack is water. But when you really watch them they’re not as different as you think, they’re very similar despite it all and they still have a great bond. Also: they straight carried this show. I’m sorry not sorry, their banter is too good. Still the funniest thing to me

The trio: Peep, Chirp, and Quack work because they are so genuine. Their relationship feels natural, and while it does have its rough patches, they smooth it out. What i like it that it shows Peep, Chirp and Quack smooth things out alone, with no interference from older characters- even if Peep has to serve as the mediator on occasion, it still feels true to the schoolyard struggles kids have- there is the kid initiating, there is the one with the temper, there is the on stuck in the middle. Their relationship exists because at the end of the day, they’re friends. They want to have each other in their lives. They always return to each other because they’re friends. And i love that for them.

Other Characters:

The characters in Peep are amazing. Aside from the main trio, we have Beaver Boy, Hoot, Newton, the Raccoon, Skunk, Squirrel, Squeak, Nellie, the fish, Tom, the Ants, the Bunnies, and I’m sure I’m still missing some. I love these guys. There isn’t a single character i dislike.

My personal favorites are Newton and Beaver Boy- Beaver Boy has a similar arc to Chirp and is just really funny, but he also is just so hecking wholesome it’s not even funny. Newton is also hilarious. Other characters, even the ones that are disliked like Pink Quack or the Robin from Big Bird never overstay their welcome. The side characters keep the stories fresh and help Peep’s world seem so much realer.

Okay AND this is a sub section but the MUSIC in Peep. The sound direction. It’s actually so good. Again, never too much, never distracting, but it elevates the show past infinity because it works so well with the world. Thats not even mentioning the theme song and Quack’s songs!

That theme song is one of the CATCHIEST things ever and i’m not even a huge fan of country. It is actually so much fun. It’s upbeat anf energetic but it’s not overwhelmingly hyper, and it’s fun to sing along to. I recommend checking it out in other languages.

QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK’S SONGS QUACK’S SONGSSSSS

CAN WE DISCUSS

THE ABSOLUTE B A R S

THAT QUACK PUTS OUT

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN A DUCK YO

They’re catchy as hell. Oh my god- they have no right to do this to me.

“I wish i were a duck

Hey look i already am

What a stroke of luck

Glad i’m not a purple ham“

All in all 10/10 show I need to yak so much more about Peep in so much more detail but this is long enough for now, so i’ll just end things here.

#peep and the big wide world #pcqposting #im actually going insane #patbww

7 notes · View notes

threes-a-roony · 2 months ago

Text

Song recs appreciated!!! I’m not a massive music person/listener actually so yeah

Notes about some songs included:

Count On Me- Bruno Mars: there because its super nostalgic but its a really sweet song that i think matches the relationship of the main trio and their circle of friends. I can easily see Peep vibing to it, or it being from his perspective

Woodland- The Paper Kites: this song actually screams Peep/Chirp coded to me lol- i mean, it also includes Quack duh but i get a lot more Peep and Chirp vibes.

Freaks- Jordan Clarke: alright this one i feel is a semi fit, at the very least Peep and Chirp have tragic backstories and probably (most likely) Quack too. They’ve never been full on bullied but they are just three little kids (birds) all alone in the big wide world and thats still sad. The rest of the song is upbeat so i say it fits

Soldier, Poet, King- The Oh Hellos: ermmmm somg a out a trio. Chirp- Soldier, Peep-Poet, Quack-King methinks but i can see someone making the case for Chirp and Peep swapping

High Hopes-Panic! At the Disco: not my idea, actually. A friend made a video about what song would suit each character and this was Peep’s!

I’m Still Standing- Targon Egertron: Again, not my idea, this time a theme song for Quack! I wasnt terribly sure it fit but i added it anyways. I might need to give it a few more listens

Try Everything-Shakira: Theme of Chirp!! Whats funny is I already added this song to the playlist before i watched the video/added Peep and Quack’s songs. Like Quack’s, i’m wishy-washy on this one. (I love Zootopia, btw, but who doesnt?) I honestly, truely see why this c o u l d be Chirp’s song. Hell, i already had it on the playlist as i said earlied. It’s just…. It doesnt feel Chirp even though this song feels like it was made for her. Idk. Maybe it’s Shakira’s vocals that font xut it for me but i dont get ‘Chirp’ from this, not enough for it for me to call it a theme.

I will admit im being a hypocrite- some songs i added woth no rhyme or reason and they might not even fit the vibes period- im trying to listen to music more to amend that. Also i said ‘Cool Kids’ was Chirp coded and i have no problem with that but i cant get behing ‘Try Everything”? Bruh. To me Try Everything is a Peep song if i ever heard one

The Pond-Rosendale: this has Quack angst written all over it shut up (i love angsty songs i did include many on my playlist)

Astronomy-Conan Grey: ;-; angst purposes mostly- again with Peep Chirp and Quack in nind. I like to believe they are together till the end, but it’s not always like that.

Cool Kids-Echosmith: Chirp vibes and i’m not elaborating

You are my Sunshine-instrumental: angst that sounds happy, and its nostalgic to everyone no duh it went in the playlist

Other songs i went for happy vibes or calm vibes. Thats pretty much it for what i can think of rn at 2 in the am.

Alright, thank you if you stuck with me for that yap-sesh. And again, songs appreciated!!

#patbww #peep and the big wide world #peepandthebigwideworld #spotify #peep chirp quack #pcqposting #where is tge yellow wording option i need yellow!! its peep!!#Spotify

13 notes · View notes