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Bob the Builder is a children's television character created by Keith Chapman. The show is designed by childrens book author, illustrator and production designer Curtis Jobling. Bob appears as a construction contractor in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of anthropomorphised work-vehicles and equipment. The show is broadcast in many countries, but originates from the United Kingdom where Bob is voiced by actor Neil Morrissey.

In each episode, Bob and his gang help with renovations, construction, and repairs and with other projects as needed. The show emphasizes conflict resolution, co-operation, socialization and various learning skills. Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it?", to which the other characters respond with "Yes we can!" This phrase is also the title of the show's theme song.

Production

The show is produced in the United Kingdom and then United States by Hot Animation for HIT Entertainment, and draws heavily on stop motion techniques such as those pioneered by Art Clokey and more recently on the successful works of Aardman Animations. The show does not use claymation, but instead the characters are made with silicone skin and a metal armatured skeleton inside. The characters and sets are designed by Curtis Jobling.

Characters

All the characters are adult paedophiles, rape machines or wild animals, except for Spud the scarecrow who serves as the stand-in for a naïve child. It is Spud who must learn to be patient, not to eat all of the food, etc. Spud has a habit of trying to do work and with his limited intelligence getting it wrong and spoiling materials. The machines also often exhibit the behaviors of children, being impatient, not fully understanding the consequences of their actions, and generally acting like children. In these circumstances, Bob acts like their parent, patiently teaching them lessons and helping them fix the messes they've gotten themselves into.

Some have complained about technical errors and lack of proper safety practices in the program, especially the absence of protective eye-wear. However, in later episodes, Bob is seen wearing safety glasses.

Humans

Bob the Builder is a construction worker and head of his own construction yard. He is the namesake of the show and also its main character. Some of the problems in the show arise from Bob's habit of forgetting to turn his mobile phone on. Bob works with Wendy who runs the office and keeps the business in order. She is his business partner and often organizes tools and equipment. An underlying romantic tension between Bob and Wendy is hinted at in several episodes. Farmer Pickles is a nearby farmer who sometimes helps out with Bob's projects. He is also the "owner" of Spud, a scarecrow who means well, but more often than not makes a mess of things.

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Machines

Scoop is a yellow backhoe loader and the unofficial leader of all the machines (male voice; catchphrase: "No prob, Bob!") Muck is a red bulldozer with additional dumping bed who thinks before he acts and often gets in trouble for it, but finds his way back (male voice; female voice in US dub; catchphrase: "Muck to the rescue!") Dizzy is an orange concrete mixer and one of the youngest in the yard. She is eager, curious, and easily excitable (female voice; catchphrase: "Brilliant!") Lofty is a blue crane who isn't very confident; he is hesitant and timid, but with the encouragement of the team comes through in the end (male voice; catchphrase: "Uh... yeah, I think so!", usually said in response to the question "Can we fix it?") Roley, the green steamroller, rounds out the "Can-Do Crew" (male voice; catchphrase: "Rock and roll!") Travis is Farmer Pickles' cyan tractor. He helps out the crew when they need it and keeps an eye on Spud the scarecrow (male voice; catchphrase: "OK, Farmer Pickles" & "Spud's on the job!").

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Animals

Pilchard is Bob's cat and considered a part of the team. However, she's often sleeping when she's needed. Farmer Pickles has two animals: Scruffty, a dog and Humpty, a prize pig.

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Project Build-It

In the second season, a sort of spin-off series was created titled "Project: Build-It". Bob hears of a contest to build a new community in a remote area called Sunflower Valley, outside of Bobsville. He moves from Bobsville (supposedly temporarily) with Wendy and the team and builds a new yard there. Bob convinces his father, Robert, to come out of retirement and take over the Bobsville building business. It is not known whether Bob will return to Bobsville or not.

For the Project Build-It series, different actors were found to do the voices for many of the human characters, including casting Greg Proops as the new voice of Bob, and Neil Morrissey, who played the original Bob, to be the voices of Spud the Scarecrow and Mr. Bentley. Also, the show added recycling and being environmentally friendly to its lessons, emphasising the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".

International versions

Bob the Builder is shown in more than thirty countries, and versions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, and Croatian, among other languages. It is shown on CBeebies on BBC television in the UK. Voice actors who have contributed to the original British version include Neil Morrissey, Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Rupert Degas, Colin McFarlane, Maria Darling, Emma Tate, Richard Briers and June Whitfield.

Australia

Bob the Builder is shown with the ABC Kids programming in Australia.

Catalonia

"Bob el Manetes" is aired in catalan at TV3, the national public television. Bob always asks "Ens en sortirem?" and his friends answer "Si, i tant".

France

Beginning October 22, 2005, "Bob le Bricoleur" has been airing on France 5 in France. This is the second season (called "Project: Build It" in English): "Mission Nature".

Germany

Beginning February 2, 2001, "Bob der Baumeister" has been airing on Super RTL in Germany. Since then, 157 episodes have been aired.

Japan

When being ported to Japan, it was reported that characters of Bob the Builder would be doctored to have five fingers instead of the original four. This was because of a practice among the Yakuza, the famed Japanese mafia, where members would "cut off their little fingers as a sign they can be trusted and have strength of character, and will stay through.".

The Netherlands

Soon after the BBC started airing, Fox Kids and later Jetix aired the episodes of "Bob de Bouwer" in the Netherlands. Main voices are done by Bram Bart (Bob, Spud, Mr. Dickson, Mr. Ellis, Bennie), Caroline Mout (Wendy, Dizzie, Scrambler) and Fred Meyer (Scoop, Lofty, Mr. Beasley, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Fothergill, Pogo ), Laus Steenbeeke (Farmer Pickles, Jake, Mr. Adams, Mr. Sabatini, Mr. Stevens, Robert the Builder, Scip, Tom the Builder, Tony, Travis, Zoomer), Marjolein Algera (Aunt Doris, Charlene, Del, Dot the Builder, Jana von Strudel, Jenny, Marjorie Mayor, Molly, Mrs. Broadbent, Mrs. Percival, Mrs. Potts, Ms Barbara Bentley, Scoot, Trix) and Stan Limburg (Muck, Roley, JJ, Lenny Lazenby). Stan Limburg also is the Dutch voice-director.

North America

Treehouse TV in Canada airs Bob the Builder, and it was shown on Nickelodeon in the US. However, starting with the 2005-06 season, episodes in the US will be shown on PBS Kids instead. The North American version of the show uses the original British footage, but dubs the voices in local accents and slang (for example, the word "soccer" is used instead of "football" to avoid confusion with American football or Canadian football, though sometimes this is done haphazardly; in one episode, a "soccer field" is referred to but later it talks about "football tricks"). In the American version, Bob's voice is performed by comedian Greg Proops. William (Bill) Dufris is the original North American voice of Bob (and Farmer Pickles/Mr. Beasley/Mr. Sabatini). In 2001, the show aired on CBS. then ended in September 2002.

Wales

The Welsh language version is called "Bob Y Bildar" and began airing on S4C in October 2006, as part of the Planed Plant Bach lunchtime segment between 12.30 and 1.30pm. The show has been dubbed into the Welsh language by record label Sain, which had previously provided Welsh dialogue for children's series Thomas the Tank Engine.

Sweden

In Sweden the show is named "Byggare Bob" and is being aired on SVTs child times.

References

• Character section information from: "Meet all of the Bob the Builder Characters" (flash). Bob the Builder website (U.S. version). Retrieved 2006-08-11.

1. http://www.fluidpowersafety.com/sfty_toy1.html
2. "Bob the Builder - ABC Kids TV guide". Retrieved 2006-09-03.
3. "Bob le Bricoleur" (in French). francetélévisons distribution. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
4. "Bob the Builder fixed for Japan". BBC News. 2000-04-20. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
5. "Can we fix it? Ie, ni'n gallu, says Bob on S4C". icWales. 2006-07-22. Retrieved 2006-08-11.

External links

• Official Website
• Bob the Builder area on NickJr.com
• Bob the Builder web page at TreeHouseTV.com

• BBC children's television programmes
• Animated television series
• Programs broadcast by Treehouse TV
• Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters
• PBS network shows
• CBS network shows