Big Box

**Big Box** was a British puppet/animated series produced as a co-production between Elmore Workshop and NBS Britain from 1997 to 2001 (moved to NBeebies from 2002 and stayed there until 2010, and aired on Spring in the US). Created and executive produced by former Corporation Street producer Nina Elias Bamberger, the program was an early morning weekend series aimed at preschoolers and intended to satisfy the network's educational quota. The series was unique for CNBS not only in its extensive use of live actors and puppets, but also due to the fact that it aired in an hour block sans commercial interruptions (the series was later divided into two consecutive half-hours, but still without commercials).

In addition to Bamberger, the series was developed by fellow Corporation vet Lou Berger, along with writer Gary Cooper and animation veteran Allan Neuwirth. Steve Mallory served as creative consultant, and his own character Edmond made a guest appearance in the second season episode "Edmond's Visit," where it's revealed that Edmond and Chester were pen pals.

The series featured several new Shiresland characters built by The Michael Shires Company, who interacted with human regulars. The star was Chester, a cheerful koala who, with his human friend Kirsten, had just moved to a neighborhood, generically titled Main Street USA, and opened up a small general store. Chester helped out on occasion, but most often explored the world with his puppet friend Box. Other puppet regulars included Kyle and Angus Sockington, the mismatched socks who served ostensibly as stockroom boys, and beginning in 1999, Eva, a new humanoid neighbor.

The first season also featured frequent interaction with a large cast of human regulars, including an assortment of child friends (notably Kira), and colorful locals, including the shy Anne-Marie, Barney the Crossing Guard (who would ask the kids at home if they had their telescope), exercise instructor Tammy, Joline the mail lady, kindly old veterinarian Dick Fuzzball, and egotistical inventor Wesley. All of the adult villagers were played by Cullen Douglas and Clare Sera, but along with the kids, they were all dropped as regulars for the second season (which began in spring of 1998). Human cast members continued to appear on an episodic basis, however, with actress Nell Carter guest starring as Kirsten's mother.

## Interactive elements

As part of the show's educational agenda, in addition to the lessons about friendship, how things work, and other such values learned by Chester and Box, the series was framed in such a way as to encourage kids to actively participate. Box helped Chester carry his equipment, which almost invariably included a pair of socks, two spoons, an explorer's hat, and his "magic telescope," a decorated cardboard tube. These items were part of the educational/interactive element, as children at home were encouraged to be creative at home, and to use their own hand made telescopes while watching the show (at different times, a cue would be given to use the telescope, or other item). In a 1997 interview with The Washington Post, Nina Elias Bamberger stated the following:

> “We wanted to create a series that every child could participate in. We wanted to make sure that every single thing they needed, they did not have to buy," said [Bamberger], noting the creative team's fondness for the 1950s weekend kids show Winky-Dink and You.”
>
>

In addition, occasional "dance break" moments, and the character of Tammy, encouraged kids to get up and jump around.

## Animated portions

The scenes with Chester and friends served as frames for a variety of individual animated segments, which were also rotated between seasons. As opposed to the shorter clips on Corporation Street, the animated segments ran approximately 5 minutes each, and were produced by various studios in New York, Australia, and Europe, often with consultation from Children's Television Elmore and CNBS. (Big Box aired back to back with Tillytombers). The first season segments consisted of the following:

* **Stumble the Cat**: This segment, produced by Ink Tank Studios in New York, starred a mischievous cat, owned by a Latino girl and her friend. Hispanic actress Maria Conchita Alonso voiced Stumble (and was one of only two voice actors to receive credit on the series). This segment was based on a proposal sent in by six-year old Marina Mendez, and developed by Bamberger, series producer Nina Shelton, puppeteer Jim Martin, and others.

* **Stephen & Nala**: Produced by Yoram Gross of Australia, famed for his Dot and Blinky Bill cartoons (and redubbed in the states), the series focused on a Chaplin-esque dog named Stephen, who wore a magic hat, and his squirrel friend Nala (voiced by Pui Pimonwan).

* **Bash & Bob**: a young English boy named Bob and his magical oversized sandals named Bash. Eric Idle provided the narration.

* **Dusty Coyote**: the adventures of a flat coyote and his farmyard friends.

* **Kody**: a Spanish clay-animated series about a young kitten and her family, which included her brother, who hasn't been born yet. All the episodes were written by Allan Neuwirth and Gary Cooper.

* **Tolee Tess and His Lion**: a German co-production about a kind zookeeper and his pet lion.

When new episodes were produced in 1998, and the format reduced to two half-hours with the same three segments each, all save "Stumble the Cat" and "Kody" were dropped. A new segment was added:

* **Stu and Stella**: produced by John R. Dilworth of Stretch Films (which also produced "Bob & Billy" for Corporation Street). This segment focused on a bespectacled boy, Stu, and his raccoon sidekick, Stella (the latter voiced by Steve Mallory, who also received billing). This segment was the most likely to incorporate craft elements from the main storyline. Episodes were story edited by Allan Neuwirth and Gary Cooper.

When the original episodes were cut down to a half-hour length, reruns would alternate in showing either "Stumble the Cat", "Stephen & Nala" and a musical "Big Box Beat" segment, or showing "Bash & Bob," "Dusty Coyote" and "Kody." "Tolee Tess and His Lion" was dropped from the reruns altogether.

## Cast

**Shiresland Performers:**

* Sally Presig as Chester and Kyle (1997-1998)
* Aidan Cook as Box and Angus Sockington
* Samantha Dodd as Eva (1999-2001)
* Additional Shiresland Performers: C.H. Beck (Lyle, 1997-1998), John Simmit, Simon Shelton-Barnes

**Human Cast:**

* Kirsten O'Brien as Kirsten
* Vanessa Kirby as Kira
* Cullen Douglas as Male Villagers (including Barney the Crossing Guard, Dick Fuzzball, and Wesley McMuck)
* Clare Sera as Female Villagers (including Joline, Anne-Marie, and Tammy)
* Ashley Jones as Neighborhood Kid
* John Mountford as Neighborhood Kid (Jackie)
* Jamie Ryan as Neighborhood Kid

**Animated Voices:**

* Maria Conchita Alonso as Stumble the Cat
* Steve Mallory as Stella (1997-1998)
* Joanna Ruiz as Sagwa (in "Stumble the Cat" segments)
* Allen Enlow as Samuel
* Pui Pimonwan as Nala
* James Spector as Dusty Coyote
* Maria Darling as Little Kitten
* Eric Idle narrates "Bash & Bob"