Ernie Through the Years

The Evolution of Ernie (1969-present)

{| border=2 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 style="border-collapse:collapse" ! Image !! As seen in !! Year !! Notes
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 * [[Image:1969_Ernie.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 1 || 1969 || The first Ernie puppet sports a purple and orange shirt, with yellow collar and cuffs (resembling that of a turtle neck shirt), and a purple nose. During the pilot episodes, Jim experimented with Ernie's eye focus; at one point he looked downwards instead of upwards.
 * [[Image:Ernie1970.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 2 || 1970 || Ernie wears a red-blue pattern sweater instead of a purple-orange one. His nose changes from purple to red.
 * [[Image:Ernieolder.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 3 || 1971-1976 || Ernie's eye focus is improved, and he has a brighter orange skin tone.
 * [[Image:Erniemid70's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 8 || 1976-1982 || Ernie's skin is now darker orange antron fleece, instead of blanket fleece. Also, his head is considerably rounder.
 * [[Image:Ernie-ernestine.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 14 || 1982-1985 || Ernie's head becomes taller making it slightly less football-shaped. His skin color reverts back to a more vibrant orange. The collar and cuffs of his shirt also change, looking more like such of a regular shirt.
 * [[Image:Ernie1980's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 17 || 1985-1995 || Similar to the previous Ernie puppet, except the eyes are somewhat separated apart, and his hair is thinner.
 * [[Image:3816z.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 27 || 1995-1999 ||
 * [[Image:Ernieearly2000's.jpg|249px]] || Sesame Street Season 31 || 2000-2002 || Once again, Ernie has a rounder head, closely akin to the 1976-1982 version. He also has a fuller tuft of hair, making it appear somewhat longer.
 * [[Image:Ernie2000's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 34 || 2003-present || The structure of Ernie's head is much smoother and less bumpy than earlier puppets.
 * [[Image:Ernie-ernestine.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 14 || 1982-1985 || Ernie's head becomes taller making it slightly less football-shaped. His skin color reverts back to a more vibrant orange. The collar and cuffs of his shirt also change, looking more like such of a regular shirt.
 * [[Image:Ernie1980's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 17 || 1985-1995 || Similar to the previous Ernie puppet, except the eyes are somewhat separated apart, and his hair is thinner.
 * [[Image:3816z.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 27 || 1995-1999 ||
 * [[Image:Ernieearly2000's.jpg|249px]] || Sesame Street Season 31 || 2000-2002 || Once again, Ernie has a rounder head, closely akin to the 1976-1982 version. He also has a fuller tuft of hair, making it appear somewhat longer.
 * [[Image:Ernie2000's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 34 || 2003-present || The structure of Ernie's head is much smoother and less bumpy than earlier puppets.
 * [[Image:Ernieearly2000's.jpg|249px]] || Sesame Street Season 31 || 2000-2002 || Once again, Ernie has a rounder head, closely akin to the 1976-1982 version. He also has a fuller tuft of hair, making it appear somewhat longer.
 * [[Image:Ernie2000's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 34 || 2003-present || The structure of Ernie's head is much smoother and less bumpy than earlier puppets.
 * [[Image:Ernie2000's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 34 || 2003-present || The structure of Ernie's head is much smoother and less bumpy than earlier puppets.
 * [[Image:Ernie2000's.jpg|250px]] || Sesame Street Season 34 || 2003-present || The structure of Ernie's head is much smoother and less bumpy than earlier puppets.

! Predecessor Puppets and Planning!! !!  !!
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 * [[Image:Character.moldyhay.jpg|250px]] || Moldy Hay from Sam and Friends || circa 1960 || Distinct from the papier-mâché humanoid characters like Sam, Moldy Hay's orange fleshy skin and wide-mouthed grin are traits that would later be refined into Ernie.
 * [[Image:Erniesketch.jpg|200px]] || Design sketch for Sesame Street || circa 1969 || Early sketches bear a closer similarity to Moldy Hay, with messier hair, and in some images, enormous ears. Contrast is established between Ernie's horizontal stripes and round-faced look and Bert's vertical stripes and leaner appearance.
 * [[Image:Erniesketch.jpg|200px]] || Design sketch for Sesame Street || circa 1969 || Early sketches bear a closer similarity to Moldy Hay, with messier hair, and in some images, enormous ears. Contrast is established between Ernie's horizontal stripes and round-faced look and Bert's vertical stripes and leaner appearance.
 * [[Image:Erniesketch.jpg|200px]] || Design sketch for Sesame Street || circa 1969 || Early sketches bear a closer similarity to Moldy Hay, with messier hair, and in some images, enormous ears. Contrast is established between Ernie's horizontal stripes and round-faced look and Bert's vertical stripes and leaner appearance.