Billy Bunny's Animal Songs

Performer: Kevin Clash

Press release description

“Billy is a happy, playful, energetic bunny who loves to laugh, sing and play. He comes from a family of three brothers and sisters, 14 aunts and uncles, and 36 cousins (at last count -- they are still multiplying). He lives in a house in the forest beneath a hollow tree with his parents, brothers and sisters, who display a natural passion for carrots. Unfortunately, Billy only knows one song which he sings day and night, driving his family crazy. Billy's eagerness to learn and his natural curiosity will help him learn more songs.”

Performers: Jim Martin, David Rudman, Carmen Osbahr, Kathryn Mullen

When Billy begins his trip through the forest, he first stops at Gopher Ville, where he meets several gophers who sing about how different they are, despite that they all look the same.

Performers: Jerry Nelson, David Rudman, Richard Hunt

Press release description

“These three triplets were born to forest socialites Mr. and Mrs. Cornelious Bear. After being sent to all of the best schools in the forest (and hibernating in all the right caves), the triplets, not surprisingly, turned out to be extremely polite and even developed a taste for tea, much to the delight of their parents. At first they seem quiet, but they really roar when they do their rap song.”

Note

The puppets were originally generic bears who appeared in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Performer: David Rudman

Press release description

“Underneath those shades, the Termite is the tiniest, coolest, hippest insect in the forest. In his early days he played the piano in an all-termite jazz band. They were doing very well until they ate their instruments and the concert hall one night during a performance. Now the Termite sings about his favorite pastime -- chomping on wood.”

Note

A miniature puppet of the Termite is used in medium shots with Billy, while close-ups have a larger hand puppet on a chroma-keyed background, to allow freer movements with his six rodded hands.

Performer: Fran Brill

Press release description

“The Porcupine that Billy meets along the way has a terrific singing voice and she also plays the saxophone. Her parents wanted her to be an accountant, but she resisted for the lure of show business and her dream of becoming the most famous singing porcupine in the world. She displays a sharp sense of humor and always gets to the point.”

Note

The Porcupine also appeared in The Muppet Christmas Carol, performed by Dave Goelz.

Performers: Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson

In a darker part of the forest, Billy encounters a pair of raccoons who are so secretive, they conceal what they're doing and even the fact that they're animals. They elaborate on their secret ways in the song, "I Have A Secret".

Performers: Jim Martin, Joey Mazzarino, Fran Brill, Jerry Nelson, David Rudman, Kathryn Mullen

A family of amphibians sing a song about talking in frog.

Performer: Jerry Nelson

Press release description

“A slow and steady character, the Turtle has lived in the forest for many years. In his early days, Turtle was a cross country runner and holds several Tortoise-Hare Invitational Tournament championships. Now taking it easy, the Turtle's favorite thing to do is sit on a rock and watch the world go by. Turtle doesn't have a song of his own, but Billy helps him make one up.”

Note

The turtle puppet has since been used on Muppets Tonight, in episode 208 as a patient in E-I-E-I-OR, and on Sesame Street, including in the Elmo's World episode "Fast and Slow", acting as the Tortoise to the Hare (the Billy Bunny puppet).