Open Sesame

For the 1992 book, see Open Sesame (book)

Open Sesame is the umbrella term coined by Children's Television Workshop to describe a specific format of Sesame Street adaptation. In contrast to the full co-production models, Open Sesame shows are dubs, initially packaged as either 13 or 27 segment blocks. In the earliest years, a locally produced opening film, often featuring animated versions of Sesame Street characters, introduced the series, and was the only local footage used. In more recent decades, the openings have generally been produced in the United States of America, by Bill Davis' studio. With few exceptions, nearly every show in this model was called Open Sesame, as translated into the native language of the intended country.

The earliest seasons of Sesamstrasse, while not officially part of the format, used a variation, but incorporated a greater amount of local film and cartoon inserts. The first Open Sesame packages debuted in 1975 and 1976, in Spain, Sweden, France, and Montreal, Canada. By 1979, Portugal and Italy had followed suit. Some of these countries, based on the success of the dubbed series, later expanded into co-productions, with varying levels of success.

Open Sesame Shows

• Australia, Open Sesame

• Canada (Montreal), Bonjour Sesame, 1975

• Czechoslovakia, Sezamé Otevri Se

• Denmark, Sesam, luk dig op

• Finland, Seesamtie, 1997-2000

• France and Belgium, Bonjour Sesame, 1976

• Iceland, Sesam Opnist Pû

• Indonesia, Boneka Sesame

• Italy, Sesamo Apriti, 1978

• Malaysia, Taman Sesame

• Portugal, Abre-Te Sesamo, 1976

• Spain, Abrete! Sesamo, ca. 1976

• Sweden, Sesam, 1975

Sources

• Borgenicht, David "Around the World with Sesame Street." Sesame Street Unpaved.
• Lesser, Gerald, Edward L. Palmer, and Milton Chen. "Sesame Street: Patterns of International Adaptation." Journal of Communication. Spring 1976.
• CTW. 1979 Corporate Review.