User:Drillbit Taylor/Sesame Street Episode Number Animations

During the first 6 seasons of Sesame Street, each episode began with an animated sequence that ended with the show's episode number.

International co-productions that premiered during the 70s (with the exception of Sesamstraat in the Netherlands), including Plaza Sésamo, Sesamstrasse, and Vila Sésamo used these animated sequences during their early years. However Sesamstrasse continued to use these segments long into the 1990s, as well as creating their own opening animation sequences. The particular segments re-used from the original American version also had different soundtracks and redrawn colors. Those segments were phased out after 1995, when Sesamstrasse stopped airing repeats of the 80s episodes, and the number sequences were eventually discontinued after 2000.

The following is a listing of known animated sequences.

Clay

A unicorn and abstract man form the words "SESAME STREET," which is then placed on an arch. The episode number appears below as the two enter through the arch. The animation was done by Jim Henson. (First: Episode 0001)

• all of season 1

0001 opening animation

Birds

An egg cracks open, causing a bird to pop out, holding a box. A smaller bird holding an upside-down hat pops out of the box. From the hat, a pelican's head emerges and he opens his beak, revealing a little bird who sings some musical notes. The notes dissolve into the words "Sesame Street" and then fade into the episode number. (First: Episode 0131)

• Episode 0131, Episode 0138, Episode 0150, Episode 0171, Episode 0256, Episode 0290, Episode 0315, Episode 0441, Episode 0471, Episode 0551, Episode 0599, Episode 0711, Folge 0261, Folge 0445, Folge 0457, Folge 0906, Folge 1196, Folge 1566

0138 opening animation

Notes

• This animation appears in On My Way to Sesame Street movie viewer cartridge.
• For certain episodes (including 0131 and 0138), this segment incorrectly uses the audio from the flowers segment (see below) due to an audio error.

Artist

A artist paints the words, "Sesame Street" on a yellow paper and proudly shows it off to the viewer. The letters then slide off the paper onto the ground, as the episode number appears. The painter leaves, disgusted, as the paper is left floating in midair. (First: Episode 0135)

Episode 0135, Episode 0205, Episode 0394, Episode 0415, Episode 0425, Episode 0515, Episode 0594, Episode 0595

0135 opening animation

Notes

• This segment is most commonly seen on Friday episodes.

Sign

Two people stand under a sign that says "Sesame Street". Through gibberish, one of the characters asks how to get to Sesame Street, and his friend helps point him towards the right direction. The words on the sign then fade to the episode number. (EKA: Episode 0141)

Episode 0141, Episode 0148, Episode 0168, Episode 0218, Episode 0273, Episode 0352, Episode 0493, Episode 0573, Episode 0592, Episode 0702, Episode 0733

0141 opening animation

Flowers

Flowers are planted that form into the words "Sesame Street." Another flower produces the episode number. (EKA: Episode 0162)

Episode 0162, Episode 0197, Episode 0207, Episode 0276, Episode 0316, Vila Sésamo, Folge 0628, Folge 1202, Folge 1332

0197 opening animation

Notes

• On Vila Sésamo, the second flower (which usually showed the episode number) showed a smiley face.
• On Rechov Sumsum, the original animation was often used as a standalone insert wihtin a program, minus any episode number and with the "Sesame Street" title cut.

Gong

A man hits a gong, and it falls down. (EKA: Episode 0179)

Episode 0179, Episode 0244, Episode 0323, Episode 0484, Episode 0504, Episode 0524, Episode 0593, Episode 0734, Episode 0744, Sesame Street Movie Viewer "Shapes" Cartridge, Episodio 327, Folge 1175, Folge 1395, Episode 0244

0504 opening animation

Notes

• This sequence appears in the Sesame Street Movie Viewer Cartridge: Shapes.
• Noggin utilised this animation for an interstitial, "Sesame Street Hits," as an introduction to a classic segment.

Woodpecker

A woodpecker pecks "Sesame Street" on a tree. Afterwards, he catches a worm, who pecks the woodpecker back, causing the bird to faint. (EKA: Episode 0326)

Episode 0326, Episode 0330, Episode 0406, Episode 0456, Episode 0536, Episode 0596, Episode 0666

0326 opening animation

Notes

• This segment is most commonly seen on Monday episodes. It can also be seen on the Old School: Volume 1 DVD.

Trumpeter

A trumpet player plays a jazzy version of the theme song as the letters that spells “Sesame Street” fly out of his horn. As he plays, the letters, slightly separated from each other, flicker in different neon colors. Then, upon the last note, the trumpeter collapses from exhaustion and disappears, as the "Sesame Street" text switches to normal, and the episode number appears. (EKA: Episode 0333)

Episode 0333, Episode 0343, Episode 0479, Episode 0669

0333 opening animation

Rocket

A spy takes everything out of a trash can and turns it into a rocket, then it zooms off with the words "Sesame Street" in smoke. (EKA: Episode 0359)

Episode 0359, Episode 0560, Episode 0600, Episode 0720

0359 opening animation

Notes

• This segment is most commonly seen on Monday episodes.

Mad Scientist

A mad scientist conducts a balloon-blowing experiment, then the balloon pops with the words that say "Sesame Street" coming out. (EKA: Episode 0396)

• Episode 0396, Episode 0597, Episode 0657, Episode 0747, Episode 0757

0396 opening animation

Notes

• This segment has the longest running length.

Balloon

A man blows a balloon that says "Sesame Street", then it deflates with the man hanging onto it, after the words jump out of the balloon. The man then falls flat on his face. (EKA: Episode 0578)

Episode 0578, Episode 0598, Episode 0688

0578 opening animation

Notes

• This segment is most commonly seen on Wednesday episodes.