The Emperor's New Clothes is a folktale by Hans Christian Andersen about an emperor who is swindled into wearing garments that can't be seen by the unrefined. Not wanting to appear foolish, his people fall in line with the narrative until a child points out that the emperor has actually just been walking around naked.
References[]
- Michael J. Smollin illustrated the story for October in The Sesame Street 1977 Calendar, which was reprinted in The Sesame Street Library Volume 3.
- Bob reads the story on the 1980 Sesame Street album Big Bird's Birdtime Stories.
- Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch assisted in telling the tale of "The King's New Clothes" for the 1982 Sesame Street album Big Bird presents Hans Christian Andersen. The king is seen on the cover of the album, illustrated by Tom Cooke, hiding naked in the bushes.
- Fozzie Bear plays the role of emperor in Muppet Classic Theater. Rizzo, Yolanda, and Montague play the tailors, and Robin the Frog plays the little boy who exposes the truth.
- A segment of Fairyland PD on episode 203 of Muppets Tonight was called "The Emperor's Lewd Clothes", where Clifford and Bobo the Bear attempt to arrest The Emperor for indecent exposure.
- Sesame Street Episode 3784 features an emperor (played by Jerry Nelson) whose lack of clothes are quickly addressed. Throughout the episode, he engages in several activities with other invisible objects, eventually re-committing to walking around in his underwear and wearing "pretend" clothes.
- The 1997 Sesame Street book The Emperor's New Fur adapts the story with Herry Monster in the lead role.
- Cookie Monster directs the play "The Emperor's New Clothes 2: The Emperor Talks Back" in Once Upon a Monster.
- Ernie and Bert appeared in an adaptation of the story for a 2013 entry in Ernie & Bert Märchensongs.