The Monster at the End of This Story

Title screen

Promo art

Promo art shown at an HBO Max event

The Monster at the End of This Story is an animated Sesame Street special which premiered on HBO Max on October 29, 2020. The special is an animated adaptation of The Monster at the End of This Book and features Grover, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Rosita, Abby Cadabby, Oscar the Grouch, and Grover's Mommy.

An animated short based on the special was released on September 22 starring Grover and Elmo. (YouTube)

The special was originally to be promoted around a Grover-centric campaign called "The Year of the Monster." The campaign was since changed to focus on all the monsters of Sesame Street, now called "Furry Monsters."

The program won a Rockie Award at the 2021 Banff World Media Festival, in the category "Animation: Preschool (0-4)". It was produced by A Productions, a British studio.

The special was made available for purchase through various digital outlets on March 1, 2022. The special debuted on PBS on March 7, 2022. The PBS version edits out Grover and Elmo's song about being afraid and the flashback to Grover riding his bike without training wheels for the first time, as well as a few minor edits.

Songs

• "Monster at the End"
• "Afraid"
• "Courage"

Cast

• Eric Jacobson: Grover, Oscar
• Ryan Dillon: Elmo
• Leslie Carrara-Rudolph: Abby Cadabby
• David Rudman: Cookie Monster
• Carmen Osbahr: Rosita
• Stephanie D'Abruzzo: Grover's Mother

Credits

• Executive Producers: Brown Johnson, Kay Wilson Stallings, Olexa Hewryk, Mark Taylor
• Co-Executive Producer: Benjamin Lehmann
• Written by Christine Ferraro
• Directed by Mark Taylor
• Coordinating Producer: Mindy Fila
• Content Producer: Autumn Zitani Stefano, M.A.
• Vocal Music Director: Paul Rudolph
• Talent Supervisor: Karyn Leibovich
• Script Supervisor: Jennifer Capra
• SVP, Curriculum & Content: Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D.
• Music Directors: Ellie Wyatt, Joss Peach