Vila Sésamo (formerly known as Sésamo from 2016 to 2022) is a Brazilian co-production of the first preschool television programme Sesame Street. As of 2009 it airs on TV Rá-Tim-Bum. As of 2016, similar to Plaza Sésamo (the Spanish version of the kids' show), new seasons air under the title Sésamo. The series debuted on October 12, 1972, moving from TV Cultura to SKY Play on June 25, 2020.
Contents
History
Sésamo is the Brazilian version of the American educational children's show, Sesame Street. Originally airing in Brazil from 1972 to 1977, São Paulo based Brazilian broadcaster TV Cultura and Sesame Workshop (the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop) returned the show to Brazilian airwaves with a new Sésamo branded block of programming in October 2007. The show had a participation in SBT in October 2019 appearing in one of the sketches during children's day. The dubbing resumed and moved to SKY Brasil in June 2020.
The Co-production Era: 1972–1977, 2007–2019
The show premiered in 1972, broadcast by TV Cultura and TV Globo. In this phase, they fulfilled all the norms of the American Sesame Street. Also most of the material was dubbed, and the presentation of thematic charts in repetitive order. The puppet characters in the series, created within Brazil, included the following: Garibaldo, a seven-foot tall blue bird equivalent to Big Bird; Gugu, a hairy green, yellow (plus other colors) Grouch. They lived in the street with Gabriela, Juca, Ana Maria and Seu Almeida.
At the time, there was no color television in Brazil, so the show was broadcast in black and white. It was the first international version of the show.
But it was in 1973 that the two channels started the second phase. Vila Sésamo became entirely nationalized; with new cast members, new music and new scripts. Two new Muppet characters were introduced – Funga Funga, a giant, red elephant, and Zé Das Latas, the street's resident robot. In 1974, TV Cultura decided to stop financing the project. Now it was up to TV Globo, who changed the format to make it more national. A larger set was built for the renewed Vila Sésamo, and more children took part in the show. Assisting in the format change was José Bonifácio Coutinho Nogueira, who had previously worked with TV Cultura.
The final phase started in 1975, but lasted only until 1977. More characters and actors were added during the show's final seasons. All of the puppets were created by local Brazilian designers, with no known involvement from the Muppet Workshop. All original Sesame Street material was dropped, except for the Bert and Ernie sketches.
The series was successful, but was canceled due to overwhelming financial costs.
On October 29, 2007, TV Cultura launched a new Vila Sésamo. Rather than a full co-production, the series featured new host segments featuring Garibaldo (Big Bird) and a new Muppet monster named Bel. The package consists of Portuguese-dubbed episodes of Elmo's World, Play With Me Sesame, and Global Grover, plus selections from the US Sesame Street and Sesame English. Seventy-eight new Brazilian live-action and animated inserts fill out the block.
The Dubbing Era: 2003–present
Eighteen years after the show went off the air, the Hopi Hari theme park in Brazil opened a Vila Sésamo themed area in 1998 (which has since closed), and the original series was released on DVD in 2003. Parents who grew up watching the show when they were young look forward to sharing the experience with their children.
In June 2020, the series returned when SKY Play aired the half-hour special Elmo's Playdate – produced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
The original name was returned and copied to dub episodes for the HBO Max era.
Characters
1972–1977
Garibaldo ([1] Laerte Morrone), a giant, shy blue bird; he was the series' equivalent to Big Bird.
Gugu, a green Muppet monster with a blue nose and orange cheeks. Similar to Oscar the Grouch. "Gugu" is sometimes used to refer to Oscar the Grouch in select Portuguese dubs of Sesame Street. Oscar the Grouch is also called "Gugu" in the 2007 revival.
Beto and Ênio, Bert and Ernie's names in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
Juca (Armando Bógus), a toy maker who taught children about his craft.
Ana Maria (Sônia Braga), a teacher and Juca's cousin.
Gabriela (Aracy Balabanian), wife of Juca
Funga-funga, a red Muppet elephant who didn't like how others looked at him. He could have been an equivalent to Mr. Snuffleupagus but he was not written to be an imaginary character. Mr. Snuffleupagus is referred to as "Funga-Funga" in the 2007 revival and other Portuguese dubbed projects.
2007–2013
Garibaldo (Fernando Gomes), unlike the previous version where he was the independent resident counterpart to Big Bird, Garibaldo has actually became the American Big Bird himself but using the name "Garibaldo" as his Portuguese translated name making it consistent with the use of "Garibaldo" as his name in most Portuguese dubs of Sesame Street as well as making Vila Sésamo the second International Co-Production of Sesame Street after Zhima Jie to have a direct localized version of Big Bird rather than a separate equivalent. Big Bird appears as a host on the local segments with Bel who serves as his best friend in the segments.
Bel (Magda Crudelli), imaginative, outgoing, pink three-year-old monster. She is Big Birds best friend in the 2007 series.
Beto and Ênio (Marcelo Torreão), Bert and Ernie's names in the Portuguese-dubbed version. They are mentioned a few times by Garibaldo and Bel, but they only appear in segments of the American version.
Elmo (Alexandre Moreno), the red monster from the original American skits, at Bel's same age. He only appear in segments of the American version.
Come-Come (Luiz Carlos Persy), Cookie Monster's name in the Portuguese-dubbed version. He only appears in segments of the American version.
Grover (Mauro Ramos), the cute furry blue monster friend also from the domestic Sesame Street segments. He only appears in segments of the American version.
Sivan (Neusa de Souza), a little girl who is in a wheelchair from Rechov Sumsum, the Israeli co-production of Sesame Street and Shalom Sesame.
2016–2019
Bel (Thais Carvalho), imaginative, outgoing, pink/purple three-year-old monster.
Beto and Ênio (André Milano), Bert and Ernie's names in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
Elmo (Kelly Guidotti), the red monster from the original American skits, Bel's same age and best friend.
Abby Cadabby (Marilice Cosenza), a fairy who makes magic.
Come-Come (Paulo Henrique), Cookie Monster's name in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
Grover (André Milano), the cute furry blue monster friend also from the domestic Sesame Street segments.
Mãe (Kelly Guidotti), Elmo's mother who helped Elmo.
Louie (Jonathan Faria), Elmo's father who helped Elmo.
Lily (Thais Carvalho), a tiger from Zhima Jie, the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street.
Chamki (Thais Carvalho), a six-year-old girl from Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian co-production of Sesame Street.
Lola (Marilice Consenza), a pink monster from Sésamo, the Latin American co-production of Sesame Street.
2019 special
Farmer (Paulo Porto), who works on a farm.
Garibaldo (Falcon Mantovanni), just like the 2007 version, he is Big Bird.
Elmo (Kelly Guidotti), the red monster from the original American skits, at Bel's same age.
Abby Cadabby (Marilice Cosenza), a fairy who makes magic.
Come-Come (Paulo Henrique), Cookie Monster's name in the Portuguese-dubbed version.
Program segments
Letra do Dia (In English: Letter of the Day)
A segment where Big Bird has to find things with letters of the alphabet.
Vamos Contar com a Bel (In English: Let's Count with Bel)
A segment where Bel needs to find objects in a pool of colorful dice.
Elmo's World (O Mundo de Elmo)
A segment where Elmo learns many fun things.
Global Grover (As Viagens de Grover)
A segment where Grover talks about his trips to other countries.
Play With Me Sesame (Brinque Comigo Sésamo)
A segment where the characters Ernie, Bert, Grover and Prairie Dawn play and have fun, as well as showcase retro Sesame Street clips and songs dubbed in Portuguese.