While some may feel that Elmo is the Muppet face of Sesame Street, for me that'll always be the one and only Big Bird.

Caroll Spinney was such an incredible performer. When you watch him you always immediately forget it's a puppet. It's just Big Bird!

I bought a bootleg Big Bird costume online and I’m currently trying to convert it into a functioning puppet that has the same mechanics as the real muppet!!! This video is definitely going to help me with the construction aspects of Big B!

As someone whose first word was literally Big Bird, I absolutely loved this!

Fun Fact: around 1985 NASA was talking with Sesame Street about sending Big Bird up on a space shuttle. It ultimately fell through due to Big Bird’s size, and they ended up sending a school teacher instead, and then the shuttle exploded… so in an alternate timeline Big Bird was on the Challenger when it blew up. Thank you Sam O’Nella for the surprisingly dark fun fact

I am here for Baby Dan and Baby Big Bird lore, them being childhood friends

It might be fun to do an episode with "mini" evolutions of some of the other Sesame Street characters. Like Telly originally had an antenna on his head and Oscar the Grouch was originally orange. Thanks for the episode! My son loves Sesame Street, so it's very dear to my heart.

Man that segment on different "cousins" of Big Bird all around the world makes me curious what you think about the different Muppets in the many different versions of Sesame Street.

As someone who was friends with Big Bird, the reverse broom stick is how the theme park ones are done too

You should really do an episode on Elmo! How his voices, characterizations, and popularity evolved is fascinating!

The ultimate thing of big bird was when he was on Saturday Night Live and the applause the people exploded when they realized it was a real big bird! That was so great! I was watching SNL and even screamed that it was really Carol Spinney the real big bird!

Big Bird definitely needed some help when he was first introduced lol. I’m glad we have modern adorable Big Bird. I just recently went to the Jim Henson exhibit at The Museum of the Moving Image and the size seriously is impressive

Brilliant episode, Oscar would be a fun sesame sequel to do

It just tickles me to see you covering another costumed evolution of a Jim Henson character! (I would say a muppet, as technically all Jim Henson muppets *are* muppets, but Big Bird is not part of _The_ Muppets.) I'm a big Henson fan, so it puts a smile on my face watching someone who is equally, if not moreso, a fan of the company gushing about the characters, the performers, and Jim! That "I'm So Blue" song Big Bird sings in Follow That Bird is one of my earliest childhood memories of something making me bawl like a baby! 🤣 Even to this day if I'm watching/listening to songs from Jim Henson movies and I have KZfaq on "Autoplay" and "I'm So Blue" comes on, I still tear up and get all snorty trying not to blubber! 🤣 The "I Am Big Bird" documentary made me cry as well, and gave me such an appreciation of Carroll Spinney! He seemed like such a lovely man, it's truly a shame he's gone now. I will say of the "I Am Big Bird" documentary though, I did not expect to discover Frank Oz shading Kevin Clash and Elmo going in, but that's what I got! (It's towards the end of the film and Frank Oz is talking about the important impact Big Bird left on children, and he makes a sly comment about how Elmo might be the "more popular" character, but Big Bird is more important to the legacy of Sesame Street or something. It's wild!) I also learned from the documentary that apparently Jim was going to have Frank puppeteer Big Bird, but Frank put the kibosh on it because he did the puppeteer work for the LaChoy Dragon in old commercials for LaChoy chow mein from the early 1970s, and he hated working those enormous "full-bodied" puppets! It may have also been around the time of filming "The Great Santa Claus Switch" and he puppeteered the green full-bodied muppet Thig (opposite Jerry Nelson's blue Thog), and Frank hated that experience too! But it was shortly after that, that he made his feelings known to Jim and, as far as I know, Frank never had to work a full-bodied puppet again expect for maybe the rare occasion Jim asked him to because Jim needed him. I really hope you do another Costume Evolution of another muppet character soon Dan! I would love to see some about Frank Oz's characters (Bert, Fozzie, Grover, Cookie Monster, Sam the Eagle), as well as Jerry Nelson characters (Emmett Otter, Gobo Fraggle, Harry Monster, Count von Count, Floyd Pepper), some Marty Robinson characters (Telly Monster, "Snuffy" Snuffleupagus), some Kevin Clash characters (Elmo of course, Hoots the Owl, Clifford from Muppets Tonight) and definitely more Dave Goelz and Jim Henson characters too! It would also be fun to see some of the female characters created by the lady puppeteers like Prarie Dawn, Zoey, Rosie, Red and Mokie Fraggle, Kira from Dark Crystal!

i grew up with abelardo!! he was always my favorite, and absolute sweetheart lol

Wait, if big bird is 6 years old and 8 feet tall, then how big will he be when he’s an adult!?

Finding out that Big Bird is supposed to be the child stand in was so weird to me, because in my eyes he was an older child, Grover and Elmo were the little kids

Tiny, Noah-Jedi Dan is my favorite part of this video. Adorable.

Your right I couldn’t hold my arm up for that long😂

As a muppet enthusiast I LOVE when creators make muppet/Fraggle/Sesame Street, etc. make videos about it :) Tysm

Also, I feel like you could do an hour long episode of the Sesame Street muppets and their evolutions from the beginning, like OC Oscar was Orange and Elmo had sharp teeth and angry eyebrows! Plus all the versions of muppets around the world in addition to all the Big Birds

I grew up in the 00s with that slight redesign, but since it was the early 00s, sometimes they would show episodes or segments featuring Big Bird from the 90s (or maybe earlier, I could not tell you). I remember wondering why sometimes Big Bird's face looked weird, and now I know!

Big Bird, The Biggest Bird we love! 😍💛💛

The transition from Spinney to Vogel was a bit jarring at first tbh, but honestly Vogel does an amazing job of capturing a younger big bird, his performance reminds me a lot of the 80s and early 90s Spinney performances. Besides I find it really cool that two of the most iconic muppets now share the same performer! Also my favorite with the Vogel/Spinney dynamic (if I remember correctly) was that Vogel started as an understudy/body double for big bird while Spinney performed Oscar.

I didn’t grow up watching Sesame Street much, but I watch it a lot with a little boy I sit for. I ended up just falling in love with Big Bird. His design, character, and voice are top notch, and Follow that Bird is a goated movie.

Pino is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's very precious and quite mischievous at times.

This was really interesting! How nostalgic is Big Bird from the 1980s?!🥰🥰🥰

Make sure you do the Evolution of Thomas the tank engine replicas!

Proud to say I was able to succeed in holding my arm up for the rest of the video. And oh boy was it difficult.

This video made me miss my old Tickle Me, Big Bird toy 😭 Man that thing was fluffy! 💛 I would love to see evolution vids of The Wiggles, so many skivvies, so many skivvy variants for various celebrity guests (Simon Cowell has a grey skivvy!😂 No seriously, go watch The Wiggles meet Simon in the Uber Eats commercials) I think the biggest change in skivvy design is the most recent design for previously blue wiggle, second yellow wiggle Evie (Tsehay being yellow wiggle one), who is Australian aboriginal, basically she’s now a yellow wiggle and her skirt has two vertical stripes instead of one like the rest. So combined w the yellow skivvy, black skirt, yellow stripe and secondary red stripe, her outfit represents her heritage. Something that hasn’t been done before in their history (as far as I know.) This was an adventure of a comment, whoops!

I love Big Bird! As a little girl, I used to have an AM / FM Big Bird radio that danced around to the music or to the sound of my voice. And now I get to buy my nieces and nephew Big Bird themed gifts. It's so funny how life works out! I hope that Big Bird goes on forever! 💛📺🥰🐤

Okay. You've done Big Bird. NOW DO GODZILLA PLEASE!!! I'VE ASKED YOU FOR OVER A YEAR!!!

A part of me got excited when you were talking about the international Big Birds haha

Seeing the 90s and early 2000s Big Bird is making me feel emotional and nostalgic. That's my man!

You promised this like 20 episodes ago in your Kermit evolution and I can’t believe that you did it!

After Caroll Spinney retired as Big Bird and Oscar the grouch in 2018 he shortly died in 2019. May he rest in peace, thanks to 50 years of educating and fun with childrens as Big Bird.

Great video! I would like to see a Bugs Bunny costume evolution.

Oh geez this is episode 69 1969 is when Sesame Street premiered

I s2g every week I’m just more convinced that you can read my mind because I’ve been going on about the big bird for weeks and how I need to borrow my nephew to go to Sesame Place just to see him, he’s my absolute fav

Meeting Carol Spinney a.k.a. Big Bird and going to Motown are the only two things on my bucket list. I cannot tell you how devastated I was from Carol Spinney passed away and I have ever met him I literally would’ve cried! Big Bird and Grover are my two favorite characters from Sesame Street. And David nobody remembers David I loved him he was Maria‘s boyfriend and when he had to leave the show for personal reasons and they hooked Maria up with Louise I always thought he was too old for her I like her better with David! Just sayin!

Every other big bird: cute, fluffy, would love to hug. Brazilian big bird: literally a nightmare who looks like it steals souls thru the power of song. PS- I also thought you were a baby Jedi 😅

Big Bird was and still remains one of the BEST characters on Sesame Street, I forgot how cute he is in some scenes, His laugh is super contagious too

Here's an odd story about Big Bird from Adelaide, Australia. One of those Sesame Street Live costumes was stolen, gutted, & left to rot near one of those big electricity boxes. Poor Big Bird looked like he got caught up in a bird gang crossfire. Justice prevailed as the two twenty-something "Big Bird Bandits" apologised & pleaded guilty. Big Bird was later returned to his owners, & the show went on.

I actually held my hand over my head until the end of the video. Granted I did have to rest it on a wall.

I love Big Bird too! I always felt safe when he was around and I love Snuffy too.

I always love seeing the work that goes into bringing Big Bird to life! It’s so interesting! I got to see a costume/puppet of him at the Museum of the Moving Image, and he was massive. I wanted to hug him. Big Bird is such an iconic character, and Caroll Spinney is a big part of that. As much as I love Big Bird, though, Zoe has always been my favorite. 🧡

I actually tried to push through and try the arm challenge upon Dan’s request! Great showcase, Big Bird is awesome!

I wish you’d mentioned Big Bird’s appearance on Lip Sync Battle, he CRUSHED it on both songs. Love the video! Big Bird has always been my favorite

You should cover the Count for Halloween. That way every time you belt out one of your famous laughs, lightning will flash behind you! Then again, considering how often you laugh, you might cause some seizures due to how many times the screen would flash. XD

It's really interesting to see that Big Bird and Abelardo Montoya (his Mexican counterpart) would appear together as cousins.

Love seeing the quick little clips of Sesame Place

I definitely remember when Sesame Street used to be an hour long show. Now it’s 30 minutes.

Big bird will always tell us the way to Sesame Street where every day is sunny ❤️

Hi dan big fan and long time watcher of the channel. Glad a new one came along😁

I LOVE SESAME STREET!!!

I like to think that Big Bird in the first episodes (and had just moved into Sesame Street) had previously fallen on some hard times, which would explain his disheveled look, his droopy eyes making him look sad/depressed and his more erratic behaviour, but over time recovered, getting back his full (enough) plumage, looking more happier and mellowed out more

Big bird was my first crush. When I was little, I wanted to move in with him in his nest on Sesame Street.

Can you make an evolution video of Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster Muppet over the years?

Man that classic 90's costume brought back a lotta of witty and fascinating memories of watching Seasme Street when I was a kid lol. ♥

Oh my god yes! I love these videos! And wow, Big bird? Let's watch this video!

Originally Spinny wanted to do it backwards so BIg Birds legs would bend like a real bird. Also fun that Vogel is German for Bird.

i ADORE caroll spinney as soon as i heard this was coming i was PUMPED to get more caroll spinney content!!!!

As a toddler I used to think, Big Bird was real and as an older child I used to think, he was played by a VERRY tall actor. The actual technique is amazing!

Such a great and fascinating evolution. Also It’s incredible that Matt Vogel now has the pleasure of puppeteering two of the most iconic puppets in the world

This channel just fuels my special interests

Here's some bonus info about the "costume" bird used in Sesame Street Live and at theme parks! He is actually slightly different from the TV bird, and was built by VEE instead of Henson. Since VEE recently lost the license to Sesame and Feld Entertainment has taken over Sesame Street Live, the newest birds are being built by Animax Designs instead. The first three Animax birds went to Sesame Place California for its opening last march, including one that is fitted with a speaker in the head and prerecorded voice lines triggered by a control glove that the performer wears. This bird talks to guests! The biggest difference between the VEE/Animax birds and Henson ones is the head mech. The costume birds all wear a tie made of plastic mesh for the performer to see out of the front, and a collar to hide where the head joins the body. These birds have their heads mounted on a stick with a hand mech that can be swiveled around and triggered to open and close the mouth, making his neck noticeably stiffer and straighter than TV Bird's.

Big Bird! A classic!! 💛

Fun fact: The big bird puppet at my Seaworld, (San Antonio) his feathers are made with ostrich feathers.. and they are expensive. Big bird has always been my favorite character.

I miss carol spinney so much he was the reason why I love big bird his kindness and affection for the children all over the world is something we lack in todays era I miss you carol🥲 I only wish I could have met him

k this is hella cool. please do more of sesame street!!

You should do more Sesame Street muppets.

I love that this is an episode of Distory and not just a video on big bird. Sesame Street never was owned by Disney.

You got me, I thought young Dan was dressed as a Jedi too 😂 1999-2003 episode was my Big Bird! Seeing the Plaza Sesamo version gave me such a huge nostalgia blast too~ and normally I don't have my foot in the kidcore pond but I need a plushie of Baby Big Bird Immediately™ Also I'm losing my mind at those animations of Caroll Spinney operating Big Bird, they're so incredibly charming

You've brought back my love of Big Bird from when I was a kid! I watched Sesame Street all the time and I liked whenever Big Bird was on screen because he was like a sweet, gentle giant character that is comforting just to look at with all those feathers.

I love how they change the set every video

Another amazing and heartwarming video Dan! I love love love when you upload a new video, thanks for always being so optimistic and fun it really helps brighten my day :)

When I was young I had a dream where an army of big birds took over the world, I was so scared by that dream that it never quite left my memory. About a month or two later, the madtv show on CN did a sketch where big bird took over the world, I ran out the room horrified.

Man Dan's laugh is so contagious I love it.

Pink from neatherlands is my favorite big bird. And Alberto from Mexico 🇲🇽 and Japan 🇯🇵 also cloned big bird too.

I have a theory: Big Bird grows more feathers each time he learns something new

Wonderful job! Please cover more muppets characters and more Sesame Street icons. I really want a Fosie Bear history! Also wonderful child picture! I grew up in the 90s and 2000s too, and can easily resonate with your feelings about the character design of that time.

I am happy you’re covering big bird when I was a kid he was one of my favorite Sesame Street characters I appreciate what you’re doing Disney dan all Us cast members at Disney really love your videos

Nice video Disney Dan! I have an idea for an evolution, Jack Sparrow!!

Awesome video! I was very fortunate to meet Caroll Spinney after watching his documentary and he was just as kind as you would have imagined. He complimented on my Kermit the Frog shirt and said "Hi Jim." 💚 That always warms my heart! Big Bird is iconic. Also I love how you mentioned Nanny from the original Muppet Babies and I never would have thought of her having "Big Bird" legs lol. Also, if you ever do a video on Snuffy, please consider posting disclaimers and warnings because his very first appearance is disturbing and gives me the creeps.

Oh my. Episode 69! Noice.

Sesame Street is so iconic and I did watch it and it’s amazing 🥲.

MAN! Carol was a legend! And so is Big bird! ...Except that Brazil one.

You should’ve done a Disney-related video to celebrate the 2022 D23 Expo!

Gotta be the one to say that I loved the Jim James cameo at 12:27... wasn't expecting to see that here!

As a Portuguese person, I didn’t know my country just copied the Turkish version of “Grande Pássaro” (that’s how we say in Portugal).

Thanks ABunches, Dearest Dan for showing the evolution of one of my "Dear Old Friends" (Mickey being the other) Big Bird.

Matt Vogel has the impossible task of replacing two of the most memorable puppeteers in the most memorable roles. I personally don’t love his Kermit voice (the puppeteering is fine or even great, but the voice has yet to work for me), but he is great as Big Bird.

i'm typing with only one hand rn cause i'm trying to keep my arm up for like 10 minutes now. i feel like if i stop it will fall off, praise this man. edit: HOLY SHIT I ALMOST BROKE MY SHOULDER WHEN I STOPPED

I had a Big Bird themed room as a kid. LOOOVE him!!! Also love Snuffy, he had QUITE the evolution, you should do a video on him next!!

So glad to see your post today!

_nice_ (But for real, I love Big Bird. He’s an adorable character.)

What a nice episode! I really love Big Bird so much because he's one my favorite Sesame Street characters of all time! I sure wish I could meet him sometime. 🥰🥰

That big bird doc is great but it was chilling to learn that Caroll…who would have been in the big bird costume…was almost sent up in the challenger spaceship instead of Christa McAuliffe and for those who don’t know the ship famously and tragically exploded after take off

The fact that exist a video of "garibaldo" meeting the yellow bird is incredible

the og big bird puppet may not be the happy guy we know and love, but i still think it's a cool and fun design