Sesame Street finally introduced a new muppet to represent the Filipino people
Longtime cult favorite children’s show Sesame Street has recently welcomed a new character named TJ, a Filipino puppet created by a Fil-Am animator Bobby Pontillas. The puppet features brown skin tone and solid black hair styled in a side-swept haircut, and is wearing a striped hoodie.
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Bobby Pontillas, the creative behind TJ, is an Oscar-nominated animation director for the short film titled One Small Step. He is also the co-founder of a movement called Rise Up Animation, which provides support to people of color who aspire to rise in the animation industry, and one of the creatives behind Disney films like Moana and Wreck-It Ralph. With his impressive credentials as an artist, Bobby continues to make history in the international scene with his creativity and Filipino roots.
In the children’s show loved by kids and kids at heart, TJ debuted in an episode about confidence. In the segment, the new character shares how he shows his confidence by saying, “I’m learning Tagalog. It’s a language my Filipino family speaks. I’m confident because I can always ask my lola for help when I don’t know a word.”
Sesame Workshop’s Director of Talent Outreach, Inclusion, and Content Development Rosemary Espina Palacios, who is also a Filipino, wrote in an Instagram caption that she intentionally introduced TJ to the world in an episode about confidence. “His first segment with Kal Penn and Ji-Young is all about confidence, something I personally feel can help unravel the model minority stereotype.” Bringing this Filipino representation to life is just in time for the commemoration of Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month, showing the expanding range of races in the Sesame Street community and beyond.
Since its creation in 1969, Sesame Street has long been promoting inclusivity. In fact, during last year’s Pride Month, the show featured a family with two gay dads. In 2017, it also introduced Julia, its first muppet character with autism. Over the years, Sesame Street’s set of characters keeps getting more inclusive, which not only offers entertainment to its audience, but also conveys a strong message of equality. The show’s creators hope that the new characters will help young viewers better understand that each person has their own unique traits, features, and culture, which should all be welcomed and accepted.
Featured Image: YINAN SHENTU (via Instagram)
Photos: BOBBY PONTILLAS and SESAME STREET (via Instagram and YouTube)
