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For the last 46 years, children have learned and laughed with the lovable characters on Sesame Street. Throughout that time, characters and puppeteers have come and gone, but the puppeteer behind two of the show’s most iconic characters—Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch—remains. And he finally steps out of costume for the documentary I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story.
This charming biography offers a closer look at the life and career of a man whom many of us have known for most of our lives—yet few would recognize him without his iconic costume. From a young age, Caroll Spinney wanted to be a puppeteer—a dream that eventually led to being hired by Jim Henson to work with the Muppets in 1969.
The rest of the story, then, is one of highs and lows. Through his career as Oscar and Big Bird, the beloved performer has endured his share of challenges and hardships. In fact, he almost didn’t survive his first year on the job. But his passion for his work—and for his characters—keeps him coming back year after year.
As you can probably imagine, the man behind Big Bird has some amazing stories to tell. Not only did he work with Jim Henson to create a beloved character, but he’s also traveled the world, met all kinds of interesting people, and lived a life outside his big, yellow costume. Instead of narrowing the focus to just a few aspects of Spinney’s story, I Am Big Bird covers a lot of territory, using interviews, archive footage, home movies, and even some animation to touch on everything from his friendships and family relationships to his various projects and appearances to the mechanics of his job. It jumps and skips and rushes from one topic to the next in an almost frantic scramble to fit it all in—yet there’s a natural flow to the story, too. And, in that way, Spinney’s biography is a bit like the show that made him famous: quick and sometimes a little chaotic, never letting viewers fully settle into a scene before moving on to the next.
At the same time, though, the spirit of the story easily comes shining through. Spinney is every bit as charming and animated as the character he created. He loves his work. He loves his art. And his joy and enthusiasm are undeniable. Like Big Bird, his creator is often just a really big kid—someone who loves to play and create and entertain. And Spinney’s passion and dedication make this film more than just a story about a remarkable career; it’s a story about love and friendship and the heart that beats inside that yellow feathered suit.
Caroll Spinney has decades of fascinating stories to share. And while I Am Big Bird doesn’t tell any of them in a whole lot of depth, it still offers an interesting (and sometimes moving) introduction to the man behind one of your favorite childhood friends.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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