Bob the Builder (character)

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Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder character
Bob the builder.jpg
Bob as he appears in the original series and Project: Build It
First appearanceUnaired Pilot Episode (1997; unofficial)
Scoop Saves the Day (1999; official)
Created by Keith Chapman
Designed by Curtis Jobling
Voiced by Neil Morrissey (1999) (1999–2011) (UK) [1]
Rob Rackstraw (2007–2011) (only for live shows and the official website) (UK)
William Dufris (2001–2005) (US)
Greg Proops (2005–2007) (US)
Marc Silk (2007–2011) (US)
Lee Ingleby (2015 reboot) (2015–2018) (UK)
Colin Murdock (2015–2018) (US)
David Holt (Young, 2015 reboot)
Anthony Ramos (untitled upcoming film)
In-universe information
Full nameBob
NicknamesBob the Builder
Bobby
GenderMale
Occupation General Contractor
Family
  • Robert (father)
  • Dorothy (mother)
  • Tom (brother)
  • Billy (grandfather)
Nationality British

Bob the Builder, also known simply as Bob, is the titular protagonist of the British animated programme of the same name. He is a general contractor with his own construction yard in Bobsville (original series), Sunflower Valley (Project: Build It), Fixham Harbour (Ready, Steady, Build!), or Spring City (2015 series) depending on the programme.

Contents

Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it?", to which other characters reply "yes we can".

Bob has appeared in every episode in the cartoon programme and all related media and has a business partner, secretary, laborer and best friend named Wendy, as well as five main anthropomorphic construction vehicles that help him out: Scoop the backhoe loader, Muck the bulldozer, dumper and dump truck, Lofty the mobile crane, Dizzy the cement mixer and Roley the road roller, together known as the Can-Do Crew. [2] [3] Additional vehicles appear in Project: Build It, Ready, Steady, Build!, and the 2015 series.

Design

The character's appearance was created by Curtis Jobling. His character sketches initially showed him with a moustache but this made him seem too old for the target audience of preschool children and so he was then restyled as clean-shaven. As stop-motion animation requires frequent repositioning of the models, Bob was given large feet for stability. [4]

In 2014, the toy company Mattel bought the rights to the character and gave him a Hollywood-style makeover, making him seem younger and slimmer and more realistically proportioned. This was not well-received on social media, with many users decrying Bob's new look as unconvincing. [5] [6] [7] His 2015 redesign has five fingers on each hand, instead of four.

Legacy

Bob has helped to change negative stereotypes of general contractors and laborers among preschool children. [8] In respect of the appearance of anthropomorphic construction vehicles or tools, the cartoon programme is similar to the series Construction Site , the Thomas & Friends spin-off Jack and the Sodor Construction Company, and Handy Manny .

Film adaptation

In January 2024, Mattel announced that a film adaptation of the animated character will be produced by Jennifer Lopez and Benny Medina. The plot will follow Bob as he visits Puerto Rico for a construction job. Anthony Ramos was announced to be voicing Bob. [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ Official Charts Company (4 November 2012). The Million Sellers. Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-882-9.
  2. ↑ "If kids build it, they will learn!". Edmonton Journal. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Schwartz, Veronica (2008). "Bob the Builder: Building Bobland Bay". School Library Journal . Retrieved 11 June 2025– via EBSCOhost.
  4. ↑ Paul Wells; Joanna Quinn; Les Mills (2008), Drawing for Animation, AVA Publishing, p. 117, ISBN   9782940373703
  5. ↑ Telegraph View (15 October 2014). "Bob the Builder's been rebuilt". The Daily Telegraph . London.
  6. ↑ John McCarthy (13 October 2014), Bob the Builder: Can Mattel rebuild him? Twitter doesn't think so, The Drum
  7. ↑ John Plunkett (13 October 2014), "Bob the Builder reboot on shaky ground", The Guardian
  8. ↑ Moore, David (20 December 2001), "William of Sen to Bob the Builder: non-cognate cultural perceptions of constructors", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 8 (3): 177–184, doi:10.1108/eb021180
  9. ↑ "Lopez to co-produce Bob The Builder film". Aberdeen Evening Express: 10. 27 January 2024. ProQuest   2918676255.
  10. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (25 January 2024). "Jennifer Lopez to Produce 'Bob the Builder' Animated Movie at Mattel, Starring Anthony Ramos". Variety Magazine .

Further reading

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