Sesame Street, one of the world's longest-running television shows, has welcomed a new muppet to its iconic cast, and he's Filipino!
The latest addition to the Sesame Street family is named TJ, a puppet designed by Filipino-American animator Bobby Pontillas.
Pontillas shared some sketches of TJ on his social media accounts, revealing that the character was inspired by some of his closest friends.
Photo courtesy: bobbypontillas
TJ has a brown complexion, a side-swept hairstyle, and a yellow and orange striped hoodie, and he is operated by Sesame Street puppeteer Yinan Shintu.
In a video posted by Pontillas, TJ spoke with actor Kal Penn about the importance of confidence, which was the show's "Word of the Day."
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The puppet explained that he is confident because he is learning Tagalog, which is a language spoken by his Filipino family, and that he can always ask his grandmother for help when he encounters unfamiliar words.
Sesame Street premiered in 1969 and has become a beloved favorite of both children and adults around the world.
Its puppet characters teach preschool subjects through comedy, cartoons, games, and music.
TJ's inclusion in the cast is a significant milestone for the show, as it continues to promote diversity and inclusivity among its viewers.
