Hi, I'm Muzzy. Big Muzzy.

December 16, 2007 1:12 PM

Over the years millions of children have been introduced to a foreign language by Big Muzzy ^[wiki], a friendly, green, clock-eating monster. Here's the complete British English version of Muzzy in Gondoland on YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
posted by sveskemus (12 comments total)

Here's the commercial that at least I remember being aired for the longest time.
posted by champthom at 1:23 PM on December 16, 2007

Because of that commercial, "je suis la jeune fille!" is pretty much the only French phrase I know other than "je ne parle pas francais."

Also, when I was a kid, I had a "character" that I would draw comic strips about. He was a big furry monster named Muzzy. He looked a little but not a lot like the commercial Muzzy. I remember first noticing that commercial and thinking "what the hell, man! I thought of that first!" But I've never been sure if it was just a coincidence, or if I had seen the commercial, forgotten it, and subconsciously copied it. And I never will know.

Hmm...I wish these clips were in a language I didn't know, so I could judge if it was helping me learn any words. I already know how to say "I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat! I'm fat!" in British English.
posted by lampoil at 1:31 PM on December 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

Here's a bit of Muzzy in German.
posted by sveskemus at 1:36 PM on December 16, 2007

NO WAY.


I'm so impressed with this post.
posted by awesomebrad at 1:57 PM on December 16, 2007

Whoooa! NO WAY indeed.

I have memories of watching this at the end of English class, in Korean middle school. Everyone complained that the cartoons were dumb, but was secretly mesmerized nonetheless. After each class we would exit the room prancing and chanting: "A, E, I, O, U, I love you", or "Take him away! Take him AWAY!" Incredible, incredible. Great post, sveskemus.
posted by suedehead at 2:33 PM on December 16, 2007

I watched Muzzy in Spanish, and, like suedehead, my favorite part was "¡Llevenseló! ¡Llevenseló!" Oh, the memories.
posted by silby at 2:46 PM on December 16, 2007

A little Spanish and a little French. I am not learning the French there. Sounds like groans, just like always.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:19 PM on December 16, 2007

I kinda want to watch this now the nostalgia factor is massive. Like take three drinks and watch all of Muzzy in frenchsounds like a good way to spend an afternoon.
posted by Rubbstone at 7:30 PM on December 16, 2007

I remember the commercials for these.
They gave me nightmares....
posted by chara at 7:37 PM on December 16, 2007

Is there something else like this, newer, for English learners?
posted by trinarian at 8:27 PM on December 16, 2007

Wow. I had the French version of this as a child. I completely failed to learn any French from it except for "le grande Muzzy!" and how to say "Corvax" with a terrible French accent, but I loved watching the big green clock-eating guy. Thanks, sveskemus.
posted by penguinliz at 12:28 PM on December 17, 2007

I used to watch these to learn Russian. I'm going to show them to my kids now. Thanks for posting!
posted by streetdreams at 1:30 PM on December 17, 2007