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Other posters have accurately pointed out that this is nothing more than political correctness taken to extremes, and that it is only one symptom of a much larger problem (paranoia, overprotecting kids, etc.)

I have discovered that situations like this are far from limited to Sesame Street. In a recent example, I found (much to my disgust) that Qubo, the USA distributor for WETA Workshop's series Jane and the Dragon, is censoring what they likely consider to be "lowbrow" humor from the show (belches, farts, etc.) I only found this out when I compared a snippet from an uncensored episode (called "Go West, Young Gardener") with the version Qubo was sending out to be broadcast. A magnificently funny scene, right near the end of the episode, was completely cut short as was an earlier scene about ten minutes in, and all because they featured a couple of dragon-sized farts.

I can't easily prove it, but I have reason to believe that Qubo is also cutting about 15-30 seconds out of each episode just to make more time for ads. That's not just big-brothering -- that's greed, plain and simple. I finally gave up and ordered the series DVDs from Australia (they're not available in the US).

The bizarre cultural 'war' on not letting kids experience the real world has permeated well outside the realm of media. Example: The Sea World parks are all extremely careful never to present any view of the animals which does not fit with their carefully-crafted image of "Everyone's Happy!" that they want the public to swallow. This is, I think, only one reason why audiences are often shocked when the park has behavioral trouble with the whales. The "Shamu" image that they like to present has no basis whatsoever in the reality that these animals have emotions, and free will of their own in terms of behavior. You cross the line with an orca in a bad mood (or any animal for that matter), and it is very likely you're going to get hurt.

As near as I can tell, these tendencies are pretty much limited to the USA. I've been to southeastern Mexico (Cancun, Playa del Carmen), and from what I've seen and experienced there the attitudes towards kids and the real world are 180 degrees different from inside US borders.

So, take heart... It doesn't seem to be anywhere near a worldwide thing (yet... pray it doesn't go that far).

Keep the peace(es).

Other posters have accurately pointed out that this is nothing more than political correctness taken to extremes, and that it is only one symptom of a much larger problem (paranoia, overprotecting kids, etc.)

I have discovered that situations like this are far from limited to Sesame Street. In a recent example, I found (much to my disgust) that Qubo, the USA distributor for WETA Workshop's series Jane and the Dragon, is censoring what they likely consider to be "lowbrow" humor from the show (belches, farts, etc.) I only found this out when I compared a snippet from an uncensored episode (called "Go West, Young Gardener") with the version Qubo was sending out to be broadcast. A magnificently funny scene, right near the end of the episode, was completely cut short as was an earlier scene about ten minutes in, and all because they featured a couple of dragon-sized farts.

I can't easily prove it, but I have reason to believe that Qubo is also cutting about 15-30 seconds out of each episode just to make more time for ads. That's not just big-brothering -- that's greed, plain and simple. I finally gave up and ordered the series DVDs from Australia (they're not available in the US).

The bizarre cultural 'war' on not letting kids experience the real world has permeated well outside the realm of media. Example: The Sea World parks are all extremely careful never to present any view of the animals which does not fit with their carefully-crafted image of "Everyone's Happy!" that they want the public to swallow. This is, I think, only one reason why audiences are often shocked when the park has behavioral trouble with the whales. The "Shamu" image that they like to present has no basis whatsoever in the reality that these animals have emotions, and free will of their own in terms of behavior. You cross the line with an orca in a bad mood (or any animal for that matter), and it is very likely you're going to get hurt.

As near as I can tell, these tendencies are pretty much limited to the USA. I've been to southeastern Mexico (Cancun, Playa del Carmen), and from what I've seen and experienced there the attitudes towards kids and the real world are 180 degrees different from inside US borders.

So, take heart... It doesn't seem to be anywhere near a worldwide thing (yet... pray it doesn't go that far).

Keep the peace(es).

I really enjoyed LOTR, really, but there is a project that Weta has in the pocket that I would like much more to see realized: a live-action Evangelion movie. They have being studying it for quite some time but it's "on hold" for quite some time already.

The only giant mecha-movie I'm looking forward to is the live-action version of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Great story, there are talks about a trilogy, WETA is involved, 'nuff said.

Concept art on WETA's home page http://www.wetaworkshop.co.nz/projects/filmography /galleries/neon_genesis

The confusion here appears to be between Weta Digital and Weta Workshop.

Weta Digital is the _digital_ effects house, with all the computer support that entails, however, it is actually the younger of the two companies.

Weta Workshop is a _physical_ effects shop and has always been into hardware and robotics/animatronics.

As another poster mentioned, Braindead (Dead Alive in the US) and Meet the Feebles predate the Digital side of the business and more recent films, like Black Sheep, are more animatronic than CGI.

To Bring things back to topic, here's the page on Workshop's site: Ollie The Tuatara

The confusion here appears to be between Weta Digital and Weta Workshop.

Weta Digital is the _digital_ effects house, with all the computer support that entails, however, it is actually the younger of the two companies.

Weta Workshop is a _physical_ effects shop and has always been into hardware and robotics/animatronics.

As another poster mentioned, Braindead (Dead Alive in the US) and Meet the Feebles predate the Digital side of the business and more recent films, like Black Sheep, are more animatronic than CGI.

To Bring things back to topic, here's the page on Workshop's site: Ollie The Tuatara

rotten tomatoes has it at 76% positive reviews.

Not sure which effects were poorly done.

WETA was involved in this film. The same guys that did Lord of the Rings

If something like a centaur or minotuar looks fake, it might be because they don't really exist.

Looks like they have a lot of work to do yet to get ready...