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."
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.
