Don't Eat the Pictures

Don't Eat the Pictures is a curious and engaging television film produced by Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) and first aired on PBS in 1983. The film merges the realms of education and entertainment, an endeavor in which Sesame Street has consistently excelled.

At the heart of the film is an impressive ensemble of beloved Sesame Street characters, brought to life by a talented crew of puppeteers. Veteran puppeteer Caroll Spinney heads the cast as the iconic Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Sesame Street favorites Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie also feature prominently in the film, voiced by the legendary Frank Oz and Martin P. Robinson.

The movie unfolds within the enchanting confines of New York’s renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. The lovable Sesame Street gang embarks on a field trip, where they find themselves accidentally locked in after-hours. They navigate their way around the enormous museum, all while unraveling various educational aspects of history and art.

The film takes the Sesame Street cast out of their familiar, colorful urban setting and places them within galleries brimming with priceless artifacts from ancient times. Strikingly, the movie doesn't limit its artistic lens to the usual Sesame Street sets but broadens its spectrum to incorporate stunning visuals of the museum's exhibits.

The concept of the film revolves largely around learning. Decoding Egyptian hieroglyphics, understanding Greek mythologies, learning about art history — Don't Eat the Pictures is an artistic whirlwind that deftly weaves in compellingly educational portions into its narrative.

Surprisingly, the film also incorporates a substantive storyline wherein Big Bird helps a 4000-year-old Egyptian boy prince to solve a riddle that has kept him imprisoned within the museum. In doing so, it broaches upon relevant themes of friendship, bravery, and the power of knowledge.

With this captivating premise, Don't Eat the Pictures also stands out for its unique blend of narrative styles. It injects traditional puppetry with animation and live-action, adding depth to the film’s exploration of various art and historical concepts.

The title of the film, Don't Eat the Pictures, underscores its primary, comic storyline involving Cookie Monster’s Herculean struggles to curb his longing to chew on the museum exhibits that suspiciously resemble cookies. Meanwhile, the adults, Susan, played by Loretta Long, Bob, played by Bob McGrath, and Mr. Snuffleupagus, voiced by Jerry Nelson, provide the humorous subplot with their countless failed attempts at finding the party lost in the museum.

Calming the joyful chaos are occasional segments of sweetly sung children’s songs that further underline Sesame's tradition of mingling learning with musical fun. The songs serve to enhance and reflect upon the emotive points of the narrative, lending the film a melodious flavor while highlighting important lessons.

Don't Eat the Pictures achieves its creative vision of education and entertainment with a striking balance without trading off its humorous and light-hearted essence typical to Sesame Street.

The film strikes a chord with its exploration of a broader cultural richness beyond Sesame Street's usual backdrop. It extends an interactive invitation to its young audience to dive into a magical world where art, history, and mythology come alive with friendly, familiar faces guiding them.

All in all, this 1983 film not only expands upon the traditional Sesame Street ethos but also provides an irresistibly charming story that deserves revisiting. The Sesame Street gang’s quirky, fun, yet educational escapade in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is an invaluable experience, making Don’t Eat the Pictures an endearing addition to the Sesame Street canon and a must-watch for fans of all ages.