A Teletubbies episode featuring a lion and a bear was banned in several countries in 1999 and later censored by show bosses after it traumatised young viewers. The sketch, first broadcast in 1997, showed the characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po fleeing from the bear, who had creepy rolling eyes, huge claws, and repeated the line: "I'm the bear! I'm the bear! And I'm coming!"
Why the Episode Was Banned
The lion was on wheels and slightly less terrifying, but the bear's independently moving limbs and intonation scared children across the nation. The music was also criticised as not being "age-appropriate" for kids, with the scary voices and chase sequence towards the end of the 'magical event' drawing complaints from parents. One review even branded the section "the greatest horror film of all time".
The episode was banned in several countries in 1999 for being inappropriate for children. The US banned it entirely, as its network PBS was concerned by the backlash it had already received.
How the Episode Was Censored
Show bosses edited the original sketch for 2001. The edited version included added sound effects to make the lion and the bear less scary, such as a doorbell ringing when the bear first pops out from behind a tree with its tongue lolling about in its gaping maw. Piano music also made the sketch more bearable, and the Tubbies no longer appear afraid of the bear, instead giggling at her presence.
Some of the original DVDs still contain the original sketch, and it can be found on YouTube.
Behind the Scenes of Teletubbies
The costumes used by the actors were huge, with Laa-Laa and Dipsy looming 10 feet tall, while Po averages around six feet. Giant bunnies, real name Flemish Giant rabbits, were used on set so they'd look proportionate to the actors, and they allegedly mated so frequently that takes were often interrupted and had to be redone.
