The HiT-Verse (a Shared Universe of HiT Entertainment)
Aw, HiT Entertainment, the home of quality family entertainment shows like Barney, Bob the Builder, & Thomas and Friends. But did you know that HiT Entertainment had their own shared universe of their shows? Well it turns out to be true, & the rabbit hole goes deeper than you've ever imagined.This is the shared universe of HiT Entertainment. Also known as the HiT-Verse.
Now let's start off with a children's series that features the beloved dinosaur, Barney & Friends. In an episode of Barney & Friends "All Aboard", Barney explains how the caboose in the park used to be part of a real train, the train whistle sound heard is the same one used for various characters on the British stop-motion animated television series Thomas and Friends. I think this caboose was once used on the Island of Sodor, & it was turned into a big place in the park. (The park is one of the settings of Barney & Friends.) So this means that Barney & Friends, & Thomas & Friends are now part of not only the PBS-Verse, but also the HiT-Verse.
& I can also add the spin-off, “Jack and the Sodor Construction Company” to this universe as well.
In the Bob the Builder special, The Knights of Can-A-Lot, the coaches on the train are similar to the red express coaches that Edward, Henry, & James pull in Thomas & Friends. So both coaches were built in the same railway company: Southern Railway (UK). Both of them have painted dark red with cream window surrounds & they both have a yellow stripe running down each side, & they both have black rooftops, So that means that Bob the Builder is now part of the HiT-Verse.
In 2010, Barney and Dorothy the Dinosaur (from The Wiggles) celebrated Valentine's Day together in Dino-Mite Sing-Along. Officially added The Wiggles to the HiT-Verse.
In the Bob the Builder special, Scrambler to the Rescue, a small scale model of Terence can be seen in Monty Pickleton's toy factory. Terence is a character from the HiT Entertainment-owned show called Rubbadubbers. Maybe Monty builds that toy, and gives it to Benjie and Sis (who are the unseen children on Rubbadubbers.), so that adds Rubbadubbers to the HiT-Verse.
Also, In an episode of Pingu called, "Pingu and the Toyshop", Pingu buys a toy space rocket at the toyshop, That space rocket toy would later appear in the same "Bob the Builder" special "Scrambler to the Rescue". & that adds Pingu to the HiT-Verse as well.
The Wiggles' friend Dorothy the Dinosaur, has her own spin-off show that focuses on her adventures and all her colorful friends. & Adding Dorothy the Dinosaur (TV Series) to the HiT-Verse, because the DVD, “Dorothy the Dinosaur Meets Santa Claus” was released by HIT Entertainment in the UK.
In Barney & Friends, Tomie dePaola (from Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola) appeared in 3 episodes of the show, & Kermit the Frog (from The Muppet Show) appeared in an episode of Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola, & Kermit knows Tomie & Gabe pretty well.
So that means that The Muppet Show & Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola are part of not only the HensonVerse, but also the HiT-Verse because HiT Entertainment was founded by Jim Henson in 1982, & the first logo of the company was used on international prints of The Muppet Show.
& Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola was listed in the HIT Catalogue along with the other Henson titles. (from 2004 to 2009) Including:
Fraggle Rock (where Kermit has his name mentioned by Doc in one episode, & it had an animated short-lived spin-off of the show.)
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas & The Christmas Toy (where Kermit the Frog appeared in both specials, & in which The Christmas Toy spawned a spin-off series called The Secret Life of Toys.
The Animal Show with Stinky & Jake (where Sam the Eagle appeared in one episode of the show.)
The Ghost of Faffner Hall, & Mopatop's Shop (where The Fazoobs appeared in both shows.
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss (where Alphonso D'Abruzzo (a character from The Muppet Show) appeared in one episode.)
CityKids (where the planet Koozebane appeared in some episodes of the show.)
& The Song of the Cloud Forest (where the Picnic Bug (from The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss) can be seen in the special).
& That is the HiT-Verse. Here's a list of shows (from HiT Entertainment) that exist in the same universe. Including:
- Barney & Friends
- Bob the Builder
- Thomas & Friends
- The Wiggles
- Rubbadubbers
- Pingu
- Fraggle Rock
- Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
- The Animal Show with Stinky & Jake
- The Ghost of Faffner Hall
- Mopatop's Shop
- CityKids
- Dorothy the Dinosaur (TV Series)
- Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
- Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
- The Christmas Toy
- Jack and the Sodor Construction Company
- The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
- The Secret Life of Toys
- The Song of the Cloud Forest
- & The Muppet Show.
The next universe I'm going to be talking about is a universe of a show that crossover with the Sesame Street spin-off, The Furchester Hotel. A universe where everyone is welcome.