Where's Waldo? franchise
The "Where's Waldo?" franchise is a beloved children's media series centered around a character named Waldo, initially known as Wally in the UK. Recognized for his distinct red-and-white striped shirt and bobble hat, Waldo invites readers into intricate illustrations where they must locate him among a multitude of distractions. The franchise began with puzzle books that not only challenge attention to detail but also engage children by encouraging them to find Waldo's missing items and friends, such as Wenda and Woof, in various settings, from historical scenes to fantastical worlds.
Since its inception, the series has expanded into animated television shows, video games, and comic strips, making Waldo a cultural icon recognized globally. While the franchise has been praised for its educational benefits, particularly for children with attention-related difficulties, it has also faced some controversies, including challenges regarding content deemed inappropriate. The series has left a notable impact on children's literature, promoting skills such as focus and observation in an entertaining format. Overall, "Where's Waldo?" remains a significant part of children's media, influencing generations of readers and adventurers.
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Where's Waldo? franchise
Identification Children’s hide-and-find book series based on a character known as Waldo
Author Martin Handford (1956- )
Date First published in 1987
Where’s Waldo? began a fad in children’s literature for hide-and-find-type literature and expanded throughout the 1990s to become a popular culture phenomenon.
Where's Waldo? is a children's media franchise based on a series of popular puzzle books. First published in Great Britain as Where’s Wally?, the book series was renamed Where’s Waldo? for publication in the United States and Canada. Featuring Waldo (Wally), a character with an iconic red-and-white striped shirt and bobble hat and accessorized with a walking stick and glasses, the books feature large, complex pictures and challenge children to attempt to find Waldo in the scene; in some cases, finding Waldo is more difficult, especially in one notable picture where Waldo was only identifiable by a missing shoe. Waldo also loses a number of his possessions throughout the books, and children are encouraged to find those items in the pictures as well.
Waldo was accompanied in later books by other characters. Creator Martin Handford added Waldo’s friend Wenda, nemesis Odlaw, and dog Woof. The series expanded throughout the 1990s to include a number of books, one with poster prints of former pictures, and one with other activities.
The Where’s Waldo? series has had Waldo travel across the world, through Hollywood, through history, as well as through a number of fantastic locations. The Where’s Waldo? books have been widely regarded by educators as a valuable resource for children who have problems focusing on details. The series has assisted children with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other conditions that cause attention and concentration problems in children.
Despite it's great popularity, the original Where's Waldo? book also attracted notable controversy. The American Library Association listed Where’s Waldo? among the one hundred most frequently banned books between 1990 and 2000. One image in the book showed a woman sunbathing without a top, exposing her breasts. Some parents and school administrators objected to the portrayal of nudity and banned the book.
In 1991, thirteen episodes of a television show based on Where’s Waldo? were produced and aired by the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The show was half an hour long and sent Waldo on adventures that often caused him to come into contact with Odlaw, who regularly attempted to steal Waldo’s magic stick. In an effort to also connect the television series with the books, each episode featured two snapshots that lasted a minute long and allowed children to hunt for Waldo in the still frame. This animated series lasted only one season. Another animated series, also titled Where's Waldo?, debuted in 2019. It follows the adventures of younger versions of the characters from the books, with educational elements.
Impact
Where’s Waldo? influenced many children growing up in the 1990s and beyond, teaching attention to detail as well as some historical and geographic information in the guise of a hide-and-seek book. The series also demonstrated its cultural impact by spreading into other media, including the animated television adaptations, multiple video games, a comic strip, and more. The character of Waldo has become a pop culture icon, familiar to millions of people around the world.
Bibliography
"100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999." Banned & Challenged Books, ALA, www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/decade1999. Accessed 14 Sept. 2022.
Blatt, Ben. "Here's Waldo." Slate, 18 Nov. 2013, slate.com/culture/2013/11/wheres-waldo-a-new-strategy-for-locating-the-missing-man-in-martin-hanfords-beloved-series.html. Accessed 14 Sept. 2022.
Handford, Martin. Where’s Waldo? Boston: Little, Brown, 1987.
McRobbie, Linda Rodriguez. "Where's Waldo? And Who's Wally?" MentalFloss, 3 Aug. 2009, www.mentalfloss.com/article/22414/wheres-waldo-and-whos-wally. Accessed 14 Sept. 2022.
Nigro, Vanessa. "5 Hidden Facts About Where's Waldo." CBC, 27 Mar. 2017, www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/5-hidden-facts-about-where-s-waldo-1.4037724. Accessed 14 Sept. 2022.