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"What you intended for harm, God used for good, to save you all, to save everyone!"
— Little Joe to Jude after he apologizes
LittleJoeWithPizza
The Ballad of Little Joe
Directed by

Tim Hodge

Produced by

David Pitts

Written by

Robert G. Lee
Phil Vischer (uncredited)

Music by

Kurt Heinecke

Distributed by

Warner Home Video
(Mass market)
Word Entertainment
(Christian market)

Released

August 2, 2003
(Christian market)
August 5, 2003
(Mass market)

Runtime

38 minutes

Previous episode

The Wonderful World
of Auto-Tainment!

Next episode

An Easter Carol

The Ballad of Little Joe is the twentieth episode of VeggieTales.

This story is a westernized version of Joseph and his coat of many colors. It features a lesson in facing hardships.

Plot

Opening Countertop

Bob and Larry greet the kids once again on the Countertop, where Bob explains that this week they got a letter from a kid named Pete McGuinness from New Castle, Indiana. After Larry greets Pete, Bob explains that Pete wrote to them saying that he's depressed all because all of his friends are in a certain class, but he's unfortunately stuck in a different class. He wants to know why bad things happen if God loves him. After that, Bob then quips that that's a tricky one, which Larry agrees with. Bob then tells Pete that he knows of a Bible story that can help a lot, but Larry quickly stops him, telling him that he thought that they were going to do a western. Bob is confused, before Larry tells him that Westerns have cowboys, tumbleweeds, and 'little doggies', before telling Bob that he promised that they'd do one, right before Larry went to Cowboy Camp. Bob then tells Larry that what Pete really needs is a Bible story, but Larry tells Bob that he promised, which Bob says "Did I really say 'promise'?, to which Larry says that he did. Because of that, an argument ensues between Bob and Larry about whether to tell a Bible Story or a Western story. Before the argument can continue, Bob asks the viewers if they can have a few seconds, before a "We are Experiencing Technical Difficulties" sign appears, while Bob and Larry continue their discussion from behind the screen. After a few seconds, the screen lifts up, before Bob then explains that after a bit of "discussion", they've compromised and decided that what Pete really needs is a Westernized Bible story, which Larry is happy to hear. Bob then says that without further ado, Larry then announces the story entitled "The Ballad of Little Joe".

Act 1

Bob narrates that a long time ago, way out in the West somewhere, there lived a group of cowboy brothers on a ranch known as the Okie-Dokie corral. One of the brothers named Reuben (played by Phillipe Pea) greets the viewers with "'Allo, little doggies!" After that, the rest of the brothers were introduced, who are all named Simeon, Levi, Izzy, Zeb, Gad, Ash, Dan, Natty, and Jude (played by Jean-Claude Pea). There was also Baby Benjamin, but "he was too little to come outside." There was also one more brother, named Little Joe (played by Larry the Cucumber). Little Joe then comes out from the ranch-house, to which Jude says, "Look who finally decided to get up." Joe then tells his brothers to hear about the dream that he had last night, but Jude tells him to be quiet because they are working. Little Joe understands, before Bob narrates that Little Joe was a little different than his brothers, because aside from talking differently, God gave him great organizational abilities, to which Jude quips, "You should see his sock drawer."

Little Joe then asks his brothers what kind of work they're doing, Reuben answers that they must count their sheep, but every time they do, they fall asleep, which some of the brothers do. Little Joe then suggests that they put the sheep in groups of five or ten, so that it wouldn't be so boring, so that they can count the groups. Of course, Reuben and Jude think that this idea is ridiculous, before Jude turns to the other brothers and quietly tells them to put the sheep in groups of ten. Before Little Joe can tell his brothers about his dream, the breakfast bell starts ringing, courtesy of Pa Grape, who announces to "come and get it!" The brothers then quickly rush back into the ranch-house, leaving the sheep that are still stacked in groups of ten. At the breakfast table, the brothers are ready to chow down, when Pa comes into the room, telling the brothers that today is Little Joe's birthday. Little Joe is feeding Baby Ben, when he hears this news, before Mr. Lunt hops into the room while carrying a birthday cake.

Soon, Pa then has the brothers sing a Westernized birthday song for Little Joe, though they do it rather reluctantly. After the song ends, Little Joe tells them that they shouldn't have, before Pa gives him a special gift, which is a vest of many colors. This makes the brothers even more sour, since the only gifts they've been receiving on their birthdays were mittens, which they've been tossing onto the old moose head hanging up over the fireplace. After blowing out the candle on the cake, Little Joe then proceeds to tell his brothers and Pa about the dream that he had last night, explaining in song that there were a dozen cacti that stood underneath the desert sky, where eleven of the cacti (which represented Little Joe's brothers) bowed before the twelfth cactus (which represented Little Joe himself). After Little Joe finishes explaining his dream, Jude angrily asks Joe if it means that he'll rule over them like a king, before Pa says that it's just a dream and that it won't really happen, before telling Joe to lay off the bratwurst before bedtime. Bob then narrates that Joe's dreams didn't make his brothers like him any better.

Later, Jude, Reuben, and the other brothers then lead Little Joe to an abandoned mine shaft, before Jude tells him that it's where they hid his birthday present. Little Joe then states that that's very creative, before Jude tells him that it's time for him to get what's coming to him. Little Joe then peers down into the mine shaft, but he doesn't see anything, before Jude tells him that he's not looking hard enough. Little Joe still doesn't see anything in the mine shaft, before his brothers suddenly push him in, which causes him to fall into the mine shaft. After picking himself up, Joe then says that a goat must have bumped him or something before asking his brothers to help him up. Jude then says, "We'd love to, but we're busy bowing down before you," before he and the other brothers start laughing. Little Joe says that it isn't funny, with Jude saying that it made him laugh, before a bandit walks up next to the brothers, with Joe asking who this mysterious person is. A rope then falls down in front of Joe, before a mysterious person tells him to tie the rope around his waist. Joe then climbs up the rope, before seeing that the ones who threw the rope down to him were Scallions #2 and #3. He is lifted out of the mine shaft, before he sees the desperadoes. They tie him up and gag him while he lies on the ground, before they muffle him, throw him on the wooden wheeled horse and toss the money to Jude. Jude and the other brothers bid him happy trails. He and his brothers laugh as Little Joe is carried away.

One year later, in a town called Dodge Ball City, at a place called the Rootin' Tootin' Pizza Place, a bunch of voices have been heard singing about Little Joe, ever since his arrival. Inside the pizza place, Little Joe is now serving as the waiter of the restaurant, serving pizzas and root beer to all of the carrot cowboys that attend the place, while the proprietor of the restaurant, Mr. McPotiphar (played by Scooter Carrot) sings about how a year ago, his restaurant was losing money and how he thought he'd go insane, before Little Joe came along and turned the ship right. The carrot cowboys then praise Little Joe for all that he's done for the restaurant. After the song ends, Mr. McPotiphar tells Joe that it looks like a record month, before music starts playing, to which Little Joe has to serve peanuts to the customers during the dinner show. The restaurant's performer, Miss Kitty (played by Madame Blueberry), starts singing about how she's so blue, but she keeps getting interrupted several times by Little Joe serving peanuts to the customers, which causes her to storm away in a huff. Little Joe then gives Mr. McPotiphar the money that the customers had given, before telling him that the peanuts make the customers really thirsty and to serve them a lot of root beer. Mr. McPotiphar then tells Little Joe that he's a natural, before telling him that he's earned the position of Employee of the Month, which Little Joe is elated to hear.

Of course, Miss Kitty is rather bitter when she sees that she's been usurped from the Employee of the Month. Because of this, she then goes to talk with Little Joe, telling him to take the money and get out of here, but Little Joe tells her "Why would I do that?", before hopping off. Miss Kitty then tells Little Joe that with the money she's trying to offer him, he can get back home, but Joe tells her that stealing is wrong, and that if he took the money, he'd be disobeying God, and that he would probably lose his status as Employee of the Month. This only angers Miss Kitty even more, just as Little Joe hops back to the counter. Miss Kitty then approaches Little Joe, telling him that since there are no hard feelings, she made some alterations to the cow head that Joe wears while working. Little Joe is happy that Miss Kitty would do something for him, but admits that he wasn't aware of his costume needing alterations, before Miss Kitty then forces the cow head onto his head, which Little Joe discovers is a little bit heavier than usual before he falls over. Miss Kitty then says that she put some extra stuffing in it, before yelling that there's a thief in the restaurant, which alerts all of the carrot cowboys in the restaurant. At that moment, Sheriff Bob (played by Bob the Tomato) enters the saloon, asking what all the trouble is, before Miss Kitty tells him that Little Joe has been stealing from McPotiphar since the day he got there. When Sheriff Bob is confused about this, Miss Kitty removes the cow costume hat, which was full of coins. Sheriff Bob and Mr. McPotiphar both gasp. Mr. McPotiphar changes the picture back to Miss Kitty. Sheriff Bob takes Little Joe to jail. It cuts to night where we see him in a prison suit before the camera fades out.

Silly Songs with Larry

Belly Button

Act 2

Back in jail, more voices are heard singing about Little Joe. Inside the jailhouse, two more inmates have also been imprisoned with Little Joe; the Baker (played by Jimmy Gourd) and Blacksmith (played by Jerry Gourd). The Baker and the Blacksmith then sing about how Little Joe put more stuffing in their cots, taught them to respect themselves, and how to quilt as well. Sheriff Bob then sings that before Little Joe's arrest, his jail was bursting at the seams, but then he came along and taught them all a trade, as well as the fact that he also got a new Stetson. Little Joe then sings about how Miss Kitty got him thrown into jail a year ago, even though he hadn't done a thing and that he's stuck without bail, but his belief that God is good helps overcome frustration, and that he'll keep doing what is right even in spite of incarceration. After the song ends, Sheriff Bob then tells Joe that he has the best attitude of any prisoner, to which Joe replies that God is good, wondering what he has to be down about. Sheriff Bob asks Joe that if God is good, then why is all that stuff happening to him? Joe then admits that he doesn't know that yet, but he will when it's time, and that he just needs to keep doing what is right. Sheriff Bob seems to understand, before saying all right men, lights out, and that there's another day of quilting ahead, before he turns off the oil lamp.

That evening, the Baker and the Blacksmith are asleep. They start mumbling in their sleep, before they wake up screaming. With one scream, the city as lights turn on, then cut to a prospector (played by Charlie Pincher) roasting a hot dog, when an avalanche of dodge-balls rains down on him. The Baker and the Blacksmith then ask Little Joe what their dreams mean. Little Joe then tells them that there's good news and bad news, telling the Baker that he's going back to work, before telling the Blacksmith that he's being sent up the river. He then tells the Baker congratulations, before telling the Blacksmith so sorry. Just then, Archibald and a slave master (played by Scallion #1) enter the scene. Archibald has come to tell the Baker that the Mayor has given him a full pardon and that he wants him to resume his duties immediately, while the slave master tells the Blacksmith that he's extending an invitation to him to join his chain gang up the river. As he laughs an evil laugh and Blacksmith gets terrified, all exits the scene. Sheriff Bob then asks Little Joe how he did that. Little Joe answers that he's always had this thing for dreams. After Sheriff Bob exits the scene, turning off the oil lamp again, Joe then asks God what's going on, saying that he tells people what their dreams mean and that they always come true. Joe then says that he's trying to do what's right, before telling God to be with Pa and most of his brothers. He hops away then back to the window and then says ok and adamantly adds "And Jude too." He then tells God goodnight.

The next morning, there is a town meeting at the town hall, but the Mayor of Dodge Ball City (played by Mr. Nezzer) is sound asleep, while Archibald is trying to tell the people that the cash reserves are down 25%, due to the fact that the bank is robbed. Outside the town hall, a bandit has robbed the bank, with Sheriff Bob trying to stop him, but he ends up getting hit with a dodge-ball for his troubles. The Baker then attempts to serve pizza rolls to a couple of carrot cowboys, before the Mayor is then heard mumbling in his sleep, before he wakes up screaming as well. Just like before, the scream is loud enough to cause an avalanche of dodge-balls to fall on top of the hobo once again. Back in Dodge Ball City, the Mayor then says that his dream was so horrible before asking what it means. The Baker is able to tell the Mayor that he knows someone who might be able to help. Soon, Little Joe has been brought before the Mayor, who then says that the Baker tells him that he can interpret dreams. Little Joe says that he can't, which shocks the Mayor, just as the Baker hides behind Sheriff Bob, before Little Joe says that he can't interpret dreams but God can. The Mayor then says that He better, or else he'll put Joe back in jail and that he'll never get out.

Soon, the Mayor then tells in song about a dream that he had about seven fat cows that stood on a hill, before seven skinny cows came along and ate the fat cows. After that, the Mayor then says that he had a dream where he was standing in his underwear, wondering what that means, before he notices that he's standing in his underwear before he hides. When the Mayor tells Joe to interpret the dream, Joe explains that the seven fat cows means that there will be seven years of plenty of food for everyone and that the seven skinny cows mean that there will be seven years of famine following after that. The Mayor then asks what they'll do, before Joe answers that during the seven good years, they should store up plenty of food to give back to the people during the seven bad years. Little Joe then says that they'll need someone with great organizational abilities, before the Mayor asks Archibald what the state of his sock drawer was, to which Archibald answers that it's disorganized, before the Mayor tells Joe that he's in charge, which Joe is confused about, the Mayor then asks Joe what he's doing standing around and that he has a city to save. Everyone then starts cheering for Joe after that.

Soon, Joe has been made in charge of storing food during the seven good years, as well as having been given some spiffy Western duds. Soon, the people then start singing for Joe after that, just as everyone is hard at work, storing as much food as they can into a silo to be saved for when the seven bad years come. Once a lot of the food had been stored, Sheriff Bob then tells Joe that they're ready for anything, which Joe says that he hopes that they are. Soon, a sandstorm then blows up as everyone in Dodge Ball City runs for shelter, just as the sandstorm then quiets down after that, with Mr. McPotiphar saying that nothing will grow in that soil for years. The Mayor then congratulates Little Joe for saving the town, which Joe feels rather downhearted about, hoping that his family is alright. Back at the Okie-Dokie Corral, the drought has also affected the ranch of Joe's family, with his brothers saying "We are doomed!" Joe's younger brother Benjamin (played by Junior Asparagus) tries to assure his brothers that everything will be just fine, but the brothers still repeat the same statement after that.

Back in Dodge Ball City, a lot of townspeople have come to Little Joe in order to acquire some food from the silo, so that they can get by during the drought. However, Little Joe then looks ahead to see his brothers start to approach Dodge Ball City, before he quickly disguises himself and his voice so that they won't recognize him. Little Joe then approaches his brothers, greeting them and telling them that he runs the town, before asking them what he can do for them. Jude answers that he and his brothers heard that he has some food stored up so they were wondering if they could buy some from him. When Little Joe asks how many there are in their family, Jude also answers that there's just the eleven of them, because one of their brothers "got ate up in a wild gopher accident," and that they've regretted every day since then, with Benjamin saying that he was his closest brother and that he barely remembered him. Little Joe then asks them where their pa is, before Jude answers that Pa could not make the trip, with Reuben adding that his heart is broken. Little Joe then tells them to see the Sheriff, before he hops off after that. Little Joe then tells Sheriff Bob to give them what they need and not to let them go until he says so, before Sheriff Bob asks him if he's okay. Little Joe answers that he's fine but tells Sheriff Bob not to use his name around them, which Sheriff Bob is confused about but complies with. Once Jude, Reuben, and the others have collected enough food that they need, Little Joe is curious to know if his brothers have changed, so he decides to do a test, as he winks at Sheriff Bob, who then winks back after that, before Sheriff Bob then whispers to a carrot cowboy after that. Little Joe then approaches his brothers, asking them if they're ready to go, which Jude answers with "I reckon so. Your men gave us everything we need." When Jude explains that they tried to pay but were unable to, Little Joe nonchalantly wonders why they wouldn't take money "from a bunch of lowdown dirty thieves", which surprises the brothers, with Jude retorting back that they are not thieves, and that they came to buy some food. Little Joe then picks up a pizza that Benjamin is holding, opens up the box, and says, "Them ain't pepperonis, partner!" Little Joe throws the pizza on the ground, revealing that there are quarters on the pizza instead of pepperoni.

As a result, Benjamin is arrested, thanks to Sheriff Bob, with Jude protesting that there's been a mistake, to which Little Joe retorts back with, "You bet there's been a mistake! Your brother tried to steal from me, and we don't take kindly to stealing around these here parts!" Jude then tells Joe to keep him prisoner and to let Benjamin go free, as he enters the jail cell with Benjamin, before all the brothers start hopping through the bars into the cell, as Sheriff Bob tells them to get out of there, before telling Little Joe that they've got a problem, realizing that he inadvertently used Joe's name in front of Jude and the others. Joe then asks his brothers if they are willing to sacrifice themselves for Benjamin, to which they answer that they are, before Joe then removes his disguise, revealing his true identity in front of his brothers. Jude, Reuben, and the others are surprised to see that Little Joe is still alive and well, before Little Joe opens the cell door. Jude then tells Joe that he and the others are sorry for what they did to him, telling him to punish him but to let his brothers go. Joe then tells Jude that what he did was wrong, but what he intended for harm, God used for good, to save them and to save everyone. Jude and the others are surprised that Joe forgives them for what they did to him, before they start cheering happily. However, Pa then enters the jail cell, telling his sons that they forgot their mittens, before he becomes surprised when he sees Little Joe, before he also happily reunites with Little Joe once again as well. Once the entire family has been reunited, everyone starts cheering happily, the cheers being so loud that they cause an avalanche of dodge-balls to fall on the two bandits that have tied up the hobo, sparing the hobo's roast hot dog.

Closing Countertop

Back on the countertop, Larry says "That was great, Bob. That was the best Western-Bible Story I ever heard." Bob then thanks Larry for the compliment, before saying that they're over by Qwerty to talk about what they've learned today, before a Westernized version of the "What Have We Learned" song starts playing, which Larry dances to, while Bob is frustrated about it. After the song ends, Larry states that it's a little something he whipped up at Cowboy Camp. When Bob asks what they learned today, Larry answers "You can learn a lot about a person from their sock drawer", but Bob answers correctly that lots of good things and bad things can happen to everyone. Bob explains that God made Little Joe a great organizer, but his brothers were mean to him and he ended up in jail for no reason. Bob then explains that God can take the good stuff and the bad stuff and put it all together to make something great. Bob and Larry then look up to see what verse Qwerty has, to which Qwerty then brings up a GIF that earned Larry a merit badge and then Qwerty pulls up the verse, which is:

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God... "
— Romans 8:28


Bob agrees and he explains to Pete that even though he's not in the class he wanted to be in, he should remember that God loves him just as much as he loved Little Joe. Also, if he tries to do what's right, he'll be amazed at what God has planned for him. Larry then says that it's time to go and that he has to get ready for the next show, before he hops off, with Bob asking him where he's going now. Larry then answers "Danish Immersion Camp!", before he comes out dressed in Danish clothes and says, "Flav, Gerk, Flav!" Bob and Larry then sign off after that, as the episode ends.

Characters

Songs

Other Languages

  • حكاية يوسف (Arabic) (The Story of Joseph)
  • 小小的 Joe (Cantonese) (Little Joe)
  • Balada o malom Joeu (Croatian) (same translation)
  • Pikku-Joe (Finnish) (Little Joe)
  • Das Abenteuer von Josef (German) (The Adventure of Joseph)
  • A kicsi Joe balladája (Hungarian) (same translation)
  • 서부의 사나이 리틀 조 (Korean) (Little Joe the Man of the West)
  • 的瑟小子的傳奇 (Mandarin) (Taiwan) (same translation)
  • Balladen om lille Joe (Norwegian) (same translation)
  • داستان یوسف کوچولو (Persian) (The Story of Little Joseph)
  • A Balada do Pequeno Joe (Portuguese) (Brazil) (same translation)
  • A Balada do Pequeno Joe (Portuguese) (Portugal) (same translation)
  • Баллада О Маленькой Джо (Russian) (same translation)
  • Balada o malem Jožefu (Slovenian) (The Ballad about Little Joseph)
  • La Balada del Pequeño Joe (Spanish) (Latin America) (same translation)
  • Khúc hùng ca Joe bé nhỏ (Vietnamese) (Little Joe's Epic Song)

Home Media

Main article: The Ballad of Little Joe/Home Video

Features

The Ballad of Little Joe/Features

Trailer Appearances

The Ballad of Little Joe/Trailer and Teaser Appearances

Fun Facts

Moral

  • Even when times are tough, God still loves everybody.
  • Good things and bad things happen to everyone, but God can take all that and make something great for all of us.

Explanations

  • Bratwurst is a sausage made of either beef or pork. It's similar to a hot-dog, but bigger.
  • "Flav, Gerk, Flav!" is Danish for "Fly, pickle, fly!".
  • Counting sheep can help people fall asleep.

Trivia

  • The script was finalized on September 5th, 2002, nearly a year before this episode was released.
  • This is the first episode for several things:
  • This is the last episode for several things:
  • This is the only Western episode for a few things:
    • The only Western episode to have 30-39 minutes.
    • The only Western episode to be released on VHS.
    • The only Western episode to be animated at Big Idea.
    • The only Western episode to be distributed by Warner Home Video and released by WEA at the same time for the mass market on VHS and DVD.
    • The only Western episode to use the 2001-2003 intro.
    • The only Western episode that aired on Qubo.
    • The only Western episode to be dubbed in Cantonese, Croatian, Finnish, Hungarian, Korean, Portuguese, Slovenian, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese.
    • The only episode to feature a cliffhanger on the countertop ending, which is Larry leaving for Danish Immersion Camp, leaving the viewers worried that he won't come back. The cliffhanger is somewhat resolved in A Snoodle's Tale, which takes place a few months since Larry's departure.
  • There are some differences between the pre-production and the final version.
    • The script made a reference from both King George and the Ducky and Lyle the Kindly Viking, which both Bob and Larry stated no one else will take over from those stressful events and promised there'll be no conflicts.
    • After Little Joe wakes up, he asks his brothers why they speak French, and replied back that they had different mothers. This was cut due to time constraints.
    • Extra dialogue between Joe, Jude, and Reuben before Pa tells everyone to come for breakfast was cut.
    • Originally in the script, there was going to be an oriental vegetable, which was named Hop Sing. He was cut and was replaced with Mr. Lunt in the final.
    • After Little Joe was taken away by the desperadoes, Jude and the other brothers shredded the color coat and told Pa that he got into a gopher accident. This results in Pa crying, to which he says "No! No!!! Little Joe... where've you gone?!?".
    • During Mr. McPotiphar's song, there was a line after Little Joe parks the hobby horse outside the pizza place. He sings, "A year ago my life is going absolutely fine. Then my brothers got together threw me down the mine. But every day I'll do my best as long as I am here. When life hands you a lemon". This was cut in the final. However, the scene with storyboarded can be found in the Features as an Easter egg on the DVD.
    • The concept art shows Penelope, although she never appeared in the episode.
    • It also showed Miss Kitty wearing the cow hat.
    • There was also going to be a gold toothed veggie when he and Archie entered the jail cell. It was either Mr. Lunt or Scallion #1.
    • There was a scene where two other characters (the Banker and possibly Penelope) try to interpret the Mayor's dream, but ultimately have nothing and they fell through a trapdoor. Tim Hodge stated this was cut due to time. That scene is later storyboarded as an Easter Egg for the Trivia Questions.
    • Little Joe shaves his mustache instead of pulling it off.
    • During Miss Kitty's song, there was gonna be a line about her pants being tight but it was cut.
    • Tim stated in the commentary they thought on using a train, but it never came through. Brian Roberts suggested the same thing for the episode sequel.
    • According to Tim Hodge, he and the crew were debating if the story should be about perseverance or faith. They went for the latter, and used the perseverance lesson for a later episode.
    • Boyz in the Sink and their debut single "Belly Button" were originally going to debut in A Snoodle's Tale, due to the fact that it fits the lesson of having nothing to hide, but for some reason, the song was pushed forward into this episode.
      • If Belly Button had made its way to A Snoodle's Tale, the Silly Song that would've debuted in this episode would most probably have been Sport Utility Vehicle.
  • The map showing Lango Lake is a reference to animator Keith Lango.
  • The sketch of Pa Grape in the Technical Difficulties card was originally concept art for The Star of Christmas.
  • The wanted posters in the jail bulletin board are references to David Pitts, Joseph Sapulich, Chuck Vollmer, Tim Lannon, and Michael Spooner. On a similar note, the Honcho Villa Poster from The Legend of Galaxy Gus is shown as well as the Wanted Poster from The Star of Christmas.
  • The Smile of a Child and TBN broadcasts version edits a few things (for time compressing):
    • The intro scene of Dodge Ball City was cut, and immediately went to Oh Little Joe.
    • The Silly Song was cut. As such, the "One Year Later" card was added in between where the Silly Song was normally in.
    • The story fades out at the ending, before the avalanche of dodge-balls happening.
    • The What Have We Learned song was cut.
  • The way international versions dub Bob and Larry's argument over a Western or a Bible story is not always the same between every dub.
    • The Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, and German dubs are the only international dubs that actually translate the argument, although the Brazilian dub adds an announcer over it.
    • The Croatian dub simply has an announcer translate the "technical difficulties" text; the only thing heard after that is the music.
    • The Slovenian dub uses whispering sounds as an excuse for not translating the dialogue.
  • This episode's lesson was originally meant to be "Cowpunchin'," as seen on three prototype covers. Later, this was changed to "Trusting God," before finally getting changed to "Facing Hardship."
  • David Pitts states in the behind-the-scenes video that because the original script was mostly comedy-centric, Phil Vischer polished up the script to include teachings. Despite being uncredited as a co-writer in the actual episode, he is still credited in the script on the DVD-ROM Fun!.
  • The secular international version of this episode omits the countertop segments and Belly Button.
  • The real name of Pete McGuinness is Zeke, but it was changed to "Pete" for security reasons.[1]
    • Furthermore, Zeke states that he wasn't actually depressed. His mom wrote the letter to Big Idea, and that was the wording she used.[2]
  • Some of the characters in the story and their biblical counterparts include:
    • Little Joe — Joseph
    • Little Joe's Father — Jacob
    • Jude — Judah
    • Reuben — Reuben from the Bible Story
    • Little Joe's other Brothers— Joseph's other brothers
    • The Desperadoes — The Traders
    • Mr. McPotiphar — Potiphar
    • Miss Kitty — Potiphar's wife
    • Sheriff Bob — Prison Keeper
    • Baker and Blacksmith — Baker & Cupbearer
    • Mayor of Dodge Ball City — The Pharaoh
    • Benjamin — Benjamin from the Bible Story

Remarks

  • Reuben was present with his brothers when Little Joe was taken by Desperados which is strange because in real life, when Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him, he convinced them otherwise and he wanted to save Joseph from being sold and when he alone found out Joseph was gone, he was very upset.
  • When Little Joe wears his peanut vendor outfit, his scarf is gone. But when Miss Kitty shoves the cow head on him, his scarf suddenly reappears. Although it could be possible that he takes his scarf off before he wears his peanut vender outfit and then puts it back on afterwards.
  • Little Joe's brothers didn't recognize him when Sheriff Bob said his name.
  • The storage tower vanished during the final scenes of the story.
  • In the original Bible story of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat, the cupbearer was freed, and the baker was put to death. However, for some unknown reason, it's the other way around in this version.
  • It's unknown if Miss Kitty was ever found out to have framed Little Joe.
  • Although not a goof, you can see Jimmy lacks a stem when he's sleeping and screaming of his dream.
  • Little Joe's complete outfit displayed on the cover is only worn for a very brief moment in this episode.
    • At the beginning of the episode, Little Joe is wearing only a bandana and his hat. Then, he is stripped of the coat he got and his hat when kidnapped, and wearing only his bandana. He wears different clothes through the rest of the episode.

Goofs

  • Jude's eyes are stretched when he passes the other brothers.
  • When Jude calls out Little Joe on his dream, the cake clips through the table.
  • When Miss Kitty shouts "Thief!", Little Joe's Employee of the month is still shown on the wall, but vanishes in the next shot. It then reappears in the following shot.
  • When Scallion #2 is running from Sheriff Bob, he has Scallion #3's laugh. Also in the same scene, Sheriff Bob regains his original hat back before the dodge-ball hits him. But when the interpret dream starts, he is back with his stetson hat. Should've Sheriff Bob change his hats?
  • The back of the video incorrectly states that Little Joe had eleven older French Pea brothers.
  • The back of the DVD and features menu states there was a how-to-draw on McPotiphar. In it's place is a how-to-draw on Charlie Pincher.
  • In the Croatian dub, a few errors occurred:
    • The voice actors do not have a specific pronunciation for Jude's name. While Bob and other deep voiced characters pronounce his name as "Džud" (which is the correct pronunciation), high voiced characters pronounce it letter by letter (for Croatian speakers to correctly pronounce his name, the "j" is supposed to make a "dž" sound, and the "e" is supposed to be silent).
    • The re-composed version of Belly Button in the Croatian dub is off-sync with the lyrics.
    • Scooter's line "Run for your lives!" is left in English.
    • When Little Joe is in disguise, his voice doesn't change.

Inside References

Real-World References

  • The episode's title is based after 1993's "The Ballad of Little Jo," which came out ten years before. This show was previously acknowledged in VeggieTales Christmas Spectacular!
  • The map burning is a reference to the intro to NBC's Bonanza.
  • Dodge Ball City is likely named after Dodge City, Kansas, a location known for its "wild west" history in the late 19th century, where many western films, television series, and radio dramas have taken place.
  • The French Peas calling out "Hey Jude!" is a reference to the 1968 Beatles song with the same name.
  • When Little Joe is taken by bandits, he says, "Desperadoes! You'd better come to your senses!" This is a reference to the Eagles song Desperado, which contains similar lyrics.
  • Little Joe says "Hello Kitty" is a reference to Hello Kitty.
  • When Little Joe sees his brothers arrive in Dodge Ball City, a parody of the main theme from the film "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" is heard.
  • The Quilt the Baker and Blacksmith made says "There's No Place Like Home" which was said in "The Wizard of Oz".

Fast Forward

Other languages

  • حكاية يوسف (Arabic) (The Tale of Joseph)
  • Unknown (Taiwanese)
  • 小小的 Joe (Cantonese) (Little Joe)
  • Balada o malom Joeu (Croatian) (same translation)
  • Pikku-Joe (Finnish) (Little Joe)
  • Das Abenteuer von Josef (German) (The Adventure of Joseph)
  • A kicsi Joe balladája (Hungarian) (same translation)
  • 서부의 사나이 리틀 조 (Korean) (Man of the West Little Joe)
  • Balladen om lille Joe (Norwegian) (same translation)
  • جوزف کوچولو (Persian) (Little Joseph)
  • A Balada do Pequeno Joe (Portuguese) (Brazil and Portugal) (same translation)
  • Баллада О Маленькой Джо (Russian) (same translation)
  • Balada o malem Jožefu (Slovenian) (same translation)
  • La Balada del Pequeño Joe (Spanish) (Latin America) (same translation)
  • Khúc hùng ca Joe bé nhỏ (Vietnamese) (Little Joe Epic)

Episode Transcript

Credits

Gallery

TheBalladOfLittleJoeTitleCard

References

VeggieTales episodes
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