Wally Darling

Wally Darling is the friendliest neighbor in Welcome Home, perhaps even the best painter too. With a smile like his it’s hard to disagree! Always eager to make new friends and show them around the neighborhood, Wally is happy to lend a helping hand. But you knew that already, didn’t you?

Wally is the most prominent character in Welcome Home, as he is often the focus of merchandise, advertising, and is present in every episode and book. His segments were focused on drawing and painting with viewers. Barnaby was often depicted alongside him and illustrated pages note that they were best friends multiple times. (Most notably scenarios where Wally and the viewer are learning something new.) They also share similar characteristics, like hearts on the sole's of their shoes and paws, of which only Barnaby has the latter.

A notable characteristic of Wally is his house named Home. Home is regarded as the ninth neighbor, but seemingly cannot speak as illustrations show Home speaking only in onomatopoeias.(Creak, Squeak, Bang.) Sources say, however, that this puppet’s eyes could move through a hand crank on the other side of the prop facing away from the camera. Additionally, it’s doors, chimney, and windows were supposedly very animated during episodes. It is implied that Home is the most lively house within the neighborhood, as none of the other house’s seem to have eyes.