Still from Franklin and Friends. Courtesy Nelvana/Treehouse.
You know Franklin, that little turtle your kids love to watch on TV in the morning and read stories about before bed? It’s his 25th anniversary this year and to celebrate the milestone, Nelvana, the Corus-owned studio that produced the original animated Franklin TV show along with Franklin movies Franklin and the Green Knight, Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure, Back To School with Franklin, and Franklin’s Magic Christmas, is premiering a brand new CGI-animated series based on the character.
Franklin and Friends, as the new show is called, takes Franklin on “daily challenges and adventures, learning life lessons along with pals Snail, Rabbit, Beaver, Fox, Goose and his best buddy Bear.” From what I’ve seen of it, the animation is very colourful and slick, and the voices seem to match those from the original series (I couldn’t find a list of credits to check this though). One thing for certain is that whenever the promo for it runs my 3-year-old gets very excited (and I secretly do, too).
More about Franklin and Friends from the press release:
Nelvana Studio and Treehouse will mark the anniversary celebrations with the launch of Franklin and Friends, a new CGI-animated series with Franklin as the undisputed star of the show. In this Canadian original production, Franklin is filled with passion for Woodland, his family and friends. Franklin isn’t perfect however, but he is working on it and his daily adventures encourage kids to be curious about the world. Featuring an ensemble of characters including, Bear, Fox, Rabbit, Beaver, Goose, Snail, and introducing quirky Aunt T, the stories of Franklin and Friends feature special themes including fun mysteries, Woodland events and outdoor activities.
Franklin and Friends premieres Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. on Treehouse with repeats on Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. and Sunday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. ET. For more info on the show, and to play games and download activities, visit franklin.treehousetv.com.
