Craig of the Creek | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Matt Burnett Ben Levin |
Voices of |
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Composer | Jeff Rosenstock |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 6 |
No. of episodes | 176 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Running time | 11 minutes |
Production company | Cartoon Network Studios |
Original release | |
Network | Cartoon Network |
Release | March 30, 2018 – present |
Related | |
Craig of the Creek is an American animated television series created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin for Cartoon Network. The show's pilot episode debuted directly on the TV on December 1, 2017. [1] The series premiered online on February 19, 2018, with a double-premiere event airing on March 30, 2018. [2]
On February 17, 2021, the series was renewed for a fourth season which premiered on October 25, 2021. [3] On January 19, 2022, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on July 10, 2023. [4] Additionally, a spin-off Jessica's Big Little World , [5] and an origin film titled Craig Before the Creek , [4] have been released.
In October 2022, it was announced that the fifth season of the series would be cut in half by Warner Bros. Discovery. [6] In December 2022, it was announced the show's final episode had been written, and that seven episodes were cut from the fifth season; [7] however, it was announced that the second half of the fifth season will become the sixth and final season of the series, which started airing on June 1, 2024. [8]
The series has received positive reviews from critics. Its themes of friendship, diversity, and LGBT representation have attracted a broad fanbase.
In the fictional suburban Baltimore-DC area town of Herkleton, Maryland, a boy named Craig Williams and his two friends, Kelsey Pokoly and "J.P." Mercer, have their many adventures in the titular creek, described as a kid utopia of untamed wilderness in which tribes of children reign over tree forts and dirt bike ramps. [9]
The greenlit announcement was made public on March 30, 2017, alongside other shows such as Apple & Onion and Summer Camp Island . [11] Matt Burnett also stated on his Twitter account that he and his team had recently begun production around that time. [12]
In August 2021, Trammell told Insider that the show's writing room is full of more than 40 people "all with different backgrounds and different experiences, who are willing to share those experiences." [13] He also said the show is different from shows where there is only one person of color in the writing room, stating that since their writing room is open "it never feels like you're the one representative."
The show's music is composed by Jeff Rosenstock, who specializes in the ska genre. [14] Ben Levin and Matt Burnett are both fans of ska, which is why they wanted Rosenstock for the job.
In April 2018, two lesbian characters were confirmed. In their debut episode, "The Curse", Tabitha refuses to go to college and wants to spend time with Courtney. Courtney blushes, and they are holding hands in the end. [15] In "The Haunted Dollhouse", they have feelings for each other, which is confirmed, and they kiss.
In December 2019, it was confirmed that the show had a non-binary character, named Angel José. Their voice actor, Angel Lorenzana, who also uses they/them pronouns, an agender storyboard artist for the show, confirmed this. [16] In later tweets, they added that their "cartoon self" used they/them before themselves, gave a shout out to the show's crew, and said that while this was a small contribution to LGBTQ+ representation, they hoped "fans can take comfort knowing that there's also non-binary people working behind the scenes" on every of the show's episodes. Some praised the show for the number of non-binary characters, comparing it to the apparent number of “non-binary characters” in Steven Universe , where every Gem is “non-binary” (Though the Gems are biologically sexless and all use female pronouns). [17]
Other LGBTQ characters appear in the show like J.P.'s openly lesbian older sister, Laura. In the episode "Jextra Perrestrial", She is shown to be in a same-sex relationship with a girl named Kat. [18] Laura is voiced by openly lesbian comedian Fortune Feimster. Raj and Shawn, Honeysuckle Rangers from a neighborhood nearby, [19] are implied to have feelings for each other in several episodes. [20] Raj is voiced by openly gay actor Parvesh Cheena. Also, the episode "Cousin of the Creek", Jasmine tells her cousin "I'm texting my girlfriend, mind your business." [21]
The season 4 episode "Fire & Ice" focuses on Kelsey and Stacks' relationship as they confessed their love to each other. [22] At the end of another season 4 episode, "Silver Fist Returns", Cat Burglar (Secret Keeper) is revealed to be gay and has a crush on George of The Tea Timers. George blushes and asks him out and he accepts, making them officially a couple. Secret Keeper is voiced by non-binary actor Cole Escola.
This section is missing information about the history.(January 2022) |
On July 15, 2019, it was announced that the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on June 21, 2020. [23] It was later renewed for a fourth season on February 17, 2021, which premiered on October 25, 2021, [3] and a fifth season on January 19, 2022, which premiered on July 10, 2023. [4] In October 2022, it was announced that the fifth season will be cut in half by Warner Bros. Discovery. [24] In December 2022, it was announced the series finished production and seven episodes were cut from the fifth season. [7]
On May 2, 2022, the show also began airing reruns on Cartoon Network's sister channel, Boomerang. [25]
The show left Boomerang on October 28, 2022, along with Teen Titans Go! , The Amazing World of Gumball , and Total Dramarama, as those shows still air on Cartoon Network.
The series made its international debut on Teletoon in Canada on May 3, 2018. [26] In most countries in Europe and Latin America, it airs on Cartoon Network.
Seasons | Episodes | Release dates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | ||||
1 | 2019 | 13 | March 19, 2019 Episodes: "Itch To Explore" – "Lost in the Sewers" | |
Australia | ||||
1 – 3 | 2021 | 120 | Seasons 1 - 3 DVD: [27] October 6, 2021 Episodes: "Itch To Explore" – "Capture the Flag Part 5: The Game" | |
The series was received positively from critics. Doug Wallen of The Guardian wrote "series slots in comfortably alongside current animated shows like Hilda and Bluey. It becomes all the more endearing as one keeps watching, thanks in part to savvy pop-culture references and repeated callbacks to past episodes. The setting may be a fictionalised version of the Baltimore/Washington DC area, but the thickly forested, adventure-rich backdrop could be anywhere. No matter who you are or what you’re going through, escape is always just as close as the creek." [28]
Omar Holmon of Blacknerdproblems.com said that show "Re-examines what it’s like for kids using their imaginations. Who knew you could still use one of those without an internet connection? I’m putting my faith in Craig of The Creek in these trying times." [29]
Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media described the series as "appealing" with its "affirming messages." She also argued that the series had recurring themes of "creativity, joy, adventure, individuality, and self-discovery". [30]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
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2018 | Common Sense Media | Common Sense Seal | Entire series | Won [31] | |
2019 | Annie Award | Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Episode: "Escape From Family Dinner" (Matt Burnett, Ben Levin, Shauna McGarry, Jeff Trammell, Tiffany Ford) [32] | Nominated | |
2020 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Children's Animated Series | Nominated [33] [34] | ||
2021 | GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Kids & Family Programming | Nominated [35] | ||
Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Children's Animated Series | Nominated | |||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Children's Program | Nominated [36] | |||
2023 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming - Animated | Nominated | ||
2024 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming - Animated | Nominated |
On February 17, 2021, it was announced that a preschool spin-off series centered on Craig's little sister Jessica was in development. Titled Jessica's Big Little World, the new series was set to air as part of Cartoon Network's Cartoonito preschool block. [5] On January 19, 2022, it was announced that the series would premiere in 2023. [4] [37]
In October 2022, it was announced that the first season of the spin-off would be cut in half by Warner Bros. Discovery. [24] In July 2023, it was announced the series would air as part of the regular Cartoon Network schedule, in addition to Cartoonito. [37] A sneak peek of the series aired on September 20, 2023, and officially premiered on October 2, 2023. [38]
In November 2023, it was reported that the series would end after its first season. [39]
An origin film, Craig Before the Creek, was announced on January 19, 2022, and was released on digital on December 11, 2023, and released on DVD on March 26, 2024. [4] [40] The film aired on Cartoon Network on January 13, 2024. [40] The events of the film take place before the first episode of the series.
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