He is voiced by series co-creator Chris Houghton and first appeared, alongside the rest of the Green family, in the series premiere "Space Chicken", on June 18, 2018, though his actual first appearance was the first chronological episode "Welcome Home".
Creation
Character
Cricket Green is based on series co-creator Chris Houghton as a child.[3][4]
His name Cricket is derived from a nickname that Houghton encouraged his classmates to call him, but never caught on.[‡ 1][3] However, during the development of the series, Cricket was originally going to be named Bucket, but this was changed due to complications with another Disney series, Kirby Buckets.[‡ 1]
Cricket's design, as are all others, were influenced by The Muppets,[4][5] described by Shane as a "fun, friendly, poppy look."[6] Cricket's hairstyle is based on Chris Houghton's own when he was young,[3] and Houghton also conceived Cricket's catchphrase, "Bingo! Bango!", which was something he'd often say to Charlie Gavin, his storyboard partner on Harvey Beaks.[7]
Voice
Cricket is voiced by Chris Houghton. Cricket's voice, according to Houghton, just came naturally.[7][8]
Role in Big City Greens
Cricket is a young boy born in the rural town of Smalton, the second child in the Green family, after Tilly. His middle name is derived from his late paternal grandfather Ernest Green. As revealed in "Unplanned", Cricket's birth was unplanned. He is currently 10 years old.
As depicted in "Welcome Home",[a] he and his family move from their home in the country to Big City to live with their grandmother Alice. This factor of the series was meant to reflect the Houghton brothers moving from their hometown of St. Johns, Michigan to Los Angeles, California.[9] He is a curious child with a love for adventure, which was meant to reflect how Chris Houghton was as a child,[10] excluding the misbehaving.[6] He always gets into trouble, but learns from his mistakes.[11]
Personality
Cricket is portrayed as an optimistic and rambunctious child whose curiosity and desire for adventure brings him and his family on wild adventures. He is the main troublemaker of the Green family, prone to causing chaos and destruction, often causing unrest within the family, though he doesn't always have malicious intent.[8] He also loves to pull pranks, formerly with his ex-girlfriend Gabriella, and as revealed in "April Fool", it was their way of affection.
He is almost always barefoot, which is one of his personal convictions as seen in "No Service". This episode, as well as "Cyberbullies", shows that he will often stand up for whatever he believes in. As revealed in "Rat Tail", he likes to express himself and is also perceptive to subliminal messaging. Additionally, per "People Watching" and "Animation Abomination", he loves explosions.
Despite his usual reckless personality, he can also be responsible when he needs to be, often taking accountability for his selfish actions and trying to make them right. For example, in "Wishing Well", Cricket makes a wishing well to cash in on people making wishes, and when Tilly dumps her life savings into it only to find out her wish wasn't coming true (to feel a rainbow), he makes it come true on his own. Cricket also has rare moments of vulnerability, such as when he loses his beloved dog Phoenix in "Phoenix Rises".
He really cares about his older sister Tilly and, as revealed in "Green Trial", the two have a "sibling code" only to be invoked in the most dire of situations. As revealed in "Cheap Snake", he doesn't like to make plans and would rather not think about them, though learns that it's better to have one later in the episode. In "Wild Side", it is revealed that Cricket gets an annual "wild urge" Bill refers to as "the itch" that isn't satiated unless he is taken camping in the woods. In "Chip's Revenge", it is revealed that Cricket, when enraged, can receive massive strength.
Reception
In her review of Big City Greens, Emily Ashby states, "Cricket's zest for living life to its fullest yields adventures of the wackiest kinds, like inventing a device to send a chicken into space."[12]Laughing Place states "Cricket Green is a 10 year old boy who's curious, energetic, and always optimistic. Whatever he sets out to do, he will figure out how to get it done."[13] He is sometimes compared to Bart Simpson because of their similar appearances.[14] According to Chris Houghton, he is often encouraged by fans to do Cricket's voice.[11] An official TikTok account for the character is available, ran by Houghton.[‡ 2]
↑ "Welcome Home" is the 1st segment of the 8th episode of Big City Greens, though is chronologically the first episode of the series.
References
↑ "Bleeped". Big City Greens. Season 2. Episode 26a. March 6, 2021. Disney Channel. Bill: Fine. If you won't stop swearing, then you leave me no choice. Cricket Ernest Green, I hereby forbid thee from cursing ever again.
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