''Toad Patrol'' is a Canadian
animated series
An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have eith ...
created by George and Peggy Sarson. It premiered on October 2, 1999, on
Teletoon
Teletoon (stylized as TELETOON) is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Its name is a portmanteau of "television" and "cartoon". The channel primarily broadcasts an ...
and on September 7, 2002, on
Toon Disney.
Although it was aimed at young children,
it found a following among pre-teens, teens and young adults because the fairly youthful and lighthearted appearance of the show enveloped some rather dark undertones and backgrounds. The story was in unofficial development since 1985, officially beginning when the creators started selling Mistle Toad chocolates and cream pops to raise money.
''Toad Patrol'' was animated in Korea,
AKOM
AKOM Production, Ltd. (Animation KOrea Movie 애이콤 프로덕션) is a South Korean animation studio in Songpa-gu, Seoul that has provided much work since its conception in 1985 by Nelson Shin. Its biggest claim to fame is the overseas animat ...
(first season) and India,
UTV Toons (additional production services, second season only), although much in-betweening was done in Canada at
Funbag and Helix studios. It later aired on the French-language
Télétoon
Télétoon (styled as TĒLĒTOON) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Its name is a portmanteau of " télévision" and "cartoon". As of 2013, along with its Englis ...
as ''La Petite Patrouille'', and on the
TeleFutura Spanish-language network
as ''Patrulla de Sapitos''. It also aired in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
on
Rai 2
Rai 2 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's second television channel, and is known for broadcasting ''TG2'' news bulletins, tal ...
as ''La pattuglia dei ranocchi''.
Story
The story is about a group of eight young "Toadlet" siblings and their struggle for survival in The Great Forest.
The Ancients are quite powerful and knowledgeable in
shamanistic
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiri ...
like magic. According to legend; they had created Toad Hollow, left many symbols of their existence behind and had eventually disappeared. Now, due to unknown reasons, the Toads have to abandon the forest and migrate to Toad Hollow. Toad Hollow is basically a giant haven, home to many Toads. The only way to enter Toad Hollow is a gateway known as the Fairy Ring. Or at least, this is the only way that will prevent one from becoming a Toadstool after the ring closes. This portal of sorts opens and closes in random areas of the forest annually, and any who miss the Ring end up stranded or turn into a toadstool.
The main characters are late born Toadlets who missed the great migration. Unable to figure out what to do, they are greeted by a wandering Toad sage named Mistle Toad. He tells them about the Fairy Ring and how to find it. It is not known exactly where it is because the location changes every year. It is revealed shortly after that the youngest of the eight toadlets, Panther Cap, has the ability to hear what certain "Lightning Oaks" (called Thunder Trees by the toadlets) are saying, and can also tune into these trees telepathically with the use of an acorn.
Along their journey, every member of the group develops a special skill which they use to contribute to the group's survival. They also meet Earth Star, a young Toadlet musician who was part of a previous group of Toadlets who failed to find the Fairy Ring in time and all turned into Toadstools.
The series lasted two seasons, 13 episodes each. The first follows the Toadlets as they find the Fairy Ring. In the second season, when in Toad Hollow, Panther Cap hears Mistle Toad calling out for help. Eventually after telling the others, they set out to find and rescue him.
Characters
Main Characters
*Fur Foot
*Beauty Stem
*Elf Cup
*Shaggy Mane
*Puff Ball
*Oyster
*Slippery Jack
*Panther Cap
*Earth Star
*Mistle Toad
Production
This series was first realized by George and Peggy Sarson in 1985. He created the character of Mistle Toad back then, and penned a series of short stories about
Toad Tunnels, tunnels dug in some areas of the world for groups of toads who migrate. The tunnels act as a way to give the Toads a safe passageway past freeways and roads, as this had been known to destroy whole groups of migrating toads before the invention of the tunnels. George found the perilous journey of the toads fascinating, and created a story about it.
Teletoon
Teletoon (stylized as TELETOON) is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Its name is a portmanteau of "television" and "cartoon". The channel primarily broadcasts an ...
, at the time not yet launched, commissioned the first season as early as January 1997 for its first batch of original programming. In 2002, the sale of broadcast rights to Disney in the US was announced, along with the production of a second season. A show sponsor page had stated that 13 additional episodes of the series were in production as of 2005.
The first season was produced by
AKOM Production Company, while the second season was produced by RME Animation Studios. Slippery Jack is voiced by Brady Moffatt in the first season and not the second season because he is uncredited.
Run for the Toad, a
marathon organized by Peggy and George Sarson, used characters from the series for branding and had special events for children where episodes of the show were aired in both English and French.
Episodes
Season 1: Chapters 1–13 (1999–2000)
Season 2: Chapters 14–26 (2002)
Home releases
Three DVDs were released in 2005, each one containing three episodes.
References
External links
The Temple Of BufonidaeRun For The Toad WebsiteEpisode Guides*
{{Teletoon
1990s Canadian animated television series
2000s Canadian animated television series
1999 Canadian television series debuts
2002 Canadian television series endings
Animated television series about frogs
Teletoon original programming
Canadian children's animated adventure television series
Canadian children's animated fantasy television series
Canadian children's animated comedy television series
Canadian children's animated drama television series
Television series by Universal Television
English-language television shows