Toad Patrol

Story

The series follows eight young Toadlet siblings struggling to survive in the Great Forest. According to legend, the powerful Ancients created Toad Hollow and then disappeared. The toads must abandon the forest and migrate to Toad Hollow, a haven accessible only through a gateway called the Fairy Ring. This portal opens and closes in random forest locations annually; those who miss it become stranded or turn into toadstools.

The main characters are late-born Toadlets who missed the great migration. A wandering sage named Mistle Toad tells them about the Fairy Ring and how to find it. The youngest Toadlet, Panther Cap, can hear what certain Lightning Oaks (called Thunder Trees by the toadlets) say and can telepathically tune into them using an acorn. Along the journey, each Toadlet develops a special skill.

They meet Earth Star, a young Toadlet musician from a previous group that failed to find the Fairy Ring and turned into toadstools. The first season follows the Toadlets as they find the Fairy Ring. In the second season, Panther Cap hears Mistle Toad calling for help, and the group sets out to rescue him.

Production

George and Peggy Sarson first conceived the series in 1985. George created the character Mistle Toad and wrote short stories about Toad Tunnels, which are tunnels dug for migrating toad groups to safely cross roads and freeways. Funbag Animation Studios opened in 1993, founded by Good Coulthart, Don Spencer, and Rick Morrison. Edward Sarson Productions and Funbag formed a joint venture called Toadbag Productions in 1995, with Toad Patrol as their first project.

Curtis Crawford, a Canadian-born director known for Nickelodeon’s Doug, joined Funbag as director of creative development. The Family Channel and Baton supported the first 13 episodes, and Funbag owned 50% of the project. Funbag began production in July 1997 after spending over $500,000 computerizing its colour system. Pre-production, three initial scripts, the central design pack, and voice casting were completed by winter 1997.

Teletoon commissioned the first season in January 1997 for its original programming launch scheduled for September 1998. The first season was produced by AKOM Production Company; the second season by RME Animation Studios.

Slippery Jack is voiced by Brady Moffatt in the first season but is uncredited in the second. In 2005, Toronto’s Portfolio Entertainment became the new owners. The show later aired on Malaysia’s RTM network in 2007 and on Minimax in Central Europe in 2009.

Did You Know?

• The first season was produced by AKOM in Korea, while the second season was produced by RME Animation Studios.
• Run for the Toad, a marathon organized by Peggy and George Sarson, used characters from the series for branding and held its final event in October 2019.
• The show aired in France as La Petite Patrouille, in Spain as Patrulla de Sapitos, and in Italy as La pattuglia dei ranocchi.