Craig Before the Creek
A prequel to Craig of the Creek.
Craig Before the Creek is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film that serves as a prequel to the Cartoon Network series Craig of the Creek. Directed by series creators Matt Burnett and Ben Levin, with co-direction by Naija Porter, the film follows Craig as he moves to a new town and ventures into the nearby creek. It marks the final film performance of Kimberly Hébert Gregory before her death in 2025.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Matt Burnett; Ben Levin
- Story
- Matt Burnett
- Ben Levin
- Tiffany Ford
- Ashleigh Hairston
- Dashawn Mahome
- Najja Porter
- Jeff Trammell
- Based on
- Craig of the Creek
- Matt Burnett and
- Ben Levin
- Producer
- Lisa Zunich
- Editing
- Nick Lomauro; Mark T. Collins
- Music
- Jeff Rosenstock
- Studio
- Cartoon Network Studios
- Released
- 11 December 2023, digital distribution, 13 January 2024, TV
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Craig Williams and his family have just moved to Herkleton, and he already feels like he doesn't belong. After a rough night, his mom Nicole sends him to take his little sister Jessica to the playground. While Jessica is on the swings, her stuffed toy Small Uncle gets flung into the Creek, forcing Craig to go in after it for the first time. There he meets a kid named Kit who trades things, and Kit happens to have the toy. But a pirate crew led by Serena attacks, scares Craig, and takes Small Uncle. A girl named Kelsey, who is obsessed with fantasy, rescues Craig along with her pet parakeet Mortimer, then demands payment in Choco-rolls. That night, Craig finds a diary in his room left by the previous owner, Hannah. The diary reveals that Hannah hid a wish maker somewhere in the Creek to hide from people like Serena. Craig decides to find it so he can wish for his old life back. He gets Kelsey to come along reluctantly, and they get a raft from Kit. But Serena and her pirates capture them. They meet a clumsy boy named J.P., who is a bad torturer—nobody wants to be around him because he's terrible at being mean. Serena wants the wish maker so she can flood the Creek. J.P. switches sides, and the three escape. Serena keeps her crew together by using the dinner horn, while Craig, Kelsey, and J.P. hide in a tree stump and call their parents to pretend they're having a sleepover. Kelsey and J.P. admit they wish people would understand them. Later, Craig sneaks off alone, but Kelsey and J.P. wake up and get captured. Craig finds an ancient playground, opens a hidden entrance to an underground temple, and discovers the wish maker. As he follows the commands to make a wish, he starts thinking about his time with Kelsey and J.P. Just then, Serena arrives with her crew and takes the wish maker.
Announcement and production
In January 2022, Cartoon Network greenlit a fifth season of Craig of the Creek and announced development of a film, then titled Craig of the Creek: The Movie, described as a prequel. In September 2023, the film was confirmed for release later that year. Its trailer, release date, and finalized title were revealed in November 2023. Series co-creators Matt Burnett and Ben Levin served as directors and co-writers. Vico Ortiz voiced the new character Serena, and Byron Marc Newsome reprised his role as Duane Williams from Jessica's Big Little World. The plot was inspired by Levin's childhood move to Maryland and discovering a nearby creek. Burnett and Levin wanted the film to stand alone for new viewers while rewarding longtime fans, so they chose an origin story for Craig, Kelsey, and J.P. Levin praised Philip Solomon's performance for showing range from silly to heartfelt. H. Michael Croner improvised many of his lines, as in the series. Saerom Animation and Warner Bros. Animation contributed additional work. Burnett, Levin, and co-director Naija Porter aimed for a more cinematic look than the series, using new tools like Quantel and adding lighting and shadows for a magical feel. The pirate ship was a CG model blended with traditional animation. Series artists worked on backgrounds with added detail, using specific brushes for texture. Porter created a mock-up for reference, and the crew strove for detailed leaves and trees while meeting a fast schedule.
Reception
Diondra Brown of Common Sense Media gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, finding it charming and musical but missing the diversity that distinguished the series. Jon Mendelsohn of Comic Book Resources rated it 5 out of 10, praising animation and voice work while criticizing story and pacing, concluding it is light and easy to digest but may disappoint those expecting a grand follow-up. Anime Superhero called it a great set-up for the series and an introduction for new viewers, noting it develops the main characters without adding much new beyond Serena.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Craig Before the Creek?
The music for Craig Before the Creek was composed by Jeff Rosenstock.
How long is Craig Before the Creek?
Craig Before the Creek has a running time of 88 minutes.
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