Craig of the Creek
Childhood adventures in a creek utopia.
Craig of the Creek is an American animated sitcom from Cartoon Network, created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin. Its pilot aired on December 1, 2017, and the series launched online on February 19, 2018, with a television double-premiere on March 30, 2018. The show ended with its sixth season, which ran from June 1, 2024, to January 25, 2025.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Animated sitcom
- Adventure
- Comedy
- Slice of life
- Creator
- Matt Burnett; Ben Levin
- Voices
- Philip Solomon
- Noël Wells
- H. Michael Croner
- Composer
- Jeff Rosenstock
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 6
- Episodes
- 180
Facts from the source article.
Characters
Craig Williams is a ten-year-old African-American boy who spends his time at the creek with his friends Kelsey and J.P. He carries a handmade staff and a purse, both of which are meaningful to him, and he keeps a detailed map of the Creek that he constantly updates. Kelsey Pokoly is a nine-year-old girl with ginger hair who wears a purple cape and carries a PVC pipe sword she made herself. She has a pet budgerigar named Mortimor that she calls a falcon. Her last name, Pokoly, may come from the Hungarian word “pokoli,” meaning “hellish.” Kelsey is adventurous, loves reading, and is often dramatic, narrating her life out loud. She lives with her single widower father. In one episode, she is shown to be Jewish, and in another, she is revealed to be a lesbian. John Paul Mercer, known as J.P., is an eleven-year-old boy who wears a large red hockey jersey. He is not especially smart but is kind and imaginative. He often gets dirty and hurt. Craig once mentioned that he and Kelsey “found” J.P. during an earlier adventure.
Production
The show was officially announced on March 30, 2017, at the same time as Apple & Onion and Summer Camp Island. Matt Burnett mentioned on Twitter that production had just started. In August 2021, Trammell told Insider that over 40 people work in the writing room, each bringing their own background and experiences. Jeff Rosenstock, known for ska music, composes the show’s score. Ben Levin and Matt Burnett, both ska fans, chose him for the role. Two lesbian teenagers, Tabitha and Courtney, were confirmed in April 2018. In their first episode, "The Curse," Tabitha skips college to be with Courtney, and they end up holding hands. Later, in "The Haunted Dollhouse," they share a kiss and confess their feelings. A non-binary character named Angel José was confirmed in December 2019. Their voice actor, Angel Lorenzana, is an agender storyboard artist who uses they/them pronouns. Other LGBTQ characters include J.P.’s older sister Laura, who is openly lesbian and voiced by comedian Fortune Feimster. In "Jextra Perrestrial," she is in a relationship with a girl named Kat. Raj and Shawn, Honeysuckle Rangers from another neighborhood, are shown to have mutual feelings. In "Cousin of the Creek," Jasmine tells her cousin, "I'm texting my girlfriend, mind your business."
Reception
The series was received positively from critics. Doug Wallen of The Guardian wrote that the series "slots in comfortably alongside current animated shows like Hilda and Bluey" and becomes more endearing with repeated viewing, noting its savvy pop-culture references and callbacks. Omar Holmon of Blacknerdproblems.com said the show "re-examines what it's like for kids using their imaginations" and that he puts his faith in the series. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media described the series as "appealing" with "affirming messages" and recurring themes of creativity, joy, adventure, individuality, and self-discovery.
Other media
A spin-off for younger viewers centered on Craig's little sister Jessica, called Jessica's Big Little World, was first announced in February 2021. It was planned for Cartoon Network's Cartoonito preschool block. In October 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery reduced the first season's episode order by half. The show got a sneak peek on September 20, 2023, and officially debuted on October 2, 2023. Reports from November 2023 indicated the series would conclude after that single season. A prequel movie, Craig Before the Creek, was revealed in January 2022. It came out on digital platforms on December 11, 2023, and on DVD on March 26, 2024. The film aired on Cartoon Network on January 13, 2024, and its story happens before the events of the main series' first episode.
More in Television Series by Cartoon Network Studios
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced