Croak and
Punishment
Some might say that this show is one to get people to appreciate the little things in life, and cartoons like this emphasize the idea. It’s just Anne and Sprig going off on a fun escapade with their endearing personalities working off each other well to entertaining effect.
It starts with Sprig revealing a special shell he plans on giving to Ivy Sundew as a birthday present, and being so trusting, he leaves it out in the open when he has to do a chore. Anne is understandably skeptical about this decision, saying that it could be stolen if left all alone. Ultimately, Sprig’s trust gets the better of him when they return to find the shell missing. To make things particularly interesting, Anne sees this as an opportunity to approach this situation like a full-fledged cop show. With clips of cop shows exaggerating all the expected tropes of the genre as her lead, the experience is given the usual charm that comes from human customs introduced to frogs.
Using caterpillars as mustaches and constantly snacking on donuts is good, but the big thing to sell the act is the idea of a good cop and bad cop. Shaking up the usual dynamic, Anne decides to make Sprig the bad cop, most likely out of wanting him to realize his devotion to securing a good relationship with Ivy. I mean, she has been a big supporter of that ever since she met Ivy. It takes a while for Sprig to tap into what it means to be a bad cop, understandably because he’s a good-natured frog at heart. However, when Anne gives him a pep talk, he transforms his mannerisms immensely, getting unusually tough with everyone they come across when following clues. Through it all, it’s pretty amusing to watch Sprig act so aggressive, particularly when you know it’s part of an act. Balancing out the comedy though is Anne trying to manage her friend’s behavior, seeing that he’s going too far with what she taught him.
While the act is fairly harmless for a while, it becomes a bigger deal when they reach one particular suspect, a swamp dweller called Gunther. He seems warm and inviting, but when Sprig performs his bad cop routine, there’s a weird dark turn. Gunther slowly changes color and grows fangs, going full monster after the denizens who wronged him. To add to the consequences, Sprig’s bad cop routine makes the town refuse to shelter him and Anne from the rampaging frog. For Sprig’s sake though, it’s good that a simple apology is what’s needed to make amends with Gunther. As for the shell, it turns out that Anne and Sprig really didn’t need to look too hard for it as Ivy was the one who took it. She also decides to leave it with Sprig because she likes it better at his house. Whatever you may make of this outcome, it’s still a charming scene for this potential couple.
This cartoon may be light-hearted and exist
more for fun’s sake, but as far as fun cartoons go, its characters and ways of
following common setups make it well-executed.
A
Trip to the
Archives
One element to some episodic stories is that sometimes they can have a basis of being part of something bigger while still maintaining the fun and chemistry of the characters. That’s one thing to make this cartoon somewhat interesting.
It’s about the Plantars visiting the local archives to learn more about what’s beyond the valley whose pass is set to finally clear up soon. That’s a huge factor in resolving the series’ main conflict of getting Anne home. However, because this involves a lot of reading and research, Sprig is visibly bored and opts for a more active approach to preparing for the eventual trek beyond the valley. Actually taking into account the dangers of active approaches via a humorously staged montage, everyone else sides with the research.
The focus from here though isn’t on what everyone ends up learning, but Sprig being impatient and noticeably adamant towards the idea of reading. Because of how bad he wants everyone to prepare by diving into an adventure headfirst, he decides to pull his own elaborate scheme. He takes an important piece from the door with the intent of having everyone finding it, but they’re quick to uncover the piece and tell Sprig to put it back. Then Sprig accidentally breaks the piece, trapping everyone inside, which is especially huge because no one has visited the archives in years. Now, because of Sprig, the Plantars have to find another way out, resulting in many humorous mishaps that come with trying many elaborate plans in an uncommon situation.
At this point, the main feeling would be frustration at Sprig for being so boneheaded, and while that’s there, benefit also exists surprisingly. Getting through this scheme is allowing the family to grow their skills and prepare them for any unknown challenge they may face. In other words, Sprig’s actions may have been predominantly bad, but there’s something meaningful to take from them too. It’s after that reveal when the danger increases significantly. Anne manages to get up to the archives’ skylight, but can’t fit through, and she’s at the mercy of giant cicadas intending on eating her. The very thought of the main protagonist in real danger is enough to put one at the edge of their seat, so the Plantars need to act fast. They cleverly decide that the best way to get out of the archives is through the pipe system in its bathroom, and the plan works. Since the pipes lead back to Wartwood, I find it hard to believe that they’re able to get from there to the archives before the cicadas get to Anne.
Either way, this is resolved, but the dark implications of what could have happened give Sprig a fitting scolding. Out of it is a proud mature moment on Anne’s part. While she would normally go along with Sprig’s adventures, she knows that this is a big moment to reach her ultimate goal of finally getting home. For that, she’s willing to do things she usually wouldn’t, and Sprig endearingly gets this. The final message does ultimately side with one way of doing things, but it’s also good to know that benefits of another aren’t completely ignored.
At
times, Sprig’s antics can be a little much, but with good chemistry and humor,
the whole cartoon shines through as an episodic work with decent productivity.
A-
The Ranking
1. Toad Tax
2. Anne vs
Wild
3. The Domino
Effect
4. Prison
Break
5. Contagi-Anne
6. Best Fronds
7. Family
Shrub
8. Hop-Popular
9. Lily Pad
Thai
10. Dating
Season
11. Anne or
Beast?
12. Civil Wart
13. Stakeout
14. Croak and
Punishment
15. Taking
Charge
16. Flood,
Sweat, and Tears
17. Trip to the
Archives
18. Anne Theft
Auto
19. Hop Luck
20. Hop Pop and
Lock
21. Plantar’s
Last Stand
22. Girl Time
23. Breakout
Star
24. Grubhog Day
25. Cane Crazy
26. Sprig vs
Hop Pop
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