Franklin is a Canadian children's television series, based on a series of books by Brenda Clark (illustrator) and Paulette Bourgeois (writer). The television series was named after its main character, Franklin the Turtle. Translated into French, the cartoon shorts are presented with the title character of Benjamin and a similar theme song. DVDs, at least those sold in Canada, offer the option of watching them in French.
The series first aired in November, 1997; and originally ended its run in May of 2000. At one point, five seasons had been produced, but only the first four were widely available, as the fifth had only been available on Canada's Family Channel. The television series is produced by Nelvana Entertainment; the books have been published by Scholastic. From 1998 to 1999, the program aired in the United States on CBS' Saturday-morning lineup before moving to Nick Jr. on January 11, 1999. In the fall of 2000, it returned to CBS until September 2002. Up until 2003, Nick Jr. was the main United States broadcaster for the series, but then the new Noggin digital cable/satellite channel for preschoolers started to show all four seasons of Franklin, introducing the show to American preschoolers (many of whom were already familiar with the books). The show immediately became very popular in the U.S. and the fifth season was soon added to the Noggin line-up. Until recently, the sixth season has not aired on Noggin, but it began on New Year's Day 2006 with two episodes and a new one airing each day throughout the week.
In October, 2000, Franklin's little sister Harriet was introduced in the direct-to-video and DVD movie Franklin and the Green Knight. The two shared an adventure in 2001 in Franklin's Magic Christmas. In 2003, Harriet had grown quite a bit and Franklin learned new things from a substitute teacher named Mrs. Koala in the new release Back to School with Franklin. She also made a new friend named Kit. In 2004, a number of things came together for the Franklin television series. The fifth season, which had previously been available only on Canada's Family Channel, some foreign markets, and a couple stories on commercial video, was released in the United States on the Noggin cable/satellite network. The episodes premiered in March / April 2004 and are still airing regularly. In May 2004, brand-new episodes of the series began airing on a Canadian network called Treehouse TV. Franklin and many of his friends had new voice actors in these new adventures, but many of the show's strongest writers and staff-members remained on board. These new stories saw Franklin facing a flood, worries about the old treehouse and earning a badge in a group called the Woodland Trailblazers. For those that get the Noggin network in the U.S., you can see the sixth season of the show beginning on New Year's Day 2006. However, it appears that Noggin is holding some 6th season episodes back --- only seven are currently on the schedule. For the sixth season Funbag and other animation studios joined in the development of Franklin. A new movie, Franklin and Granny's Secret (may be a working title) is currently in production. This film is written by John van Bruggen and directed by Dominique Monféry. It is 75-minutes long and is planned for release in theaters around the world in Fall 2006.
Franklin can also be seen in two touring stage shows, "Franklin's Big Adventure" and "Franklin's Class Concert." Managed by Tanglewood Family Entertainment, now known as KOBA Family Entertainment in association with Paqu!n Entertainment, these stage shows feature a number of songs designed to delight both young and adult audiences including "Come See the World," "What I Do in the Morning" and "The Dinosaur Song." Unfortunately, these shows are not seen in the United States, but are available in Canada. However, music from "Franklin's Big Adventure" (along with music "Franklin and the Green Knight") is available on the album "Hey, It's Franklin."
Franklin is a growing young turtle who, as his television stories always begin, "...could count by twos and tie his shoes". He goes to school, lives in a small village with his friends, and has many adventures playing and learning in the world around him - sometimes with the helping hand of an adult or his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Turtle. Franklin likes swimming, arts and crafts (especially drawing), and loves shoofly pie. He's been known to be afraid of the dark, and of thunderstorms.
Many Franklin television stories are based on books in the original Franklin Adventure series, including Franklin in the Dark and Hurry Up, Franklin. With the added possibilities that television offers, these tales are turned into richer and deeper stories. On the flip side, many Franklin television stories have been made into books in the Franklin TV Storybook and Franklin First Readers series. Usually written by Sharon Jennings, these adaptations are shortened versions of what's seen on TV and sometimes take liberties with the plot (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse).