# Franklin (1997)

> A young turtle named Franklin navigates friendships and everyday childhood adventures with his woodland pals in this gentle Canadian animated series.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1374

## Facts

- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 156
- Episode runtime: 11 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, family
- Created by: Paulette Bourgeois
- Network: CBC Television, Family Channel, Treehouse TV
- Cast: Noah Reid, Richard Newman, Cole Caplan, Marc McMulkin, Elizabeth Saunders, Cody Jones, Leah Renee, Luca Perlman
- TMDB rating: 6.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203254/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: subtle
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: gentle, cozy, sincere, reassuring, wholesome

## What critics say

Audiences rate the series as mixed-to-positive, valuing its gentle lessons about friendship and everyday problem solving for young children.

## Synopsis

Franklin (1997-2004) is a Canadian educational animated series for preschool and early-grade children, created by Paulette Bourgeois and based on the Franklin the Turtle books by Brenda Clark and Paulette Bourgeois, and aired on CBC Television and Family Channel. Its title character, a shy young turtle, is voiced by Noah Reid in most episodes, with Richard Newman voicing his father, Mr. Turtle, and Elizabeth Saunders voicing his mother, Mrs. Turtle. The engine of each short episode is a small everyday dilemma: Franklin wants to join in, to be fair, or to solve a problem with his pals Bear, Beaver, Goose, and Rabbit, and the gentle obstacle is usually his own hesitation or a misunderstanding among friends. Each episode runs about eleven minutes and the show spans six seasons of twenty-six episodes apiece, a steady run of self-contained stories rather than one continuing arc. The woodland setting is a warm, storybook world of family kitchens, school yards, and forest paths, rendered in soft hand-drawn animation. The tone is cozy, sincere, and reassuring, with quiet moral lessons about friendship and growing up. Fans of Bear in the Big Blue House, Arthur, and Caillou will find the same gentle, educational comfort.

## Shows like Franklin

- [Curious George (2006)](https://ember.film/tv/620)
- [Harvey Beaks (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55550)
- [Thomas & Friends (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/2185)
- [The Berenstain Bears (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/9584)
- [The Raccoons (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/4566)
- [Wild Kratts (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/32290)
- [Stillwater (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/93272)
- [Bear in the Big Blue House (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/190)
- [Hey Duggee (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/64585)
- [Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1967)](https://ember.film/tv/13)

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