For those familiar with the original book series, you’ll already know what kind of show to expect. The Apple+ cartoon is centered on the two titular amphibians going through universal adventures that makes or breaks your day. From finding the willpower to resist eating delicious cookies, to hoping a friend would contact you when you’re lonely, each episode keeps a gentle sort of humor, poking lighthearted fun at the differences between the emotional Toad and more sensible Frog. With each episode’s twenty minute runtime, and two adventures per episode, Frog and Toad is a sweet, nostalgic series that’s easy to breeze through for millennial parents and their kids.
Frog and Toad are not at all alike. Frog likes new adventures. Toad likes the comforts of home. Yet despite their differences, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—as best friends should be.
Based on the beloved children’s book series, two good amphibian friends go through fun adventures.
Being based on a children’s book series, Frog and Toad’s art style will inevitably be based on the original illustrations that accompanied the stories. There are some distinct differences – for example, the old style cross hatched shading isn’t present in the show, as well as the watercolor character fills. In fact, the art style feels a bit more reminiscent of the 2D animation in classic cartoons with anthropomorphic characters like Arthur and Winnie the Pooh, with its flat colors and black outlines. This makes sense, given that this style is easy and flexible enough to animate. However, the show still recalls some nostalgia from the original story through keeping its bright earth tones as well as keeping the story’s beautiful watercolor backgrounds. This mix of animation choices gives a modern spin to the original art style, and makes the show perfect for both new viewers and old readers.
If you’re not familiar with Frog and Toad – just take Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie, switch their personalities, and make them amphibians. They’re the sort of cottagecore friendship that we’ve missed on TV!
