Craig of the Creek: A Modern Classic of Diverse Representation.
I grew up on cartoons from Cartoon Network, as did so many of us. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Kids Next Door, and Ed Edd and Eddy just to name a few. I adored those television shows for their subversive humor, over the top nature and wild imaginative worlds they presented. As the years went on, my love of cartoons persisted. Even as I grew older, I would still turn on Cartoon Network for shows like Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball and Infinity Train. However, lately it feels like there are far less enjoyable cartoons now than there were back when I was growing up, whether due to series ending or unfortunately being cancelled or moved to a streaming platform and off of cable TV. I rarely watch animated shows on broadcast television, mostly enjoying the stuff available now on streaming services. Whether it was due to me growing out of it or an actual dip in quality isn’t for me to say. All I know is that there is only one series I can sit down and really enjoy now that’s still being broadcast on Cartoon Network, and that is Craig of the Creek.
(L to R): Kelsey Pokoly - Craig Williams -John Paul "J.P." Mercer
Craig of the Creek follows the eponymous Craig Williams, along with his friends Kelsey and J.P. as they enjoy life in the wilderness of their local creek, after school, but before dinner. There’s genuine love and care throughout the show to portray the feeling of what it’s like to be a kid, playing pretend and letting your imagination run wild. The creek is in and of itself a character, being sectioned off into areas owned by other kids. There’s the Paintballers - military kids who constantly play paintball, the Ninja kids – children who read manga and can seemingly teleport at will, and all sorts of others. It comes together to create a world that not only feels alive, but one you wish you could have experienced when you were growing up.
From CN: The Williams Family
DelTron
So, the show is good, but why talk about it here? Well, that’s because Craig of the Creek is not only a fun show, it’s an important one. Craig of the Creek is the first children’s cartoon to be broadcast with a cast that consist mostly of people of color. Not only that, but none of the animated characters presented are stereotypes – each and every character stands on their own and feels as real as anyone you might meet in person. All the kids at the creek have their own goals and personalities, like the Green Poncho, an older boy that defends one side of the creek from the other, or Deltron (played by rap artist Del the Funky Homosapien), a boy claiming to be from the year 3030 who collects cassette tapes to “keep himself powered up”.
Witches of the Creek
Craig of the Creek is also an important series thanks to its LGBTQ representation. Two lesbian characters, Tabitha and Courtney, make reoccurring appearances as “The Witches of the Creek” (called that simply because they are goth and Craig and company are children who don’t know any better) two girls who genuinely care for one another and even share an on-screen kiss in one episode. Additionally, there is a non-binary character in the series called Angel, who uses they/them pronouns. These aforementioned characters are never presented in a negative or demeaning light, instead bringing only positive representation on-screen. This character was based on a storyboard artist for the show, a person named Angel Lorenzana, who came out as non-binary after the character premiered. So, the series not only promotes LGBTQ positivity, but it also directly endorses it by having people on the staff who are a part of it.
The series has garnered well-deserved accolades as it’s gone on. Some examples are:
The 2018 Common Sense Seal from Common Sense Media, an organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating safe media for children.
It was nominated for an ANNIE Award in 2019
Nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2020.
For 2021, Craig of the Creek is up for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming!
These awards and nominations prove just how valuable a show like Craig of the Creek is in this day and age.
The success and greatness of the series can be linked back to two people – the show’s creators, Matt Burnett and Ben Levin. Both worked on hit Cartoon Network shows like Steven Universe and clearly understand the value of diversity in media.
This understanding and appreciation is visible in how many people of color and part of the LGBTQ community have employed and integrated their stories into their series. From behind the scenes to the screen, this show proves that diversity will definitely elevate your project. Every single character who is a person of color is voiced by a person of color. From Philip Solomon as Craig to Terry Crews as Craig’s father Duane, no role is cast incorrectly, and every voice feels natural. This is the kind of dedication and honesty present all throughout Craig of the Creek.
No matter how you look at it, Craig of the Creek is a monumental success, one that I’m eager to see continue onward for years to come. Earlier today, at time of writing this article, Craig of the Creek was renewed for a fourth season, and a spinoff about Craig’s little sister Jessica entitled Jessica’s Big Little World was announced. It’s clear that this series is getting the love and attention it deserves, but it could always use more.
Craig of the Creek should be watched by anyone and everyone who had a childhood, young or old. As a matter of fact, all this article writing has put me in the mood to watch some more of it.
So, as the closing song says, “I’ll see you all tomorrow, at the creek.”
