Pig Goat Banana Cricket

Pig Goat Banana Cricket poster

Pig Goat Banana Cricket is an American animated television series created by Dave Cooper and Johnny Ryan for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on July 18, 2015, and is based on a comic strip by the same creators. The show is known for its surreal humor, unique animation style, and the absurd adventures of its four main characters, who live together in a treehouse. The titular characters are Pig, Goat, Banana, and Cricket, each with their distinct personalities and quirks.

Plot

The series follows the nonsensical and often chaotic adventures of its four main characters:

• Pig - The foolhardy farm animal with an optimistic outlook and a penchant for trying to help others, often leading to unintended consequences.
• Goat - The artistic and more sensible member of the group, who tries to maintain some level of normalcy despite the chaos that surrounds them.
• Banana - The selfish, party-loving banana, whose actions are driven by his own desires, often causing trouble for himself and others.
• Cricket - The genius inventor with a love for science, whose inventions and experiments sometimes go awry.

Their adventures range from surreal city escapades to interdimensional travels, always intertwined with the unique dynamics of their friendship.

Characters

Besides the main quartet, the series features a variety of recurring characters, each adding to the show's bizarre and humorous world. These characters include:

• Rasta Rat - A laid-back rat who often crosses paths with the main characters.
• Thomas Jefferson - A caricature of the historical figure who appears in various episodes, often in absurd or anachronistic contexts.
• Lady Primavera Van de Snuggles - A wealthy woman with a mysterious past and connections to the characters' adventures.

Production

The creation of Pig Goat Banana Cricket stems from the minds of Dave Cooper and Johnny Ryan, whose backgrounds in underground comics and irreverent humor heavily influenced the show's style. The animation is notable for its vibrant colors, fluid motion, and the incorporation of various animation techniques, which set it apart from other Nickelodeon offerings.

Reception

The show received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its creativity, humor, and animation style, while others criticized it for its nonsensical plot and sometimes crude humor. Despite this, it has garnered a cult following, particularly among fans of surreal and experimental animation.

Broadcast

Pig Goat Banana Cricket aired on Nickelodeon and was later available on various streaming platforms. The show's unique approach to storytelling and character design has made it a standout within the network's programming, appealing to both children and adults with a taste for the unconventional.

Legacy

Although Pig Goat Banana Cricket had a relatively short run, ending on August 11, 2018, its impact on the landscape of animated television is noted for pushing the boundaries of traditional children's programming. It remains a notable example of how animation can explore absurdity and humor without being confined to conventional narrative structures.