Honestly, it’s hard to mess up Arnold Lobel. The original books are these perfect, minimalist meditations on what it means to be a person—or an amphibian with very human anxieties. When Apple TV+ announced the frog and toad cartoon, fans of the 1970s Caldecott-winning books were reasonably nervous. We’ve seen too many childhood staples get "modernized" into loud, hyperactive shells of their former selves.
But this one is different.
It captures that specific, melancholic warmth. It’s quiet. If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a "to-do" list or spent an entire afternoon mourning a lost button, you know why these characters endure. The show, which premiered in 2023, manages to translate Lobel’s cross-hatched illustrations into a 2D-animated world that feels like a moving watercolor painting.
The Weird, Wonderful History of Frog and Toad on Screen
Before the current series, we had the claymation shorts from the 1980s. Those were legendary. John Clark Matthews used stop-motion to give the characters a tactile, slightly lumpy feel that felt very "earthy." You could almost smell the damp moss.
The new frog and toad cartoon had huge shoes to fill. Developed by Rob Hoegee—who worked on Stillwater and Niko and the Sword of Light—the series stays incredibly faithful to the source material while expanding the world of the pond. It isn't just a rehash. It’s an extension.
The voice acting is what really sells the dynamic. Nat Faxon plays Frog with this relentless, sunny optimism that never feels grating. Then you have Kevin Michael Richardson as Toad. If you know Richardson’s work (he’s a legend, voicing everything from the Joker to Captain Gantu), you know he has this deep, gravelly resonance. He brings a perfect, grumbling vulnerability to Toad. It’s the voice of a man—well, a toad—who just wants to stay in bed under a warm quilt until May.
Why This Isn't Just "Another Kids' Show"
Most children's programming today is designed to hack a toddler's dopamine receptors. Bright colors. Rapid cuts. Constant screaming.
Frog and Toad does the opposite.
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It moves slowly. It values silence. In the episode based on "The Story," where Toad is trying to think of a story to tell a sick Frog, the tension doesn't come from a villain or a ticking clock. It comes from the relatable, internal frustration of creative a block. He stands on his head. He pours water on himself. He bangs his head against a wall.
It’s hilarious because it’s true.
The writing team, which includes talents like Sarah Jolley and many others from the Titmouse animation studio, understands that the core of the frog and toad cartoon is the contrast between their temperaments. Frog is the "extrovert" who loves the world, and Toad is the "introvert" who finds the world quite exhausting, thank you very much.
The Art Style: Keeping the Ink Alive
Titmouse (the studio behind The Legend of Vox Machina and Big Mouth) might seem like a weird choice for a gentle children’s show. They usually do high-octane or adult-oriented stuff. However, they absolutely nailed the aesthetic here.
- They used a muted color palette: olives, tans, dusty oranges.
- The linework mimics Lobel’s original pen-and-ink sketches.
- The backgrounds look textured, like high-quality cardstock.
It feels premium. It doesn't look like a cheap flash animation. When you watch it on a 4K screen, you can see the deliberate imperfections that make it feel hand-drawn.
The "Forbidden" Cookies and Other Relatable Disasters
We have to talk about the cookies.
In both the book and the frog and toad cartoon, there is a segment about "Willpower." They bake cookies. They eat them. Then they realize they shouldn't eat all of them. The solution? Put them in a box. Tie it with string. Put it on a high shelf.
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"Now we have lots of willpower," Frog says.
"But we can still climb the ladder, untie the string, and open the box," Toad replies.
It is the best representation of diet culture and self-control ever put to film. They eventually give the cookies to the birds, leaving them with no cookies but "lots and lots of willpower." Toad’s immediate reaction—going home to bake a cake—is the kind of character-driven comedy that works for a five-year-old and a thirty-five-year-old equally.
Is it Faithful to the Books?
Purists often worry about "lore expansion." In the books, the world is very small. In the Apple TV+ series, we see more of the community. We meet other animals like Mink, Turtle, and Lizard.
Some might argue this dilutes the isolation of the two main friends. I’d argue it makes the world feel lived-in. The side characters act as a foil to the central duo. They show us how Frog and Toad are perceived by the "normal" world. Usually, they're seen as a bit eccentric, but deeply kind.
The music is also worth a mention. Tim Richey’s score is acoustic, whimsical, and never overpowers the dialogue. It’s mostly woodwinds and soft strings. It sounds like a Sunday morning.
What People Often Get Wrong About the Show
A lot of people think this show is meant to be an educational tool for teaching kids about biology or "life lessons" in a preachy way.
It's not.
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There are no "And the moral of the story is..." segments. The show trusts the audience to understand that sometimes Toad is just being a jerk, and that’s okay because Frog loves him anyway. It deals with complex emotions:
- The fear of being alone.
- The embarrassment of looking "funny" in a bathing suit.
- The crushing weight of procrastination.
- The anxiety of change.
These are "big" feelings. By putting them in the bodies of two amphibians in tiny jackets, the show makes those feelings manageable for kids and nostalgic for adults.
How to Watch and What to Expect
If you’re looking to dive into the frog and toad cartoon, it’s currently an Apple TV+ exclusive. They’ve released two seasons so far. Each episode is about 11 minutes long, usually pairing two shorter stories together.
It’s the perfect "wind-down" show. If your kids are wound up after school, or if you’re stressed after a long day of meetings, this is the digital equivalent of a warm cup of tea.
Pro-tip for parents: If you want to encourage reading, buy the "I Can Read" level 2 books and read them alongside the episodes. The dialogue in the show often pulls directly from the text, making it a great literacy bridge.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Newcomers
If you want to get the most out of this series and the world of Arnold Lobel, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch "The Letter" first: It’s the quintessential Frog and Toad story. It perfectly establishes their relationship—Toad’s sadness at never receiving mail and Frog’s slightly impulsive but well-meaning attempt to fix it via a very slow snail.
- Check out the 1980s Claymation: After watching the new series, find the stop-motion versions on YouTube or DVD. Comparing the two styles is a great way to appreciate how animation technology has changed while the soul of the characters has stayed the same.
- Read the "Frog and Toad Are Friends" Original Text: Look for the 50th Anniversary editions. The tactile feel of the book matters.
- Follow the Voice Cast: If you enjoy the performances, Kevin Michael Richardson and Nat Faxon have done extensive behind-the-scenes interviews about finding the "soul" of these characters without making them sound like caricatures.
- Limit Screen Time to Quality: Instead of letting a YouTube algorithm choose what’s next, use this show as a "contained" viewing experience. Because of its slow pace, it doesn't trigger the same "just one more" addictive response as louder cartoons.