“Funny frog show” is what my good friend says about Amphibia. But it is so much more than that. It is even more than the premise of the show itself which states, “Amphibia chronicles the comedic adventures of a 13-year-old, Anne Boonchuy who is magically transported to the world of Amphibia, a wild marshland full of talking frog-people.” Some other great aspects are its characters, community, and how the show evolves.
Amphibia centers around Anne, a human and her foster frog family (ah don’t you love the alleritations). There is Sprig, a 10-year-old frog who is Anne’s best friend, Polly, the youngest of the family and a tadpole, and Hop Pop, an older frog and the grandfather of the group. These characters are what makes the show good. This can be seen from their character designs, which clearly define and represent each character, to their dialogue and interactions. From Hop Pop arguing about the old days or Anne bringing a new twist onto things. The art style and animation lend a hand in this by dramatizing their expressions which only adds to the comedic aspect of the show. The characters also lend themselves to world-building since much of the first season also focuses on their small town or WartWood, in which we get to learn about the community and the other frogs that inhabit it. I feel this was a good use of the first season to define each of the characters and build up their and our own connection to these characters and each other.
Another facet of the show which I enjoy is the community, or the fan community. Amphibia is often stacked up to other shows from its parent company like The Owl House and Gravity Falls. But versus those fandoms I much rather prefer the Amphibia community. Yes, it is much smaller than the previously mentioned ones. That makes it feel more homely and relaxed. Much of the fandom is chock-full of jokes and memorable moments and references from the show. The creators and many of the team are highly involved in the community on Twitter through fan art or strange events or posts about the show. Being in the community that is so relaxed and reflects the show itself as being a more fun chill show that you would come to watch for a good time. Even with the reputation of a “funny frog show,” Amphibia does know how to get serious.
The final merit of the show is its ability to change. Which can be seen in it being able to transition and handle more serious topics and situations compared to its previous more lighthearted themes. At first this tone was seen as an extension of the more plot driven parts, in which Anne meets some of her friends back home. This leads into the second and third season where the show seems to be transitioning itself into a more plot driven show with lots of hidden lore and internal conflicts between Anne and her friends back home. I also feel this is where the show shines in its ability to transition and change its tone from fun to serious. It also lets the show have and tackle more serious conflicts which I am all for, with toxic friendships, complex relationships, and loss.
The change can also be seen in the production of the show, the first episode of the third season was made during the start of the pandemic which can be seen its off putting transition and the pandemic song. The crew of the show grew with the show itself, with a transition to more online talk and communication to using the past seasons to build on emotional impact.
Now Amphibia as an overall series is good. I wouldn’t call it perfect. It definitely has its flaws in some of its writing choices, like the show not telling portions of it, or the sometimes jaring feelings and plot points (with it balancing between standard plot where everything gets reverted at the new episode versus a plot focused one). However, if you are up for a ride of good fun with a big emphasis on plot, in addition to an animation team that tries their best to keep improving the series and move forward, then this is the show for you.
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