Fraggle Rock

Not that I'm saying that this animated version of the smash hit show Fraggle Rock was bad, it just wasn't as good as its live action predecessor. It just amazes me why they would make an animated show after the live action show had at the time ended its run. Still, it was a good show, it just didn't come close to the live action show. It became a casulty of the 1987-1988 Saturday morning schedule in which numerous new shows were out of the picture after one season.

I must admit that despite its charm and whimsy, the animated version of Fraggle Rock is not always able to deliver the same depth of storytelling as the original puppet show, and I believe that this is the main reason why the show falls short. It is delightful to watch the vivid animation as well as the catchy songs, as they bring back fond memories for fans. The series does, however, lack the nuanced character development that helped to make the original so beloved, resulting in a viewing experience that's entertaining but not entirely fulfilling, which means that the show can sometimes be a forgettable experience.

Fraggle Rock was an excellent series developed by Jim Henson back in 1983. It was a wonderfully successful series with strong messages, a genuine development over all 93 episodes, and boasted a host of talented Muppeteers. It began with all the different species (humans, Fraggles, Gorgs) in confusion and turmoil with one another, and by the end they were all at peace together.

Now I still can't figure out why this animated resurrection came to be. I guess they just wanted to bring the fun (and popularity) of Fraggle Rock to network television (the original aired on HBO). But it just didn't measure up and the competition killed it.

Anyway, this version has faded into oblivion, and the original remains a timeless classic, so everything had a way of working out...