The guys' sure-fire formula for children's TV: Be ready for come-what-may.
"We work from a bank of ideas we want to do," Martin says. "We work with a team of writers and come up with a script, but we realize the script will get torn to shreds when we start filming. The animals won't do the thing you hope they will do, and they will do things you never expected."
Martin tells the story of a little snow monkey whose natural habitat is Japan's frigid mountains. It survives the cold of winter by bathing in hot springs. The Kratts brought in a hot tub, but the monkey would not get into it. He loved Zoboo the puppet, however, and he kept hugging it and jumping on it. So the guys just pointed out that Zoboo could keep the snow monkey warm.
It's this kind of spontaneity that gives the show so much vitality.
"We love it when things go wrong - it gives you the opportunity to be really creative," says Martin, who was once forced to rewrite a script on a paper napkin over lunch.
Best of all, though, is the brothers' own enthusiasm, energy, and good-natured humor. Their big-kid personas speak to children on their own level, and still carry the authority of grown-ups. They call themselves "creature adventurers," and their sense of wonder and delight rubs off on viewers of all ages. Funny, boyish, and always excited about the animals they encounter, they build programs that explore relationships in the natural world.
In a recent "Zoboomafoo" called "Pets," they borrowed the puppies, cats, frogs, lizards, calf, and guinea pigs of a large country family and demonstrated how each must be treated and fed differently, played with, loved, and cared for. Then the brothers brought on animals that are not suitable as pets.
The children released a grown-up raccoon they had raised from infancy back into the wild, and they discovered that a lynx kitten could not be trained to use the litter box. Very small children learned a great deal in a short time.
And parents weren't bored, either.
Zoboomafoo is easy to love, because it's so full of good stuff. Not only are Martin and Chris enthusiastic and playful, but they also seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves. This enthusiasm is contagious, and children are bound to respond to it. Along with their friend Zoboo the lemur, the Kratt brothers make learning about animals lots of fun. Often encouraging kids to "run like cheetahs," or to "chew like a horse," Martin and Chris make the interactive aspect of the show very engaging. Likewise, by prompting kids to learn about animals and their habitat, the Kratt brothers have created a truly educational program; especially when the hosts can bring the animals on to the set. Meanwhile, the manner in which Martin and Chris relate to animals is extremely respectful. They never antagonize or aggravate the animals, clearly setting a positive precedent for young viewers.
PBS has done it again --providing young viewers with compelling viewing. Zoboomafoo is a fun, educational show for preschoolers.
I used to watch Zoboomafoo with my kids several years ago. I loved that show!!! They introduced their audience to all kinds of creatures, as well as their habitats, eating habits, playing habits, etc. I like watching shows about animals and this was a good one.
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