Back to School with Franklin is the third Franklin movie, released direct-to-video and on DVD and also aired as a television special. This animated film was directed by Arna Selznick.
Cast[]
- Cole Caplan as Franklin
- Luca Perlman as Bear
- Leah Renee Cudmore as Beaver
- Vivien Endicott-Douglas as Goose
- Kyle Fairlie as Rabbit
- Scott Beaudin as Fox
- Kristen Bone as Snail
- Annick Obonsawin as Skunk
- Carolyn Scott as Miss Koala
- Amanda Soha as Kit
- Bryn McAuley as Harriet
- Elizabeth Brown as Mrs. Turtle
- Richard Newman as Mr. Turtle
- James Rankin as Mr. Owl
- Ruby Smith-Merovitz as Badger
Plot[]
Franklin Turtle and his friends start a new year of school after a fun and relaxing summer vacation, only to find out that their teacher Mr. Owl is absent because he got called away on family business. Even though they are excited about going back to school, the kids are surprised to find themselves with a new teacher on the first day of school, Miss Koala, whose down-under style has everyone on their guard, but her infectious attitude soon wins the class over as Franklin and company begin a new school year; they soon learn more about her and come to accept her "can-do" attitude and ideas of trying new things. Meanwhile, Harriet's best friend, Beatrice Bear, is going to preschool, but she's still too young to attend. She makes a new friend in Beaver's new little brother, Kit, but not before an unfortunate accident.
Song[]
- "Doing Nothing (Can Be Such a Busy Thing!)" performed by Emilie Claire Barlow, Brittany Kay and Dimitrius Matthews
Trivia[]
- This movie takes place between seasons 5 and 6.
- Cole Caplan replaces Noah Reid as the voice of Franklin the Turtle, Scott Beaudin replaces Ali Mukaddam as the voice of Fox, and Vivien Endicott-Douglas replaces Olivia Garratt as the voice of Goose, ushering in the sixth season of the program.
- This is also the last time to have Ruby Smith-Merovitz voice Badger, Kyle Fairlie voice Rabbit, and Luca Perlman voice Bear, along with the Season 5 finale story, "Franklin's Picnic".
- It is also the only Franklin film to feature Skunk.
- This movie, along with Franklin's Magic Christmas, is somewhat shorter than Franklin and the Green Knight and Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure.
- This movie shows Franklin and Harriet sleeping in beds, whereas in the rest of the series, they either slept on the floor or in a crib.
- Back to School with Franklin is unusual for presenting several scenes from the perspective of Franklin's sister Harriet as she meets Beaver's little brother Kit, accidentally injures and then becomes friends with him. Normally all scenes within the franchise are presented from Franklin's perspective, even if a particular story focuses more on another character.
- This is the first special where none of the characters sing a song. Instead, the only song it has is in the background, just like most of those in Disney's Tarzan.
- The puddle-splashing scene is one of the few times a non-turtle is shown wearing any footwear, as Bear is shown wearing boots in that clip, just like Franklin, the last time being Franklin and the Green Knight where Beaver wears ballet slippers when wearing her tutu.
Goofs[]
- When, off-screen, Miss Koala explains that she'll be going to a different school, Badger's (right) foot is the toned brown of her primary fur. Usually, her feet are a much darker brown.
- In class, when Miss Koala insists Franklin change seats as a penalty, her chest fur is her darker primary fur.
- Earlier, during the montage set to an instrumental reprise of "Doing Nothing (Can Be Such a Busy Thing!)," while Miss Koala is teaching geography, both of Badger's feet are mistakenly colored like her primary fur.
- Additionally, when Miss Koala reveals that Mr. Owl will be back, her tummy fur is the same dark color as her primary fur. Then just as the students react blankly, Goose's front feathers on her tummy are brown.