The pilot episode, entitled “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” follows four kids and a green gorilla as they overcome a demented plot by Dr. Morlon Hufflebot to create an island of plastic bags in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
My children are 4 and 6 and they saw your cartoon. We all enjoyed it, the characters, the message, and the funny music. I think having an entire cartoon show based on recycling is a great idea. However, I do think putting blame on large companies isn’t the answer. Teaching personal responsibility to the next generation is the best way we can help the planet. Teaching that one person can make a difference, and that you are in charge of yourown choices (good or bad) is what we teach our kids.
Just a thought.
Thanks for raising awareness and doing your part for our planet Earth!
Thanks so much for your comment and your kind words. So glad you all enjoyed it.
You’re right, blame isn’t the answer. Finding a way to help the kids find their own answers is our goal. And to show that sometimes a worm does take over the controls.
Stay tuned for the next show coming out December 8th!
While I agree with your messages of personal and munincipal responsibility for waste management and recycling, I find that your video goes way too overboard with misinformation on the plastic bag industry, and this is irresponsible.
This problem does not come from the plastic bag industry, but rather from personal and municipal irresponsibility.
Plastic bags can be and are being recycled into other useful products.
There are also degradable plastic bags now available.
The plastic bags I use for groceries / merchandise are re-used as garbage bags, otherwise I would have to buy and use even larger and bulkier plastic bags to contain my trash.
Studies by “Garbologists” have shown that plastic bags and other plastic materials still make up a minor percentage of materials that end up in landfills. Paper, wood, and metal products make up the majority of the waste stream.
So while your overall message for environmental responsibility is a good one, a responsible producer would provide a more fact-based approach on how to get there…….recycling, reusing, degradability, and incineration before landfill…….and in a personally and munincipally responsible way.
I picked up the GreenGorilla web here in Nordic through international news. Very nice! Hopefully it is not a one shot event and we can see soon follow up coming, otherwise, if nothing happens during weeks and weeks, people stop visiting…
As you working already on new episode, please take into queue the episode about energy saving - kids can do a lot for rising the energy efficiency starting from their own home or school.
Thank you so much, we are very aware of this, and so are hard at work both on our next episode and other cool things for the kids (and teachers) to enjoy. In fact, I’ve heard some rumor that we’ll have some fun energy-efficiency content coming up in October…
[...] pilot episode called “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” follows the gang as they overcome a plot by Dr. Morlon Hufflebot to create an island of [...]
[...] one. Rage can change laws, take down corporations and topple governments. Rage drives revolutions. The Green Gorilla is the latest animation series from those crazy kids at Free Range Studios. This is the first [...]
[...] pilot episode, entitled The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, follows the kids as they face a demented plot by Dr. Morlon Hufflebot to create an island of [...]
We’re working on the next episode right now. Looks like the end of summer/beginning of fall. After that they should happen a lot more often. But we’ll be posting new videos and activities along the way. Thanks for watching!
Not a bad start. The rhymes in the intro song are odd. They aren’t the best flowing. Nice counter-propaganda. Cartoons have always been colored by a point of view. This one is at least preferred. Dora the explorer always makes me mad in that sense. It reinforces human control over nature and other irritating ways of looking at things.
Why a worm as the evil brain-infecting creature? Why not an evil hive-minded nanobot colony that eats petroleum products?
I like the gorillas communication method. I think cypher is my favorite. Scoot is irritating. Bucket too, a bit. It is his speech patterns mostly, I think.
I like Buckets understanding of the world as cyclical.
Are you planning on making longer episodes at some point? I think part of the downside of this is that it is too short to go into enough depth with the problems or the characters, so everything ends up a bit over-simplified. The whole Meatrix series was great in that it managed to touch on many things within a reasonably short timeframe. I am aware that THAT video took advantage of an already widely known story set-up, and that this, as original media requires more explanation, I just wish it flowed and contained things more like those videos.
Nice try. I am glad you are going for it. Just keep working on it, yah?
Oh, one last thing. I think the “Related videos” section would be more effective ABOVE the comments. I was wondering what “real” video the folk were talking about and figured it was in the comments somewhere. I think that placement would get those videos watched and bring the reality to the viewer, increasing the drive to actually do something about these things.
I love the theme tune. I’ve always wanted to sav e the enviroment and encouge my friends do it aswell, this website can easily help me to make them use reusable bags.
i like this video because it helps to improve the environment. we throw tons of rubbish everyyear, which is bad. i am a student and i would wish if people would be environmentally friendly.
I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door - or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present….
How about a video extolling non-gasoline related energy? Like going back to nuclear power? if we ended our dependency on gasoline, if we removed it from safe areas, we could provide our own instead of buying it from other countries and it wouldn’t cost so much!
we need to stop all dumping of plastic and use less energy if we don’t the fish population will die then that will efect the whole food chain and even efect use.
It’s really nice to see some coverage of plastic pollution. I did oceanography for a summer and actually saw the plastic “nibs” floating in the sargasso sea.
wow I think this is absolutely ausome. Scoot is definately my favourite. I’ll tell all my friends about it and definately watch all the episodes. I think this is better than any other kids site
The Hufflebots are the bane of my existence! Now we must come up with an alternative for those of us who are guilty of using them to pick-up after our pooches!
Go to the Biobag web site and you will find the solution to your pet pollution
Check out this video about the real GYRE! “Our Synthetic Sea” put together by the oceanic research team of the Alguita, a 50 foot scientific research catamaran hulled vessel operating out of Long Beach California.
Great work, keep this ball rolling! The Hufflebots are the bane of my existence! Now we must come up with an alternative for those of us who are guilty of using them to pick-up after our pooches!
I like it! I learned something I didn’t know anything about. And, I think this is going to be a great venue for reaching the youth!
Hopefully, this animated series is leading to table-top, computer and online games and educational tools, whether at home or school, to learn about all the other topics I assume you will be addressing: climate change, waste reduction, pollution, water quality, renewable energy and conservation, sustainability, activism…
How about adding a Green Glossary, updating it with each episode.
I would like to know what age group you are targeting? On my monitor, the font on the website is way too small for young viewers..and old for that matter!LOL I would do a check for red/green color-blindness.
There is too much information crowded into some paragraphs - small bites better. Also, some of the language (vocabulary) is far too sophisticated for young viewers: example: Meet the GANG: “terse language”…write for 3-5 grade level comprehension.
I suggest you always inform visitors about the content of your retail GG Stuff, including why they are eco-friendly. A factoids will support why its a better choice for the environment.
Looking forward to sharing the next episode with my young friends!
Excellent. As a child psychologist and mother of two young kids, I believe that this type of fun and engaging environmental education tool has been needed for a long time. Thanks for finally making it happen! Very impressive. Can’t wait to see the next one.
This thingie is so great it makes me want too scream! This is a great insperation kids too start giving some help too the world! As soon as me and my class watch this video we were jumping into action! We started a game where which ever class in our school brings in the most bags get’s somthing special! I love this website!Bye!
What a wonderful approach, showing Earth’s occupants the way to keep our planet green for future generations! Most impressive! We’re SO proud of you and your co-creators.
I understand there’s some talk about my language. Bucket’s been telling me that I need to watch what I say in the greenhouse, especially around younger kids (oye Scoot). I was just so shocked about the gyre. So, por favor, gimme a few days to do a sound edit, and we’ll put a new version out to all our friends.
Sinceremente,
Socket (la ‘webmaster’)
ps I thought everyone would be talking about my kickin bag design!
this is going to help some of my friends. but little kids parents will show this video so beware of the line”this sucks.” it could cause a bad example. but keep up with the episodes. and by the way, why does cypher always rhyme?
Love it! Great job on a much-needed educational vehicle for kids. I’m hoping that since KJ the gorilla is an herbivore, there might be an episode about the tremendous environmental benefits of a vegan diet in the works. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll find much success with this effort!
Maybe the kid should say “This rocks!” instead of “This sucks!” People would like that better. Also maybe the Gorilla could be called JJ instead of KJ. And could the worm have been a bird instead?
Maybe it’s just me, but a fly on the wall of any schoolyard would hear much worse things than “this sucks”. Like it or not people, this is how kids talk. From personal experience, reaching out to kids on their own level is much more effective than most of the white-washed, watered down “educational” dreck we feed them. I wouldn’t change a thing. GREAT job guys.
That’s true, but some parents would still find a problem with this. ….some one up ahead had a three year old watch it. My 7 year old nephew is punished for saying “sucks”.
Then again he probably still says it and hears it regularly at school.
Anyways, I really like the video…but when are more coming?
to keep people coming to the site,maybe have a notice? a simple flash game?
I love the fact that this makes the issues of plastic bags not depressing for kids but something that can empower them. I am in charge of the green committee at our local school. I would like to see how we can spread the message! Cheers and congratulations.
Lilian
Concerned Mom and Green Committee Chair at Beach School
I have to agree with Jill about the words. It will make it easier to share if those words are not included. The video is great fun and a neat way to begin a conversation about the issue of plastic bags. I would include this on our website if not for the “The sucks.” We have been working on decreasing plastic bag usage at our school. We would love to use the resource.
You guys are so talented. I’m glad to know you! I’m going to share this with all the Boys & Girls Clubs across the country that I work with! Keep up the great work!
Mary
Awesome video. The music is really great. Overall, I think this video has everything needed to make kids want to watch it over and over again. I agree with Jill about the “This sucks” line, and not just because she said it. When I heard that line I thought it was a bad judgment call. If I had kids I wouldn’t mind, but not everyone is me.
Great video to promote reusable bags with kids. I agree, as a teacher, the line “This sucks,” needs to go. It’s certainly not the language we want to encourage.
Wow!I showed this to my kids this afternoon, and now they are running around the house singing the gorilla song! It’s nice to have some non-commercial media to share with my young children. Loved the message and enjoyed it as an adult too….when’s the next episode?
i love this video and “if only we could do that” i think u are educating the public by showing them what will happen and setting a trend with the bads!!! :D
AWESOME resource. I’m looking for a way to grab my student’s interest in being aware of the natural world around them and it’s need for protection. Your cartoon is just the thing! Thanks for a GREAT job!
(BTW I was unable to embed this in any of my social sites: myspace and myyearbook both returned “unable to find video at that site” when I pasted the “embed” info below or the URL to this page. I’m probably doing something wrong)
Awesome video and a great resource but you might want to avoid lines like “This sucks.” It will limit your audience because teachers and other adults won’t recommend it or show it if they think it will reflect badly on their judgment. Just sayin’. Keep up the good work!
I love this video. I am huge fan of doing things to improve the planet everyday. I am a teacher and I am so excited to show my students tomorrow as part of my earth day activities. Thank you for making the video.
Let us know your name (so your friend knows it's legit) and your friend's email and
we'll let them know about Gorilla in the Greenhouse.
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Help Mom out this Thanksgiving by creating a centerpiece for the table. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your nature hat on and your creative juices flowing.
Jay replied on November 11, 2008 7:24 pm:
Hi Taryn,
Thanks so much for your comment and your kind words. So glad you all enjoyed it.
You’re right, blame isn’t the answer. Finding a way to help the kids find their own answers is our goal. And to show that sometimes a worm does take over the controls.
Stay tuned for the next show coming out December 8th!
Go Gorilla!
The Gang
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