Amphibia: Is This Frog Show a No?

By: Laysha Vargas-Guizar

Amphibia is an animated series on the Disney Channel created by Matt Braly. It made its debut on June 17, 2019. The main cast is Anne Boonchuy (Voiced by Brenda Song), Sprig Planter (Justin Felbinger), Polly Planter (Amanda Leighton), and Hopediah “Hop Pop” Planter (Bill Farmer). They go on adventures while on a quest to get Anne back to the human world. 

The story of this show is so fun! This human girl gets stuck in this world full of frogs then gets taken in by the Planters. Anne and the Planters have such a great dynamic, Hop Pop is freaked/weirded out by Anne and her human nature. Learning more and more about her human ways. 

Character dynamics in this show are really one of it’s golden features that makes for some good drama. Anne got stuck in Amphibia with her two other friends, Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu. Although they got sent there and were separated. 

Back at the human world Anne had a strange relationship with Sasha. It’s obvious that Anne was peer pressured into doing stuff such as skipping school. You can tell though, that they both really care about each other, they both just show it in different ways.

Sasha came to the world of Amphibia and became a leader of the Toad Army that went against the Planters leading Anne and Sasha to reunite then fight. And that was hard for both of them. On the journey to Newtopia, Anne and the Planters find Marcy again. It’s a touching moment for them, they’re finally reunited. 

Although many teens haven’t gone through exactly what the Calamity trio has gone through, many teens have felt the emotions of feeling betrayed or hurt by friends like Sasha. 

When Valeria Gonzalez Gutierrez ‘25 was asked about Anne’s toxic relationship with Sasha, she said, “Yeah, the situation was very difficult to get out of and it still affects my current relationships. I feel she should check with herself on if she needs to be with this person and if this person will have a healthy relationship with her.”

Gonzalez Gutierrez adds, ¨People may have known someone online and then when they get to know them in real life they are not who they thought they were which can affect how a relationship functions after that.¨

I find this show hilarious, probably the strongest suit of it. The comedic timing always hits. If there was a joke that didn’t land there would be two more shortly after that does. Although, it does have a few flaws. Mostly the first season, it has a lot of filler (not canon to the story) episodes. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for what it was going to bring that was more lore driven it feels out of place. It could have just been the writers wanting a slow burn but they do the same thing to season 2. 

This is right after the Battle of Toad Tower where Anne fought Sasha, and they mention it in a comedic way which even though this show has good comedy just doesn’t sit well. Once again until the half of season 2 things are more plot driven. It doesn’t make for great writing at times.

Amphibia is a hit or miss with most people, which makes sense. The plot can be very questionable at times but if you’re just interested about a show with misalliances adventures and great comedy this show is one to pick up and watch.

Tags: Amphibia, arts & entertainment, disney, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwoodgigantea