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Let’s Go, Bananas!

  • ️Fri Apr 19 2024

Let’s Go, Bananas! (Western Animation)

Let's Go, Bananas! is a 2024 Canadian-British-Australian animated Slice of Life Preschool Show created for Canada's CBC Kids, Britain's Sky Kids, and Australia's ABC Kids that made its international debut on the former channel on April 19th, 2024. The series was created by British-Australian TV writer Tim Bain (who also made the Australian CGI preschool cartoon Kangaroo Beach) and is produced by Canada's 9 Story Media Group.

Described as Modern Family for preschoolers or the Canadian answer to Bluey by cast member Julius Cho, the series follows the lives of three diverse, non-traditional families of anthropomorphic animals who all live in the same treehouse apartment. These three families are: The Bananas, a family of apes composed of adventurous daughter Apple and her two dads (as well as their pet meerkat Stripes); the Tiger-Zelles, an interspecies family made up of a mother tiger, a father gazelle, and their hybrid daughters, dinosaur-obsessed Stellar and infant Piper; and the Crockers, who are a single mother crocodile and her polar-opposite twin sons Josh and Jamie. Told from the perspectives of the five children (who form a friendship circle known as The Jungle Squad), these three loving families tackle everyday issues together with humor and heart.

The series made its U.S.A. debut on October 3rd, 2024, as part of Cartoonito on Cartoon Network.

Let's Go, Bananas! contains examples of:

  • A Child Shall Lead Them: Piper is the one who is able to use her toddler ways to lead the older kids and Dad Tiger-Zelle out of the play area in "Escape from Planet Play-Day."
  • Adhesive Bow Tie: In "Daddy Date Night", "Smelly Sticker Games" and "Croc's Got Talent", Daddy Banana dons a bow tie by attaching it to his regular t-shirt.
  • Aerith and Bob: You've got regular names like Josh and Jamie Crocker, and Piper Tiger-Zelle, and then there are names like Stellar Tiger-Zelle and Apple Banana.
  • Arboreal Abode: The main characters live in a treehouse apartment.
  • Arc Words: In, "The Pickle Fixer," "What a pickle!"
  • Artistic License – Biology: Stripes the unanthropomorphic meerkat. can sometimes be seen walking on two legs. While real life meerkats can stand upright on their hind legs, they can't actually walk while in that position.
  • Awkward First Sleepover: "Sleepover Party Pooper," focuses on Apple attending her first sleepover with Stellar but not being used to the unfamiliar way the Tiger-Zelles act. She ends up not being able to stay the whole night and leaves early.
  • The Baby of the Bunch: Piper, being an actual toddler, is the youngest out of the Jungle Squad.
  • Baby Talk: Piper, pronouncing words like Doctor Mom "Dotty Mom," dino park as "diaper park," and babysitter "bubysitter."
  • Babysitting Episode: The side plot of "Mom-and-Daughter Day Disaster" sees Dad Tiger-Zelle watching Piper while Stellar and Mom try to have a fun day together. He ends up running all over the place trying to find a place to change her.
  • Barefoot Cartoon Animal: With the exception of the Banana dads (who wear only shirts), the majority of the cast are fully clothed save for lacking shoes.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Stellar may seem nice at first, but when she gets mad, it's a whole 'nother story. For added context, her angry roar is loud enough to break glass.
  • Bittersweet Ending:
    • "The Spoonasaurus:" Stellar and Apple make up after their argument, but all the families are kicked out of the dino park after Piper wrecks the newly-repaired fossil.
    • "Time Twisters": Apple and her daddy are never able to retrieve the old video again, and most of Apple's toys are given away as she mentioned previously no longer wanting them, but she learns a valuable lesson about cherishing being a kid while it lasts in the process.
  • The Bore: In "Topsy Turvy Table", Papa Banana talks for a long time about how his sweater was made.
  • Bowdlerise: In "My Frabulous Framily," instead of saying "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot," the characters say "Rock, paper, scissors, go!" most likely because of the growing number of shootings and gun-related tragedies in the world.
  • Boy Band: The Boyz-N-Berries, a trio of singers that the Banana dads are big fans of.
  • Butt-Monkey: Dad Tiger-Zelle often suffers some kind of misfortune.
  • Carnivore Confusion: The Tiger-Zelles, a hybrid tiger (predator) and gazelle (prey) family.
  • Character Catchphrase:
    • Apple has "Squished it!" and "Oh, my golly-gorillas!"
    • Dad Tiger-Zelle tends to say "What a pickle!" when there's trouble.
    • Piper oftens says "Flufflebum!"
    • The Crocker twins will often say "Oh, snap!" when a situation turns bad.
  • Chekhov's Gun: In "Topsy Turvy Table," Papa Banana goes on a long talk about his brand-new sweater, much to the boredom of everybody else. Later, his husband's sneeze would lead to food being splattered on the sweater, which causes the tension in the room to relax and for Stellar to finally realize that not everything needs to be overly fancy and put-together.
  • Collective Death Glare: Downplayed in, "Double Daddies' Day," when, after Apple accidentally wrecks the entire house trying to perfect Fathers' Day, her dads both give her the look- not exactly deathly, but not overly friendly either.

    Apple: Double the daddies, double the stink-eye.

  • Competence Zone: Despite being only a year younger, Apple is treated much younger than Stellar, not being able to go out to the store on her own or play with certain toys when the latter can.
  • Confession Cam: Used at the beginning to discuss the main topic of the coming episode, with each kid sharing their own experiences with the topic, then used sporadically throughout the rest of the episode by the main child to express their feelings on the events taking place.
  • Couldn't Find a Tissue: Played with in "Goodbye, Mr. Giggles." After Josh starts to cry about Mr. Giggles at the end of the episode, Jamie offers him his favorite hanky. As it turns out, this hanky is actually Stellar's Blanky-boo which she lost a while ago. Before this is resolved, the episode ends.
  • Cute Little Fangs: Stellar has these.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Mama Crocker has her moments, such as in "Battle of the Dads"; when the twins are trying to remember "Take Your Dad to School Day", Jamie thinks it might be "Take Your Brain to School Day". Mama Crocker playfully snarks "Little chance of that happening..."
  • The Diaper Change: Piper gets her diaper changed in, "The Spoonasaurus," and because of how focused the adults are on changing her, Stellar and Apple's argument manages to progress to the point of the Spinosaurus fossil breaking.
  • Disappeared Dad: Josh and Jamie don't have a father in their family, so on Fathers' Day, they call their grandfather instead.
  • The Ditz: Josh isn't very bright. In "The Paw Pixie", despite being in on the plan, he's surprised to see Dad Tiger-Zelle under the "Paw Pixie" outfit.
  • Earworm: Multiple in-universe examples in an episode dedicated to them.
    • "The Mango Tango," one of Papa Banana's favorite songs.
    • "Itty Bitty Baby Squiddy," Apple's favorite song, a clear parody of Baby Shark.
    • "Rainbow Rhino BURP Tomato" was created by The Jungle Squad (sans Piper) as one to cheer up Papa Banana but ultimately failed as it made everyone grumpy instead.
  • Eye Am Watching You: An angry Sellar does this to Daddy Banana in "Topsy Turvy Table" as the latter reluctantly crawls back into the restaurant after being engrossed in a game of pirates with the children.
  • Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": The parents do not refer to themselves by their actual names, just the titles their kids give them.
  • Feud Episode: In one episode, Stellar and Apple's conflicting personalities result in them getting into an argument at Dr. Digby's Dino Park.
  • Fantastic Fireworks: At the end of "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Day," all of the families gather around to watch a fireworks show.
  • Fitness Nut: Mama Crocker, to the point where her main attire is fitness gear and she has a job as a fitness instructor.
  • Furry Confusion: While the show features anthropomorphic rhinos (such as Apple's babysitter, Dee-Dee), Stellar is shown in "Rainbow Rhino BURP Tomato" to have a toy of an unanthropomorphic rhino.
  • Furry Reminder:
    • At one point in "The Spoonasaurus," Dr. Digby is scared to the point where he pops back into his shell.
    • When very excited, Daddy Banana will start hooting like a gorilla.
      • He also has a habit of eating flowers, something gorillas like to do.
      • In a similar way, Papa tends to chatter loudly when greeting someone.
    • Piper, Stellar, and Mom Tiger-Zelle don't take baths; instead, they lick themselves clean.
    • Dad Tiger-Zelle tends to bleat whenever he's in distress.
    • The Crockers are the only animals that can tolerate porcupines because their skin protects them from being harmed.
  • First Pet Story: Doubles as an origin story for Stripes as it focuses on the Bananas adopting a pet porcupine that doesn't into their home lives as well as the former ended up being.
  • Five-Man Band: The Jungle Squad:
  • Gasshole: Josh.
    • In "The Spoonasaurus", he belches loudly enough that Jamie mistakes it for a dinosaur's roar.
    • He provides the "burp" for the band in "Rainbow Rhino BURP Tomato".
  • Gender-Blender Name: In "How to Train Your Porcupine". Despite being identified as a male, Apple names her pet porcupine "Princess Prickly".
  • Getting the Baby to Sleep: In "The Pickle Fixer," Piper refuses to go down for her nap, despite being tired, bored and cranky. Stellar and her dad take advice from Apple's father and decide to build an entire pillow fort in which Piper can have fun and rest.
  • Girly Girl And Tomboy: Apple is the Girly Girl to Stellar's Tomboy.
  • Grin of Rage: Instead of glaring angrily when the kids interrupt her class in "Rainbow Rhino BURP Tomato," Mama Crocker instead smiles when yelling at then, at one point even rolling her eyes in sarcasm.
  • Hates Baths: Stripes, the Bananas' pet meerkat, hates baths.
  • Honor Before Reason: Josh and Jamie in "Croc Swap". After their Twin Switch lads to their friends encouraging them to each try activities that the other is good at, the two of them actively refuse to admit to the switch.
  • Househusband:
    • Daddy Banana is a stay-at-home-dad to Apple while his husband works as an artist.
    • Dad Tiger-Zelle becomes a stay-at-home-dad in "The Pickle Fixer" after his wife returns to her job as a doctor.
  • I Just Like Saying the Word: Piper's favorite word is 'flufflebum.' She enjoys yelling it out at random times, much to the amusement of others around her.
  • In Touch with His Feminine Side: Jamie wears a pink shirt, does ballet, and is a bit more sensitive and quiet than his brother Josh.
  • Interspecies Romance: The Tiger-Zelle family are composed of a male gazelle and a female tiger, as well as their two Mix-and-Match Critter children.
  • Kids Hate Chores: Apple in "Smelly Sticker Games," rushes her chores in order to get to Ladybug World on time.
  • Kids Love Dinosaurs: Stellar, to the point where she has a designated day to wear a different dinosaur-themed overall. Monday, for example, is Diplodocus Day.
  • Language Barrier: Stellar's Great Growl-mom only speaks Growlish, a language which Stellar doesn't speak and only Mom Tiger-Zelle understands. When Mom has to leave for an unexpected work call, Stellar is forced to confront the barrier by showing, not telling. By the end of an episode, Stellar is able to learn a few words in the language and so is Great Growl-Mom, who learned just one word in English.

    Great Growl Mom: Rude!

  • Lesser Animals: While the series takes place in a world of anthropomorphic animals, there are several non-sapient creatures in the wild (such as parrots), while others (like Stripes the meerkat) are kept as pets.
  • Like Parent, Unlike Child: Explored in "Mom-Daughter Day Disaster" regarding Stellar and Mom Tiger-Zelle. While Mom enjoys dressing up and doing fancy things, Stellar enjoys such things as digging up dinosaur bones.
  • Mad Libs Catchphrase: Stellar often says "Fun fact:", followed by some science-related information.
  • Manchild: Daddy Banana acts just as childish as the main child characters do; he plays with toys and even tries to sneak into an amusment park ide for kids only. However, he is able to act mature when needed.
  • The Medic: Stellar and Piper's mom is a doctor.
  • Mix-and-Match Critters: Stella and Piper are both half-tiger, half-gazelle.
  • Mourning an Object: In, "Goodbye, Mr. Giggles," Josh accidentally loses his favorite stuffed hyena, Mr. Giggles. The rest of the kids organize a memorial service for the toy, complete with an eulogy and a musical performance.
  • Non-Mammalian Hair: Grandad Crocker has a moustache and bushy eybrows.
  • Only-Child Syndrome: Discussed in "My Frabulous Framily," when Apple is upset about being the only one of her friends without a sibling and is lonely because of it.
  • Picky Eater: Piper. Justified since she is a toddler.
  • Picture Day: "Happy Snaps" focuses on all three of the families having a picture day together, with a few issues along the way regarding the kids not liking what they have to wear.
    • Apple wants her dads to give her a complex unicorn-like hairstyle, but the dads have no idea how to do it.
    • Stellar wants to find an outfit that fits her, but all the outfits she finds are too girly and cutesy for her liking.
    • Josh and Jamie refuse to wear the itchy suits their mama bought for them and lead her on an epic chase around the block.
  • Plot Allergy: Daddy Banana ends up being allergic to Princess Prickly, the porcupine Apple picks up from the adoption center.
  • Polar Opposite Twins: Josh and Jamie; While Josh is into sports and tends to be brash and not too bright, Jamie enjoys dancing and is sensitive and thoughtful.
  • Potty Emergency: Josh has one in "Escape from Planet-Playday," but is reluctant to admit it and only says so when the kids are stuck in the toddler play center. The urgency mysteriously vanishes after the kids finally escape the play center.
  • Rambling Old Man Monologue: A running gag in "How to Train your Porcupine" involves Grandad Crocker telling random stories at the weirdest times. Ultimately, his sentimental demeanor and tough, crocky skin leads to the Bananas giving Princess Prickly up to him instead.
  • Same Clothes, Different Year: A flashback in "My Frabulous Framily" shows Mama Crocker wearing the exact same outfit as a child that she does as an adult.
  • Scream Discretion Shot: In "Double Daddies Day," Daddy Banana steps on one of the toy blocks that Apple accidentally left on the floor. As Papa removes the block from his husband's foot, Daddy manages to scream loud enough to the point where the tree starts to shake.
  • Security Blanket: Josh's Mr. Giggles, a hyena stuffed animal that is the only thing, outside of his mama, that can comfort him when he is upset. In one episode, Josh accidentaly leaves Mr. Giggles on the sidewalk, and he disappears forever.
  • Selfie Fiend: Mom Tiger-Zelle has a habit of taking selfies of her and her children anytime something notable happens.
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Jamie is the Sensitive Guy to Josh's Manly Man.
  • Shoutout:
  • Straying Baby: Piper has a habit of wandering off, the most notable instance being in "Escape from Planet Play-Day," where she runs away after Stellar berates her for acting her age.
  • Tears of Joy: These can briefly be seen in Stellar's eye in "Topsy Turvy Table" after her mom finally calls the lunch date she planned "fancy."
  • Theme Tune Roll Call: Each family gets a section dedicated to them in the theme song.

    ''Families, in a tree

    As well, meet the Tiger-Zelles

    Crockers rock the bottom, Let's Go, Bananas!

  • Time Machine: Played with in "Time Twisters." Apple and Daddy create a pretend time machine and play a game where they try to go back in time to try and re-create a cute video of Apple as a five-year-old.
  • Time Skip: ":Time Twisters" ends with a look into the future, with Daddy and Papa Banana both watching a video Papa recorded of Apple when he was younger.
  • Tooth Fairy: Played with in "Paw Pixie," where Apple invents the titular character which has attributes very similar to the Tooth Fairy.
  • Trademark Favorite Food:
    • Bananas for... well, the Bananas.
    • Weeds and thistles for the Tiger-Zelles, much to the disgust of Apple.
  • Twin Switch: In "Croc Swap", Josh and Jamie, tired of being treated the same during their birthday, decide to prank everyone by pretending to be each other.
  • Vague Age: Averted with Stellar and Apple, but played straight with Josh, Jamie, and Piper, whose ages haven't been confirmed.
    • "Happy Snaps" confirms Stellar is seven and a quarter years old, possibly implying the others (sans Piper, already established to be a toddler) are at or around the same age as her.
    • In "Time Twisters," Apple mentions that Stellar is a year older than her (386 days, as Stellar corrects,) making her six years old.
  • Wacky Parent, Serious Child: In "Topsy Turvy Table," all the parents (with the exception of Papa Banana and Mom Tiger-Zelle) are the wacky to child Stellar's seriousness.