This spring marks a milestone for Disney Channel’s “Big City Greens,” as the beloved animated series airs its 100th episode on linear TV on May 3 and streams on Disney+ on May 7.
Launched in 2018, the show has quietly become a cornerstone of modern family animation, blending the wholesome charm of classic sitcoms with inventive storytelling and a healthy dose of silliness.
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Created by brothers Chris and Shane Houghton, “Big City Greens” follows the adventures of Cricket Green, a mischievous 10-year-old boy whose family moves from the country to the city. Inspired by the Houghtons’ own childhood in the rural town of St. Johns, Mich., the series balances slapstick antics with genuine emotion; its staying power is no accident.
“From the very beginning, we thought that this show could go 100 episodes,” says Shane Houghton. “That was the benchmark: can this idea stretch that far? And we believed it could because the heart of the series was so solid — it’s two parts comedy, one part heart.”
The heart has always been central to the show’s success. Though wrapped in cartoon chaos, “Big City Greens” never loses sight of its emotional core. The 100th episode is an all-out celebration, with giant poultry, trips to the afterlife and even a cameo by Mark Hamill. But it also includes scenes of raw and relatable emotion that underscore just how deeply the show respects its audience.
“We want that emotional resonance,” Shane says. “We want to feel something when we’re watching. It’s about making people laugh, but also making them care.”
Chris Houghton echoes the sentiment: “It’s cool to watch ‘Big City Greens’ evolve beyond the TV series — into shorts, a movie, a live NHL broadcast, even TikTok and toys. But the characters are what make all of that possible.”
With nearly 1 billion YouTube views and ranking as one of the most-watched series for kids 6-11 across all platforms, “Big City Greens” is not only the longest-running Disney TVA animated series behind “Phineas and Ferb,” but also the longest continuously running one. As Meredith Roberts, exec VP of television animation at Disney Branded Television, put it: “It’s becoming a classic evergreen series.”
Part of what sets “Big City Greens” apart is its refusal to talk down to its audience. “The secret sauce is that Cricket can misbehave and still face the consequences, but never with a lecture,” says Roberts. “The show doesn’t try to teach a lesson through messaging. It’s joyful, and it never talks down to kids.”
That respect for children has been a guiding principle. “I don’t feel like we’re making a show for kids,” Shane explains. “We’re trying to make ourselves laugh first, and we’re not kids! But it works because kids are smart, and they know when they’re being pandered to.”
Roberts credits the Houghtons’ unique voice for Green’s enduring appeal. “They’ve only gotten sharper as comedy writers. They’ve embraced music, explored these wonderful family dynamics, and they’ve done it all while staying true to the tone they established from day one.”
Behind the scenes, the series has benefited from an A-list crew, including producer Michael Coughlin (“The Muppets”) and co-executive producer Stephen Sandoval (“The Owl House”).
As “Big City Greens” continues into a fifth season, the Houghtons are also spreading their creative wings. Under a wide-ranging deal with Disney, the brothers are now developing both live-action projects and adult animation.
“We’re juggling more than ever,” Chris says. “But it’s a dream. We still love working on ‘Big City Greens.’ Season 5 is shaping up to be our funniest yet.”
For Roberts, giving artists like the Houghtons room to grow is a top priority: “We want them to bloom within the company. We balance their schedules carefully. We don’t want them to burn out. If they feel they’ve done everything they can with one series, we want them to stay and thrive in other formats.”
It’s been a deeply personal adventure for the Houghtons. “We’ve had nine years on this show,” Shane says. “And when I look back at old episodes, I see little time capsules of my life. Conversations we had, things we were going through — it’s all in there. That’s special.”
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