Fraggles

Gorg-Fraggle-Doozer — The Fraggles' size, in relation to Gorgs and Doozers.

“Fraggles are a noble race: fearless, dignified, and intellectual. They represent the very pinnacle of civilization and culture. A Fraggle is, most assuredly, the best of all possible creatures. Music is the greatest of the Fraggles’ art forms, but Fraggles also possess uncanny curiosity and great athletic ability. Fraggles naturally have physical prowess and a dance-like grace.”
—Uncle Traveling Matt, "Beginnings"

Fraggles are one of the three primary species who occupy the regions in and around Fraggle Rock, along with Gorgs and Doozers. Species related to the Fraggles include the Merggles and the Craggles.

History[]

Fraggles are, on the whole, a frivolous lot, interested in fun and frolic and temporary pleasures. Physically, each Fraggle possesses a tufted tail (properly termed the "Baloobius"), which flares out when its owner is frightened. They also have snouts of varying sizes and shapes rather than individual noses (in some ways resembling the early Whatnots like The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband on The Muppet Show). Fraggles come in a variety of colors, unlike the green Doozers. Clothing appears to be more or less optional for Fraggles; they wear as much or as little as they wish, with many background Fraggles wearing nothing at all, though they do tend to wear scarves during winter months. In height, they are knee high to a Silly Creature, and the Doozers are knee high to the Fraggles. Their diet is dominated by radishes and supplemented by radish-based Doozer sticks.

The issue of Fraggle birth and reproduction is deliberately obscured. Early on, the production team had considered explaining that Fraggles are hatched, and this is reflected in Storyteller Fraggle's dialogue in "The Terrible Tunnel." Early on, baby Fraggles are also featured in several crowd scenes. At some point, however, a decision was made not to go into the issue. Thus, in "Wembley's Egg," the Fraggles are confused by the Tree Creature egg, and doubt Wembley's claim that it is "a house for babies." Familial relationships exist among Fraggles, for example Traveling Matt is Gobo's uncle.

Both in the original series and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Rollie Krewson was responsible for designing background Fraggles. Both series use the same patterns.^[1]

Fraggle Gallery[]

“It was part of the enormous joy of this program, of this project, that it seemed like there were no limitations. Nobody said, "You can't build 400 background characters!" They said, "Great! We have this shop full of these amazingly talented people -- how many do you need?"”
—Michael K. Frith, DVD interview