1.10 The Funny Face Badge
In The Funny Face Badge, once again the Squirrels are out and about when they find a character in need. Whoooo the grumpy owl can be added to the list of early appearances (along with Mork) who are not destined to become recurring characters. Although she does pop up now and again in group sequences.
My favourite section of this badge is the left-field decision to set the funny face practise to a military cadence marching song. It’s made even better with the front on scrolling animation. Every episode has to have something that makes it stand apart from the others and in this one, it is Duggee putting the Squirrels through their paces.
Other highlights are Happy’s beatboxing and Betty’s special skill at pulling funny faces.
Badge Design
Round with an orange funny face.
Episode Summary
Opening Squirrel
Happy in the bath with a snorkel.
Set-Up
The Squirrels are on a nature walk. They spot Whooooo the Owl on a totem pole. Whooooo is not happy so the Squirrels try to cheer her up. Tag suggests Duggee does some juggling but that doesn’t work. Happy does some beatbox but that doesn’t work. They think hard. Betty pulls some funny faces when she thinks. Duggee has his Funny Face badge.
Story
Duggee put the Squirrels through their paces as they learn how to do their best funny faces. They march to a military cadence song until they have the hang of it. The clubhouse looks like an army operations HQ, complete with a map and charts.
They pull their best funny faces for Whoooo but she remains unimpressed. Then her totem pole falls apart which explains why she has been so sad. The Squirrels decide to make her a new pole with their funny faces on it. Whooooo loves it.
Bridges
Army Duggee.
Close and Credits
Whooooo lands on Duggee’s head.
Outfits
- Duggee wears an American-style army officer outfit when putting the Squirrels through their funny face paces. The Squirrels all have army hats.
Get your Funny Face Badge
Copy the Squirrels, go on a march and practise pulling funny faces. You can also practise drawing funny faces on paper or on cookies. This badge can also be used as a jumping-off point to talk about totem poles. They are a really cool thing to see in real life. One place you can do so in the UK is in Cambridge. Read more here.