The Croods: Family Tree is back on August 31, 2022, on Peacock and Hulu with their fourth season, following the titular family alongside the Bettermans as they live together on a prehistoric farm.

“We’re transitioning a little bit more into like team parents vs. team kids, whereas the earlier seasons were really about these two families sort of trying to find common ground. I think it’s the perfect evolution when the kids start to bond, and they have their own plans, and the parents are inspired by some of their ideas and other ideas, not so much — which as a parent, I can relate to that (laughs),” commented Amy Landecker who voices Ugga in the series.

Also in the cast of The Croods: Family Tree are Kiff VandenHeuval, Ally Dixon, Amy Rosoff, Matthew Waterson, Kelly Marie Tran, Darin Brooks, Artemis Pebdani, A.J. LoCascio, and Dee Bradley Baker. It’s executive produced by Mark Banker and Todd Grimes.

“To do something that’s all sort of about fun and ridiculousness, and connection and healing, I never leave that voiceover session not feeling better than when I walked in,” said Landecker, “I think that watching the show feels the same way.”

Working With Executive Producers Mark Banker and Todd Grimes

“Mark Banker and Todd Grimes, who are the creators of the show — and there are a lot of great writers on it — they’re like some of the best writers in animation. Their scripts are unbelievable. They’re so funny. Every time I would get one, I’d get excited about what I would get to do. We never had to change anything. They’re just incredibly smart, funny creatives, and I think that is part of why the show has been such a huge success because their writing is so good,” said Landecker.

Alongside the creators is the stacked cast in the series, guided by voice director Serena Irwin, “who is also a voice actress in her own right, plays everybody’s parts, kind of like an amazing impressionist,” explained Landecker. “One thing that’s interesting about animation is you don’t actually usually get to meet each other… this was an unusual show where we started during the pandemic, and we started in our closets in our homes… which is a Zoom call where we would all see each other and read with each other and get to know each other. And it’s probably the closest I’ve ever gotten to a cast of an animated show or movie because we got to interact with each other… this cast is really extraordinary and wildly talented, and I’m glad I got to meet them all.”

Making a Family Show like The Croods

     NBCUniversal / DreamWorks

There are plenty of relatable themes in The Croods, including dynamics of families, accepting others, and more. Which is part of what Landecker loves so much about the series. “I think part of why I love this show so much is there are these very relatable themes, you know, trying to deal with your parents, trying to deal with your kids, trying to deal with your other. I think in some ways, even though the Bettermans and the Croods aren’t related, you could equate them to those sorts of familial relationships. I also love how physical and fun the recordings are. It’s very active. I always think of it as like if The Flintstones and an action movie met each other, that would be what The Croods feel like to me. It’s all just physically a blast to play and bounce around and scream and do all the fun things that we get to do,” said Landecker.

Going on the fourth season now, the making of The Croods: Family Tree has the potential to continue for many more seasons, as well as any other additions to the franchise that the series takes place within. “I hope it continues forever,” commented Landecker, “I think there are a lot of legs in all of these storylines. You have a lot of fun characters. You have a really great world. You have tons of opportunities to explore. The dynamics of all of these relationships are there. We could have weddings, we could have more babies coming. I’m pitching right now (laughs). I hope that we do make as much as the audience is into seeing.”

As for what she would like to see most in the series, Landecker commented that she would “like to be a grandma and have Gran (Pebdani) be a great grandma. I love my storyline with Gran, who’s my mom on the show, and this wonderful actress. She’s just so funny, and so more with her for Ugga is definitely a fun storyline. I think a big wedding with the punch monkeys in the forest could be really fun.”

Season 4 of The Croods: Family Tree will release on August 31, 2022, on Peacock and Hulu.