01x38 - The Gecko Effect

[bunniefuu]

Hi, I'm Martin!

One half of the
Kratt Brothers.

I'm Chris,
the other half.

Creature feet come in all
different shapes and sizes.

Each foot is designed with the
power to do something special.

CHRIS:
Aardvark feet are
designed for digging

through hard-packed soil.

Their claws are like
built-in shovels.

MARTIN:
Cat feet have claws
that go in and out.

They're called
retractable claws.

They stay in most of the time,

so the claws always
stay sharp for grabbing.

CHRIS:
A bat's rear feet
are made for hanging.

These feet,
with hooked claws,

can hang on all day
while the bat sleeps.

And the front feet
are the wings.

Yes, believe it or not,
bat wings are really front feet

with super long toes and skin
stretched out between them.

There are so many amazing
feet in the creature world.

And one foot that has
always really amazed us

is the foot of one
special little lizard.

Check out the geckos!

This is one group of little
lizards that can walk on walls.

CHRIS:
And even walk up
walls of glass.

MARTIN:
And even walk on
ceilings, upside down!

The secret to the gecko's
power is all in the feet.

Imagine if we had the power
to walk anywhere we wanted.

To walk on walls.

To walk on ceilings.

Imagine if we had the Creature
Powers of the gecko.

What if?

♪ On adventure with
the coolest creatures ♪

♪ From the oceans
to the trees ♪

♪ The Brothers Kratt are going
places you never get to see ♪

♪ Hanging with
their creature friends ♪

♪ Get ready, it's the hour ♪

♪ We're gonna save
some animals today with ♪

♪ Creature Power ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild, wild ♪

♪ Cheetah speed
and lizard glide ♪

♪ Falcon flight
and lion pride ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Go wild, wild, Wild Kratts ♪

CHRIS AND MARTIN:
Whoa!

Did you see that?

He's upside down
again.

Just sticking there!

How does he do that!?

The secret must be
in his feet.

Ow!

Hmm. How does a gecko
crawl on glass?

It's a smooth surface.

There's nothing
to grab onto.

It can only be
described as...

The Gecko Effect!

Hey, we know
how he does it.

Like any octopus would:

With suction cups.

The octopus uses
suction cups,

and I bet the gecko
does it, too.

Hey, you want to try it?

Sounds like a perfect time
for an experiment.

Yeah!
Midnight!

We just got to be sure not to
wake the rest of the g*ng.

(Snoring)

♪

Hey, where does Koki keep
those suction cups, anyway?

I know.

Let's try the
invention garage.

I'm with you, bro.

CHRIS:
Whoa!

Aviva and Koki have the
invention garage

so well booby trapped.

There's no way Zach
could steal an invention

without setting off
the alarm.

But we know our way around.

♪

(Popping)

♪

All right, let's get
this experiment started.

♪

Where's the trampoline?

Suction cup feet
for climbing on glass:

Experiment one!

MARTIN:
Whoa!

Ahh...!

It worked!

Whoo hoo!

The suction worked!

Shh, shh, shh!

(Snoring)

(Whispering):
Suction is the answer.

This is gonna be
a great addition

to our adventure gear
collection.

Now, move around, Martin!

(Straining)

Suction is not the answer.

I can't get the suction
to un-suck!

Huh!

Suction works for
the octopus in the water

because they can release
the power of the suction

by letting a little
more water in.

But that doesn't work
in the air.

If the suction is too strong,
it can't be released.

Huh, it's not good for walking
on smooth dry surfaces.

MARTIN:
Need a little help here.

You little show off!

Gotta come up with a plan.

Hang on bro!

Ha ha.
Very funny.

That was a good one.

Look at those Wild Rats.

Inventing stuff in
their turtle ship thing.

I could invent anything
better than them.

For example, I could've invented
that Wild Kratts miniaturizer.

Easily.

So it really should be mine.

Hmm, how about
an invention raid?

Keep an eye on the turtle ship

and wake me if those Wild Rats
turn their alarm off.

(Whistling)

Huh?

Okay, ready.

Now I just have to
overpower the suction.

(Straining and grunting)

(Straining and grunting
continues)

Gahh...!

Whoa!

Oh!

Whoa!
Oof!

(Alarm sounding)

Oops.

Oh!
My inventions!

Oof!

Someone tripped
the alarm!

It must be Zach!

Chris?

You set off the alarm?

Where's the other half
of trouble?

Huh?

Uh...
Good morning?

It's the middle
of the night!

How'd you get
up there?

What're you guys
doing, anyway?

We should just leave you
hanging up there.

Oh, come on.

We're sorry for
waking you up,

but walking on ceilings is
only fun if you can move.

I'm stuck!
Literally.

Okay, we'll
get you down,

if you promise
to go to sleep.

Aw, but we're right in the
middle of an adventure

to figure out how geckos
can climb upside down.

And even on glass!

Interesting...

But can't
it wait till morning?

Uh, we tried this last time
and it didn't work.

(Straining)

Whoa--
Whoa-oh!

Oof!

MARTIN:
Whoaa...!

Oof, oof, oh!

Oh, ugh!
Whaaa...!

(Yelling, grunting)

Awesome!

Not awesome!

Not the mud,
the geckos!

Wow!

(Alarm beeping)

Yes!

Now's my chance.

Zachbots, move it!

Not that kind of move it.

The, "Let's go!"
kind of move it!

Whoa!

Tokay geckos eat
Conehead Katydids!

Heh, okay Tokay.

AVIVA:
There's no place
the bugs can hide.

Geckos can go everywhere because
of their special feet.

But what makes them
so special?

And gives them the power
to walk upside down?

Hmm...

Different.

Odd.

Fascinating!

But I can confirm:
No suction cups.

But there are some
strange toe pads

with really interesting features
on the bottom of this foot.

The secret to
the gecko effect.

The gecko effect!

Is teeny tiny, microscopic,
and in order to see it,

we're going to have to take our
magnifier and go miniaturized.

All right!

Let's take this adventure
into the gecko's world.

To the miniaturizer!

(Snoring)

♪

Koki, it's time we
unveil the M.I.K.

Yes it is!
The M.I.K.

The M.I.K.?
What's
the M.I.K.?

That stands for
Mobile Invention Kit.

M.I.K.

So we can take
everything I need

to make new powers for
the Creature Power Suits

into the great outdoors.

Cool!

Awesome!

What about
Jimmy Z?

Oh, he's going to be bummed
if he misses this.

(Snoring)

(Horn blaring)

KOKI:
Jimmy!
CHRIS:
Up and at 'em!

MARTIN:
Good morning!
AVIVA
Wake up, wake up!

Oh, I know how
to wake him up.

Jimmy, your controller
is missing.

What!?

Ah!
Whoa-oh-oh...!

Oh, heh,
there it is.

Hey, where are we going?

We're going into the
miniaturized world

of the rainforest
in search of...

The gecko effect!

♪

Do you hear
footsteps?

Yeow!

MARTIN:
Okay, Tokay!

We're gonna have to
remember that the surface

the gecko walks on
is totally D.

They can walk anywhere!

On any surface.

But how do they do it?

The answer is right
there in her feet.

Do you think she'll
let us have a look?

MARTIN:
Well, the Tokay is one of
the toughest geckos,

but I think I can
keep her entertained.

Okay, Tokay, cooler than your
average reptile friend of mine,

you want to hear a joke?

(Squeaking sound)

Okay, what do you call
a lizard who sings?

(Squeaking sound)

A rap-tile!

(Laughing)

(Squeaking sound)

Wait, that was a joke.

Frogs sing, toads sing,
but lizards don't sing.

Except the gecko.

Oh, the gecko is the
only kind of lizard

in the world that makes
musical sounds.

Okay, Tokay!

(Squeaking sound)

Tokay.

(Squeaking sound)

Tokay!

(Squeaking sound)
Tokay.

This is astonishing.

A gecko has toe pads with tiny
microscopic features

called setae, like hairs,
in clumps.

It's like there are hundreds
of tiny toothbrushes

on each toe pad.

And they have
an electric charge.

Chris can you grab me
a plate of glass?

Sure.
Tokay!

(Squeaking sound)
Tokay.

(Squeaking sound)
Tokay.

(Straining)

AVIVA:
When the toe pad
touches a surface,

these millions of tiny
electric charges

attract to the tiny electric
charges in the surface.

An attraction strong enough to
keep the gecko on the surface.

And the power in a single
toe pad is phenomenal.

The power charge meter
is pegged to... .

Hey, but if they're
so powerful,

how does the gecko
ever lift his feet?

Wait a second.

There's something very
different about gecko feet.

Our fingers bend this way.

But the gecko's
bend the other way.

When the gecko bends
her toe that way,

the toe pad begins
to peel off

and the electric charges
are turned off.

Charge on,
charge off.

Charge on,
charge off.

And that's how a gecko
can lift her feet

so she can run
upside down on a surface.

That's it, we've figured
out the secret of...

The gecko effect!

Keep her busy, Martin,

and I'll get this power
programmed

for the Creature Power Suits.

Okay with me if it's okay
with Okay Tokay!

Oh, it's amazing all
the things you learn

when you get take the time
to talk to a gecko.

What?

A gecko washes its own
eyeball with her tongue!?

Oh, now that's way cooler
than blinking!

Way blech!

Way-- I wish
I could do that.

Have you ever had
something in your eye

and couldn't get it out?

If you had this gecko power,
you could lick it out!

Ah? Ah?

(Straining)

(All laughing)

Hmm...

Ooh!

♪

Ooh, goodie.

Time to do a little
invention shopping...

But I'm not
paying for anything!

Ow! Agh!

Who left this
lying around?

Hmm.

Oh-h*-h*!
The miniaturizer.

I'll take one of these...

Gift wrapped.

(Laughing)

The miniaturizer
is mine!

(Laughing)

AVIVA:
Okay, everybody,
all set.

Now we can do our
first ever outdoor

Creature Power disc creation!

(Squeaking sound)

Okay?
What's the matter?

You look like you've
just seen a ghost.

Not a ghost...

A moon rat!

A predator of frogs
and maybe geckos....

When you're bite size,
a predator's a predator.

There's two!

Two moon rats!

Uh, let's use a Creature Power
we already have...

Okay, run!
Ah!

You know, maybe this gecko
is moving in with us.

Geckos can live outdoors
or indoors.

Maybe I'll stick with
inventing indoors.

It's a little more
predictable.

Mmm hmm, there won't be any
giant moon rats after us inside.

Let's get back to real size.

Where's the
miniaturizer?

We used it right here.

(Gasping)

Looking for this?

My miniaturizer!

Ah, correction.

My miniaturizer.

Ugh!

Uh-oh.

Hello little Wild Rats.

CHRIS AND MARTIN:
That's Wild Kratts!

No, this time it is
really is Wild Rats,

because you're so small,
like little mouse thingies.

Aw!

Do you want to hear
my little plan?

That's it!

Shrink them all.

I love my new miniaturizer!

That's my miniaturizer!

Stop interrupting.

My little plan is,

I'm gonna keep you all
as my little trophy pets.

And every now and then,
I'll miniaturize a few animals

for you to play with..

Oh no, this is what
I was always afraid of:

My inventions falling
into the wrong hands!

How are we gonna
get out of here?

CHRIS:
Whoa, these walls
are too smooth...!

But not on glass walls.

We need...

The gecko effect!

Gecko powers can get us
out of here.

But we're in here and
the gecko's out there.

Ah, but how are we
gonna touch it?

I never thought I'd encourage
Zach to catch an animal,

but it's the only way
to free everybody!

What are they
whispering about?

I'm fine with these mini animals
he's thrown in here.

But I just hope Zach doesn't
throw in a real-sized gecko.

Oh, that would totally
freak me out.

Hmm, gecko?
What's a gecko?

Ugh!

Those colorful lizards

that walk on walls
are creepy!

Creepy on the wall
with the screen.

They really
freak me out!

Oh!

Catch that
salamander thingy!

Ha ha,
I heard you.

Throw it in with them.

(Chuckling)

It'll really freak
mini-Martin out!

Whoa!

He stopped his fall
with one toe pad!

See?

Powerful!

Yeah, it worked!

Hmm...

(Laughing)

You're supposed to be
freaked out!

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah!

A ge-ge-ge...

Geck-o!

Gecko!

Gecko!

Hmm...

(Laughing)

Martin's really
freaking out.

He's such a
scaredy Kratt.

(Laughing)

Scaredy Kratt, huh?

We'll see who
gets the last laugh...

Two Creature Power discs,
hot off the M.I.K.

Oh yea!

Cool!

MARTIN AND CHRIS:
Activate gecko powers.

♪

Oh, sticking
the landing...

With the
gecko effect!

Oh hello, Donita.

Hello, Gourmand.

I'm glad you could join
my conference call.

I invented a new
miniaturizer!

He did not.

CHRIS:
Quick, while he's
bragging, let's go!

Well, you guys can climb, but
what about the rest of us?

Ah, but you underestimate
gecko power.

One gecko foot can hold up
one gecko, plus more.

So I can easily haul the
three of you out of here!

Grab onto my tail.

And I'll herd
old electric toes

straight up
to the escape hatch.

Okay, Tokay?

Let's head up.

No! The other up.

♪

Like them.

Oh, they say herding cats is
tough, but herding geckos?

Sheesh!

Gecko powers are awesome!

And it really works.

With my foot down,

the electrical charge
attraction is on.

But when I peel the
toe pad up, it turns off.

So I can stick and walk where
there is nothing to grab

Even upside down on glass.

This is the most awesome
Creature Power yet!

How are you guys doing
down there?

Hanging in there!

I wish I'd said that!

You say that every time!

(Laughing)

Whoo hoo!

See?

And I can shrink them so tiny,
you can't even see them!

We're almost there!

I'm not.

Okay, co-operate.

Go up.

Hmm.

Almost there...

Oh Jimmy, you forgot to
tie your shoe...!

(Screaming)

♪

Phew!

Grab onto my tail, Aviva,
and let's "geck" go-ing!

Geck-go!

Gecko!

Okay, Tokay...

CHRIS:
He's up here!

Okay, were you just
messing with me?

C'mon, let's get to
the miniaturizer

and back to real size
while Zach's distracted.

You can miniaturize
anything with it.

Put your arms in, Dabio,
it'll make me feel stronger.

Gourmand,
put your appetite in.

Then there'll be more animals
for the rest of us to use.

Oh, Donita, you know
that big ego of yours?

I'll shrink it for ya!

(Laughing)

Ha ha ha,
ahh...

They're so jealous.

AVIVA:
Of what?

An invention thief?

Zachbots,
get them!

Ooh!

I'll get you
next time, you...

Wild Rats!

Uh, that's
Wild Kratts!

Yeah, Zach.

How many times do we
have to tell you?

That's Wild Kratts,
with a K, Wild Kratts.

No, r-r-really!

G-g-giant wild rats!

They must've walked in
right behind us!

Oh, you're actually kind
of right this time, Zach.

These are
wild moon rats.

Although technically, moon rats
are related to hedgehogs.

Hmm...

(Zach screaming)

Better get these monsters
back to the miniaturizer

before they get out into
an unsuspecting jungle.

Hey, Martin, I just
realized something.

You forgot to name
our gecko friend.

No, I didn't.

I've been calling him by
his name the whole time.

Are you gonna tell me
what it is.

Okay.

So, are you gonna
tell me?

Okay!

Come on Martin, I wanna
know what you named him.

Okay, his name is Okay,
Okay the Tokay.

Okay!

(Team laughing)

Geckos are one of the
coolest groups of lizards

in the creature world.

And this is a
Tokay gecko.

Tokay geckos
are so colorful.

They're one of the
largest geckos.

And here is a
Crested gecko.

This endangered gecko has ridges
running along his spine

and hair-like projections
above his eyes

that look like eyelashes.

Those two over there
are Banana geckos.

Like all geckos,
they have no eyelids,

so they lick their eyeballs
to keep them moist.

Oh-h*, but now back
to the feet.

Each gecko species
has its own unique

foot and toe pad shape.

And it's the toe pad
that gives the geckos

their amazing power
to walk on walls.

Each toe pad has thousands
of tiny structures

that each have an
electrical charge

that are attracted to
the electrical charge

occurring on any surface.

That's what gives the gecko
the power to walk on walls.

That's the gecko effect.

When the gecko's toe pads are
pressed up against the glass,

the charge is on
and the gecko is attached.

When he peels back his toes,

the charge on the
toe pads turns off

and the gecko
can take a step.

♪

He's not even using all
the toes on this foot.

Or any of the toes
on this foot.

He doesn't need them.

In fact, a Crested gecko

could easily hang from
just one toe pad.

MARTIN:
Oh, I can really see him curling
up the toes to release

the contact,

then reattaching.

Scientists are trying to
replicate gecko powers

to make real-world
gecko boots and gecko gloves.

But even though we understand
the secret of the gecko effect,

human technically has not yet
been able to recreate the power

that nature has given
to the gecko.

But someday, we may
be able to adventure

with real-world gecko boots
and gecko gloves.

So get out there
and explore.

MARTIN:
Keep on
creature adventuring.

CHRIS:
See you on the
creature trail.

♪

BOTH:
We'll see you there!