Martin: We're here on the continent of North America.

Chris: In the eastern temperate region.

Martin: In a grassy meadow habitat.

It's us, the Kratt Brothers.

I'm Chris.

I'm Martin.

And these are some local Wild Kratts Kids.

Chris: And we're going to search for one of the great jumpers of the creature world.

Both: Grasshoppers!

Chris: Let's go!

All right everybody, let's fan out and catch some grasshoppers.

Okay now when you catch a grasshopper, always remember to be gentle with it.

Chris: Do you see any?

They're really hard to see in this tall grass.

More than 11,000 different species of grasshoppers live in different parts of the world.

But most of them like to live in grassy areas.

Many are herbivorous which means they eat grasses and other plants.

They're really tough to catch because they're camouflaged in the grass.

That's their first line of defence.

and their second line of defence is that jumping power.

Their legs are like springs, pr opelling them through the air.

That's why they're so hard to catch.

Hey guys, I got a grasshopper.

Look at that.

Yeah, see those legs bent back?

They're ready to push off.

Touch his back leg and see if he'll jump.

Woo!!

Yes.

Martin: Good one.

That is the creature power of the grasshopper.

Amazing jumping.

The typical grasshopper can jump 20 times her body length.

That would be like me jumping from here ...to here.

Now, that's a creature power.

Imagine if we could jump and leap like a grasshopper.

Imagine if we had grasshopper power.

Both: 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 to day with Creature Power.

♪ Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts gonna go wild wild ♪ Wild Kratts Wild Kratts Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts ♪ gonna go wild wild Wild ♪ Cheetah speed and lizard glide Fa lcon flight and lion pride ♪ Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts go nna go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ Wild Kratts Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts ♪ gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ Go wild wild Wild Kratts.

Chris: City Hoppers!

Martin: They gotta be around here somewhere.

Chris: Yeah, but they're camouflaged to blend into the grass.

Martin: There!

Grasshopper!!!

Ah!!

Oh!!!

No!

Not so fast, little hopper!!

Where are you hopping to??

Doesn't this guy ever sit still?

Chris: That's what they do.

Hop!

Got the start!

Got the finish!

An 18 inch leap!

Wow...we need another!

Martin: Whoa... there he goes!

Martin/Chris: Wait!!!

Oooh... Aviva/Koki: Look out!

Martin/Chris: Whoooaa...Oooof Ooops.

Sorry.

We were chasing grasshoppers.

Chasing grasshoppers?

Oh.

Yeah, we figured out that a grasshopper can jump about 18 inches in a single bound.

That's about 20 times the length of his body.

Aviva: Wow!

That is impressive.

Impressive how you totally messed up our catapult too.

Martin/Chris: Aww.

Sorry about that.

It's okay.

It wasn't really working anyway.

We really wanted to build a catapult to launch water balloons.

Cheer up.

Sometimes things go wrong.

But you can't give up.

Yeah, I've had plenty of my experiments and inventions go wrong.

I just keep trying.

Let's start over!

Okay.

The catapult is supposed to fling things really far, but we're not sure how to make it do that.

Aviva: We'll show you.

Ummm..while you're working on that.. we've got someone to get to know a little better.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

I think we're thinking the same thing.

Both: Deploy Miniaturizer!

Both: Miniaturize!!

Let's check out the world of the grasshopper.

Pathetic jump, we know.

Chris: So how do you do it, buddy?

What's the secret to that awesome jumping power?

Chris, I think he wants to finish his snack first.

That could take a while.

Grasshoppers eat lots of grass.

Most of the over 11,000 species ar e vegetarians, you know.

Sure do.

But what I don't know, is what I'm going to name him... Hmmmmm...Chompers?

no...Big Eyes?

nah...Antennae head?

no.. Hmmm...

These hind legs are so awesome!

They're longer than his body.

He's bending them.

All the way together.

Martin/Chris: Ah!

Amazing!

What a leap!

Aviva: See a catapult is like a big lever, but it needs something to power the arm forward quickly.

Oh hi!

Martin: Aviva!

We got it!

We saw the jump up close!

He bends his knees as much as he can, then extends his legs as fast as he can.

Martin: And boom!

Long lever-like legs are the key.

You've gotta make a Grasshopper Creature Power Suit!

Martin/Chris: Please!!!!!

Nolan/Sani: Please!!!!

Aviva: Okay, I'll do it.

And we'll keep working on the catapult.

Nolan/Sani Yeah!!!!

Martin/Chris: Yah!!!!

Whoa.....Ooof!

Both: We're okay.

Ahhh, the perfect time to dream up new recipes for cooking up endangered species.

No worries.

No bothers.

Ugh.

So much for no bothers.

Zach: Gaston Gourmand?

Yeah?

Zach Varmitech, here.

You know, the animal robotics expert and scientific genius.

I know who you are.

Yeah well, have you heard of this Paisley Paver character?

Gourmand: No, who's that?

Well, she's new and kinda like us.

Big ideas.

Wants to pave the whole world or something.

Oh.

Anyway, a great new villain doesn't come along every day, so we need to make sure she's up to speed on these annoying Wild Rats.

I'm calling a meeting.

A Villain Summit Meeting.

5 PM today at my headquarters.

Okay, I'll be there.

Oh, and can you bring some snacks?

Gourmand: Snacks!

?

That's... short notice, hmpf.

Now what little beastie can I cook up fast and easy?

(laughter) Aviva: I did it!

They're done!

Two Grasshopper Creature Power Discs ready for action!!

Aviva, have we ever told you how awesome you are?

Uh, not often enough.

Martin/Chris: You're awesome!

I know.

(giggle) Martin/Chris: Activate Grasshopper Power!!!

Chris: Wow!

We're grasshoppers!

Oh ho.

These legs are so weird.

Whoa!

He's getting ready.

There he goes!

Martin: What a jump!

All right.

Let's get hopping bro!

Chris: Oh ho...yeah.

Watch this power jump everybody!

We are going straight to the stratosphere!

Bend the legs and.... Martin/Chris: Leap!

Offf..ow...ugh!

Ouch.

That's gotta hurt.

Aviva: Guys?

!

Are you okay?

!

These legs don't jump.

Somersault maybe.

But jump?

No.

But what's wrong with the suit?

Aviva: Hmm.

It looks like the legs didn't have enough speed and power.

See, I told you my inventions don't always work right at first.

That's why I have the guys test them out.

Ah, glad to help.

Huh?

Sani: That's a pretty bird.

Martin: You mean pretty scary!!!

That's an American Kestrel!

A grasshopper hunter!

Chris: Oh no, that little falcon...spotted us!

Take cover!

Whoa!

Now that's what your jumping power is for.

Escaping predators.

Ah!!

Leave our grasshopper buddy alone!

You can't take him!

Martin!

The grasshopper's down here!!!

What?

!

Then why am I up here!

?

I mean, these falcons hunt things like voles, dragonflies, grasshoppers... and probably tiny people the size of grasshoppers!

Uh, thanks for the ride, but this is my stop!

Whoaaaaaaa!!!

Hey...he's still after me.

Gotcha.

Martin: Whew...

Sorry Kestrel!

He's with us.

Okay, it's rough being a grasshopper without jumping power.

Tell me about it.

Well, we're not giving up.

We need to take a closer look at how those legs work.

I smell tasty treats in this field.

Lots of little bite sized morsels.

Yes.

That's what I'm talking about.

Toffee covered grasshoppers!

Mmmm mmm good.

The perfect snack.

And I like your hunting technique little birdie.

(laughter) Aviva: Okay, I'll hook up the scanner.

And we'll finish up this catapult.

Now we can get an inside look at the leg action in mid leap - the muscle, joints, everything!

Okay chiquito, let's have a look.

Chris: Cool!

There's the leg joint and the two muscles that move it back and forth.

Back and forth.

Now we just need you to jump.

Aviva: Okay to get ready for the jump, that small muscle at the bottom ti ghtens and pulls the leg all the way into the folded position.

That's what we expected.

Koki: To get ready for the fling, we have to move the catapult arm into position.

Jimmy Z: But we need a force for the fling, right?

Koki: That's where the rubber band comes in Jimmy.

We need to pull back on it and the more we do, the more energy we are storing up for the fling.

The grasshopper needs to build up energy for his flingy jump too.

So that lump holds his bent leg in place, while both muscles contract, building up force a lot like the rubber band.

Jimmy Z: Keep pulling guys.

Now all that energy just has to be released.

Koki: Okay and....

release!!!

Oops... Ahhh.

Oh ho.

Refreshing.

Nice.

I get it!!!

If the grasshopper lets go with this little muscle, this large one extends the leg and stored energy will be released.

Just like the catapult's rubber band.

The leg will extend with incredible speed and force.

Yes!

Let's see if you're right.

Jump, buddy, jump!

Aviva: Release that muscle tension and.... Aviva/Martin/Chris: Jump!!!!

Aviva: Look at him go!

(Cheering) The grasshopper's leg and our catapult works the same way!!

Yup, and grasshoppers have been using their catapults a lot longer than we humans have.

Nature invented it.

I think I have a name for you now.

Catapult!

For those awesome catapult legs.

We've gotta fix that Power Suit!

Hey birdie!

See, I'm like you.

(laughter) Gotcha.

Oh yes, your way of catching grasshoppers works for me!

Hmm...you don't look that tasty, but I can make anything taste delicious.

Ha!

A little toffee coating.

Chewy on the outside, gooey on the inside.

Mmmm mmmm...

Hey...I see something down there.

What's this?

!

(sniffing) Smells like those Wild Kratts.

Well, mine now!!!

(laughter) One more tasty treat.

And another.... Hmmm.

You sure you put it down here?

Pretty sure.

Aw, it had all my discs in it.

That's the good thing about being unorganized like me.

Your discs are spread out all over the place, so it's impossible to lose every single one.

Hmm.

Aviva: Guys!

It's ready.

Martin/Chris: Ah!!

The new and improved Grasshopper Power Disc 2.0!

Martin/Chris: Wahoo!

Chris: All right!

Martin: Yeah!

Are you kidding?

You guys call that a jump?

Ahh??

Aviva: Now show me a real jump.

Martin/Chris: Insert disc.

Ready Catapult?

Touch grasshopper and... Martin/Chris: Activate Grasshopper Power!!!!

Oooo, This feels good Aviva.

Let's test it out!

Okay, Catapult here we go.

Martin/Chris: JUMP!!!!!

Wahoooooooo!!!!!!

Ooof!

Ugh!!

Increible.

What an awesome leap.

Landing was a little rough.

Whew.

Yeah, but who cares!!

Martin/Chris: Whoa...yeah...

wow...awesome!!

Now that's a jump.

Yeah.

Woo!

Haha!

Martin/Chris: Woah.

Oof... Grasshoppers never really land very grassfully - I mean gracefully.

Hey Chris, check it out.

Our suits have wings!

We almost forgot.

Most grasshoppers have wings to extend their jumps even farther.

Let's try em out bro!

Remember, grasshoppers always take off into the wind.

Aviva: (laughter) I think somebody wants to go with you.

Okay Catapult.

After you.

Martin/Chris: Deploy wings!

Martin: Wow, the tiny hairs all over my grasshopper body can sense wind currents and help me steer.

Yeah!

Chris: Yeah and these wings can really lengthen a jump!

C'mon Martin.

Martin/Chris: (laughter) Chris: This way Catapult.

Gourmand: Gotcha!!!!

(laughter) I think that's enough hoppers now.

Plenty of delicious bite sized snacks for the meeting.

Martin: Ooh, there's Aviva.

Donita Donata's jet?

!

Chris: Paisley Paver's cargo plane?

!

Aviva: All heading east.

In the direction of Zach's headquarters...

I have a bad feeling about this.

Zach: Okay now that everyone is here at the illustrious headquarters of Varmitech Industries, you're probably all wondering why I called you here today.

Well, Gourmand did tell us... We are welcoming a new member to the Legion of Villainous Villainhood.

Ms. Paisley Paver, CEO of Pave Nation Inc. and paver of all natural things - whether they need it or not.

Is that right?

Yes, not precisely, but in the interest of my precious time, it'll do.

Good, we'd like to wish you luck in all of your dastardly endeavors and warn you to look out for those pesky Wild Rats.

Donita: Ooohhhh.... Gourmand: Hmpf.

Wild Rats?

They're not really rats.

At least rats are tasty.

With some oregano and a touch of hot sauce.

Kratts.

It's Wild Kratts.

They come in green and blue.

It's a pity.

The boys could be stylish if they'd just let me give them a makeover.

And there's Aviva too.

She invents stuff.

Well really she just gets lucky sometimes - I'm a much better inventor.

Ah, yes.

I know these Wild Kratts.

They've wasted my time before.

Not appreciated.

Gourmand: Well, while we figure ou t how to get rid of them, you might appreciate a snack.

Ooh... Gourmand: Grasshoppers?

They're alive!

Yes, and wrapped snugly in a blanket of tasty toffee.

Interesting plates.

Plates?

!

These are Creature Power Discs.

Where did they come from?

Gourmand: I found them.

Do you realize with their disc technology we can stop the Wild Rats forever!

?

Now that's something to celebrate!

(laughter) Chris: Can't find Catapult anywhere.

I bet they took him.

And my Creature Power Disc holder too!

There it is!

Just a few more leaps!

Think we can scale it?

Oh yeah!

To the Grasshopper and Power Disc Rescue!

Aviva: Hurry up.

We've got to help the Grasshopper Brothers!

They're not grasshoppers... Sani/Nolan: They're City Hoppers!!!!!

Go Wild Kratts go!!!

Gourmand: Oh, eat it already.

The flavors of insect and toffee are a tasty combination.

Okay, well time to wrap this meeting up.

Eat up and get out.

We need to get to analyzing these discs.

Goin' in!

Wahhhh.....Oof.... ah ha ha..... Um...sorry to interrupt your meeting, but we're here for our stuff.

What stuff?

See, we told you they were annoying.

My Creature Power Discs.

Uh, the ones behind your back?

And our buddy Catapult and his grasshopper friends.

The ones on that serving dish.

These are for the VIV's.

That's Very Important Villains.

Us!!

And this is a private meeting.

Securitybots, Hop to it!

No, not literally!!!

Get them!

Martin/Chris: Whoa!!

Woo hoo!!

Ha, now that's a real hop.

Hmpf.

Oooh.

Hors d'oeuvres.

I'll just take them all.

Thanks.

This meeting is over.

Thank you all for coming.

And uh, buh bye!

Zach!!

My Creature Power Discs!!

Give them back!!

Martin: Let's hop.

Well, that was an unproductive meeting.

Chris: We've gotta stop him Martin.

Gotta get those discs!

Keep hopping Martin.

I'll hop higher.

Over them.

Martin: I'll go round this way.

Chris: Gotta him off my tail.

This way.

Zach's getting away!

I'll try to corner him against that tall building.

I'll try to block his escape routes.

(laughter) I think we finally lost those buggy brothers!

Martin: That's what you think.

Whoa.

Whoaaaaa... Chris: Gotta...get there...first...

Going up!

Buh-bye Pushing him up the building..

I'm ready.

You'll never catch me!!

Oh no.....before he gets to his jet...Quick Chris.

Now!

Stop him.

Chris: I've got him.

Uh-oh.

Nooo!

Thanks for the discs.

He's getting away!

Noooo!!!

The catapult can stop him!

Catapult power!!!!

Oof!!

Chris: Great aim Wild Kratts Kids!

Zach: My discs!!!!

It's raining Creature Power Discs.

Zach: I'll get you next time Wild Rats!

Donita: Me too!

Gourmand: I'll sniff you down!

Paisley: Stay out of my way!

Is it just me, or do you get the feeling, they don't like us very much?

Well, that's a Creature Mission Accomplished.

We figured out how grasshoppers do that awesome jump and saved them too.

And we rescued my Creature Power Discs so now Zach can't learn how Aviva's technology works.

And we built an awesome catapult.

Sani: Which works a lot like grasshopper legs.

Thanks Catapult for showing us the secret to your awesome jump.

So now...you've heard of horseback rides, right?

Well, how about a grasshopper back ride?

Nolan/Sani: Yes!!!!

Nolan/Sani: Let's ride!

Nolan: Giddy up!

Sani: Woo hoo.

Giddy up...Giddy up... Now that is an awesome creature power!

So grasshoppers have one of the coolest creature powers of any animal.

And they're really fun to look for and to look at.

Chris: Oh, you found a katydid.

A Long-horned grasshopper.

That's awesome.

Ah check it out.

Let's take a good look while he's sitting on your net like that.

See, there are the antenna, right there, for sensing his environment, right.

And then you can see his stubby little wings.

He doesn't use them for flying, but some longer winged grasshoppers do.

And of course, the giant legs for that awesome jumping power.

The creature power of the grasshopper is so amazing.

And what better way to check it out then with a close up look with a grasshopper scientist.

Hey, this is our friend, Dr. Jeff Dawson.

He studies grasshoppers and thanks to scientists like him, we know exactly how grasshoppers jump and fly.

And who's this guy?

Well this is the African migratory locust.

And when they migrate they can fly hundreds of miles.

Wow, okay so here in his lab and with slow motion photography, we're going to get a close up view of the grasshopper jump.

So let's break it down.

First the small muscle pulls the leg all the way bent.

The leg and muscle lock into place with help from the lump.

Right there.

Then the big muscle starts flexing.

Building up force for the jump like a powerful rubber band.

Finally when he wants to jump, the small muscle is released.

All the tension in the big muscle and the knee snaps the leg forward with incredible force and speed, launching the grasshopper.

It's great to use containers like this to look at grasshoppers and other insects.

But when you're done checking them out, it's time to let them go home.

Living free and in the wild.

Now are you ready to see a flying grasshopper take off?

Here we go.... Martin/Chris: Ohhh!!!

There he goes.

Keep on creature adventuring.

We'll see you on the creature trail.

Let's go guys.

To find out more about cool animals.

And collect your own Wild Kratts creature powers Go to the Wild Kratts website at PBSkids.org We'll see you there!