Franklin is an animated preschool educational children's television series, based on the Franklin the Turtle books by Brenda Clark and Paulette Bourgeois, and co-produced by Nelvana Limited. It was followed up by a CGI adaptation, Franklin and Friends.

The animated series has also produced several television films: Franklin and the Green Knight (2000), Franklin's Magic Christmas (2001) and Back to School with Franklin (2003), alongside a theatrical movie: Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure (2006), all of which were co-produced by Nelvana Limited.

Franklin follows the eponymous young anthropomorphic turtle who lives in a small village called Woodland with his friends. His television stories and books always begin, "[Franklin] could count by twos and tie his shoes". Episodes of the series follow Franklin's adventures as he goes to school, plays, learns and grows in the world around him, sometimes with the helping hand of an adult such as his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Turtle.

The main character of the series is Franklin. Almost all events are presented directly from his point of view, with some exceptions. There are no stories in which Franklin is absent, but in some episodes other characters serve as the main focus.

Franklin likes swimming, arts and crafts (especially drawing), and shoofly pie. Franklin has a blue blanket and a blue plush dog with short purple ears named Sam. In earlier seasons, Franklin sleeps with his blanket and Sam. He has been known to be afraid of the dark and thunderstorms. When Franklin is scared by thunderstorms, Sam and his blue blanket help keep him calm because he might otherwise panic or have a meltdown.

Characters who are part of Franklin's family includes his parents Mr. and Mrs. Turtle, and his younger sister Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Turtle are presented as gentle, loving parents who provide direction and guidance for Franklin and reasonable discipline when needed. His sister, Harriet, was born in the film Franklin and the Green Knight and was featured in stories in the fifth and sixth seasons of the program. Franklin's extended family includes his paternal grandmother, who lives nearby, and his maternal grandparents, who live on a remote farm (as shown in Franklin's Magic Christmas).

In the film Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure, Franklin's paternal aunt Lucy and her goddaughter Sam chose to settle in Woodland, as well. Sam has parents but they let her stay in Woodland so she could visit her Godmother, Lucy. In the CGI series, his paternal aunt Teeny ("Aunt T" or "Aunt Turtle") is introduced. In later episodes, Franklin's maternal aunt and uncle and his maternal cousin are introduced.

Franklin's best friend is Bear, who is a grizzly bear who loves to eat and, in later seasons, has a sister named Beatrice. Franklin's other close friend is Snail, a garden snail who considers Franklin his best friend. One of Franklin's other friends who appears most often in the series is Beaver. Franklin's other friends who appear most often in the series are Goose, Rabbit, Fox, Badger, Raccoon, and Skunk. Mr. Owl is Franklin's primary teacher, but was temporarily replaced by Miss Koala in the film Back to School with Franklin when Mr. Owl was called away on a family emergency.