[ad_1]
As I entered my freshman year of college, my little brother was just starting preschool. It was a strange period in both of our lives. We were both transitioning into new stages of development, and these transitions were happening completely isolated from one another. Being away at school has caused me to miss out on some key milestones in his life, like his first day of kindergarten this year. When I do come home for breaks, I feel like I’m meeting him all over again.
With the distance and our age gap, it can be difficult to find things in common with my brother. One of the main ways we connect is through media. We’re both huge fans of Star Wars and love having lightsaber battles or watching the original trilogy together. Spending time with my brother reminds me of my own childhood, especially the media I grew up with. TV played a vital role in my development, providing stories with a recurring cast of young characters to follow on adventures. These shows offered both entertainment and education, designed to teach kids lessons about kindness, friendship and other important morals. They also came with catchy introductions to engage their young audience. As a kid, I remember singing along to the “Dora the Explorer” theme or doing the “Hot Dog” dance from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”
Despite my fondness for kids’ shows, I find it difficult to watch TV with my brother. His favorite shows often leave me uninterested, even annoyed. The characters feel less vibrant, the plotlines less interesting and the songs less fun. Still, as my brother and I sat in front of the TV, I wondered why the quality of his favorite shows was so much lower than mine. Were modern kids’ shows really that much worse? Or was my judgment clouded by nostalgia?
I watched four shows total: two new, two old, all favorites of my brother and I. Two of the shows, “Bluey” and “Peppa Pig,” were more animal-centered, following a family of animals in their daily lives. The other two, “Cocomelon” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” are less similar at first glance, but both shows feature original songs and an interactive, educational element. I decided to start with my brother’s favorite shows to minimize my bias. Unfortunately, even taking my nostalgia into account, I remained disappointed.
“Cocomelon”
The first show I watched is very widely known, but not always for the right reasons. Though “Cocomelon” was originally released in 2006, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Created by filmmaker Jay Jeon (Debut), the series began as a YouTube channel designed to teach his children the alphabet. Today, the channel has amassed more than 180 million subscribers and received a Netflix adaptation.
“Cocomelon” follows a boy named JJ (Ava Gray, “LOL Surprise! House of Surprises”) and his family on their everyday adventures. Episodes of “Cocomelon” are about an hour long each, divided into a series of individual songs. The discography ranges from classic nursery rhymes such as “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” to completely original songs, with JJ and his family as the stars. Kids are encouraged to sing and dance along with the characters as they watch.
Suffering through a full episode of “Cocomelon” is a punishment I would not wish on any parent. Each song has its own unique scene, with the primary characters and settings remaining the same. However, this does not mean that viewers know anything about the characters. Since the series is more focused on education than character development, the songs and their lessons take center stage. Characters like JJ and his siblings serve more as vessels for lessons to be taught than as authentic human beings. Messaging is a crucial part of any series, but characters the element truly meant to engage an audience.
Furthermore, critics of “Cocomelon” have cited its overstimulating nature and the potential impact of the series on children. Despite its lack of personality, “Cocomelon” has no shortage of action. The shot changes every one to two seconds, as opposed to four to five seconds in shows such as “My Little Pony.” The continuous movement and change of scenery can act almost as a drug, providing children with instant gratification rather than genuine engagement with a story. This constant stimulation has negative implications for children’s brain development, including issues with attention span and self-regulation. Worst of all, the songs never leave your head.
While I don’t think “Cocomelon” is the worst crime against children’s television, it lacks the depth to keep young viewers engaged beyond a surface level.
“Bluey”
After the most mind-numbing hour of my adult life, “Bluey” felt like a breath of fresh air. The Australian show follows a Blue Heeler, or Australian cattle dog, named Bluey and her family as they navigate their everyday lives. Similarly to “Cocomelon,” Bluey and her family, specifically her sister, Bingo, are the central focus. Where these shows differ, however, is their treatment of these characters. While JJ and his siblings have a generally positive dynamic, their relationships are hardly ever developed on screen. “Bluey,” on the other hand, establishes a clear, realistic dynamic between Bluey and Bingo. They behave in ways similar to real-life children, and their conflicts feel authentic, reminding me of the fights I used to have with my younger sister. I was instantly attached to the characters and found myself caring more deeply about their stories as a result.
Even with its stellar characterization, where “Bluey” truly stands out is its messaging. Although the show is geared toward kids, many of the lessons resonated with me as an adult. In the episode, “Perfect,” Bluey attempts to draw the perfect picture for her dad, Bandit (David McCormack, “Five Bedrooms”), for Father’s Day. Despite all her best efforts, Bluey is unable to achieve the perfection she desires and becomes frustrated with herself. Watching the episode, I was struck by how relevant the lesson was to my own life.
While lots of kids’ shows tackle issues like sharing or teamwork, “Bluey” is unafraid to discuss more difficult topics, like mental health and grief. The series also illustrates the complications of being in a family and acknowledges that adults can make mistakes too. In the “Perfect” episode, the reason Bluey strives for perfection is because she heard her mom, Chilli (Melanie Zanetti, “The End”), refer to a drawing of Bingo’s as “perfect” and hang it on the fridge over a picture drawn by Bluey. This serves as a lesson on how seemingly insignificant word choices can deeply impact children. The messaging in “Bluey” is what truly makes it a family show — it has something to offer the entire family.
“Bluey” is proof that kids’ shows can effectively address more complex topics in a family-friendly manner.
“Jake and the Never Land Pirates”
One of my favorite series as a kid was “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” a fantastical show following a crew of young pirates on their adventures through Neverland. Led by Captain Jake (Colin Ford, “Daybreak”), the crew must overcome various obstacles and thwart the plans of rival Captain Hook (Corey Burton, “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”) to achieve their goals.
Despite the higher level of action than a slice-of-life show like “Bluey,” “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” never feels overwhelming. The plotline of each episode remains clear throughout, and scenes transition into one another smoothly. There are songs, but they are spaced enough to give audiences breathing time.
Another important aspect of the show is its interactivity. Jake and his crew often address viewers directly, inviting them to participate in their adventures through their TV screen. Skills like counting and matching are fostered through various interactive exercises, making viewers feel like part of the crew. Not only did I feel connected to the characters, I could see myself among them.
“Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is an excellent model for interactive, fantastical children’s television.
“Peppa Pig”
Another show that has withstood the test of time is “Peppa Pig.” The show follows a family of pigs, focused mainly on the eldest daughter Peppa (Lily Snowden-Fine, “Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar”), in a similar slice-of-life manner to “Bluey.” Though its messaging is simpler, “Peppa Pig” is entertaining and easy for young audiences to follow.
One of the biggest criticisms of “Peppa Pig” is about the character of Peppa herself. At times, Peppa can be bossy toward her friends or little brother, George (Oliver May, “Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom”). In the episode “Best Friend,” Peppa excludes George when playing with her best friend, Suzy Sheep (Meg Hall, “Doc McStuffins”), which hurts George’s feelings. However, she later discovers a game that George, Suzy and she can all play together, emphasizing the importance of inclusion. Peppa is just a regular kid who misbehaves, but her good intentions are clear throughout the series. Similarly to how I relate to Bluey, I relate to Peppa, and seeing her presence on screen taught me valuable lessons about friendship and family.
“Peppa Pig” speaks to how simplistic storytelling can still engage a young audience.
Conclusions
Compared to the shows I grew up with, “Cocomelon” exemplifies a clear shift in the quality of children’s television. The prioritization of quantity over quality of content often sacrifices meaningful characterization and makes episodes feel rushed. However, shows like “Bluey” demonstrate how there has also been innovation in kids’ television, covering relevant topics for both younger and older audiences. Hopefully, with the success of “Bluey,” similar shows will become the rule rather than the exception.
Despite my criticisms of his favorite shows, I still love to watch TV with my brother. The purpose of art is to bring people together, and that’s exactly what kids’ shows do. It bridges the gap between generations and allows us to find common ground despite our age differences. I will always cherish the time my brother and I spend together, no matter how we spend it.
Daily Arts Writer Morgan Sieradski can be reached at kmsier@umich.edu.
Related articles
[ad_2]
Source link
