Children's Animation Deserves Better - Doodley

[@doodley3d]

Get an even higher March deal using my link displate.com/doodley/ or my discount code "Doodley" to access my special promo on all designs! 1 -> 25% OFF 2+ -> 35% OFF Available until April 7th! Apologies that the video has a lower discount, that's a misunderstanding on my part.

[@JonnelTheGreatest]

would if i could

[@SOKOffical]

Hi

[@genixlefrench9763]

​@@JonnelTheGreatestme too

[@Deoslime1]

first: thanks god cocomelon dosent air here in germany and second: where can i see the show crashbox?

[@thedotgiver2820]

.

[@AbdulLegendary]

"It's for kids" is the biggest excuse for bad animation and media in general

[@allendepacheco3419]

Especially since there's plenty of bad and immature adult shows like Family Guy. A good kid show is just a good show that happens to be for kids, and a bad kid show is just a bad show that happens to be for kids. Being for kids or adults doesn't automatically make it bad or good.

[@jonelrobinson582]

@@allendepacheco3419Agreed!

[@elizawulf8180]

"Adult Comedy" often being the second biggest excuse for bad animation/media, admittedly 😅

[@bumblebeegamerreal]

People use the exact same excuse for movies like the disney live action remakes and Disney's bad movies. They say that its silly to criticize a movie that is made for kids. Because it is made for kids, therefore, it isnt prone to criticism But like this video says, kids do deserve movies and media that dont treat them like crap. They deserve shows and movies that are compelling and have amazing world building and plot; therefore if people are going to tease others for criticizing a kids show, they should realize they are held on the same standards as non-kids media

[@ElectroBlastLuigi]

Kids don't care about animation. Leave them and preschool media alone. Older kids shows had terrible animation but we used to be nostalgic over those.

[@JNSStudios2]

If they mark this as a kids video, we riot.

[@zEr-ne5ri]

we must gather more forces.

[@candicraveingcloude2822]

How can we riot? No comments if it's marked

[@huntedperson3147]

@@candicraveingcloude2822 we go to google headquarters and spraypaint our comments onto the premises

[@Haru_3S]

gather the troops we must make an army

[@F-14D_Tomcat]

@@candicraveingcloude2822 he didnt say in the comments. We must venture into the world of grass and social interaction

[@marcosortega3350]

8:28 Funny that you say that - the kids in Bluey are actually voiced by kids. For that reason, they’re not credited so they can be raised outside the spotlight. Love to see a production crew that actually cares about these kids.

[@thundersheild926]

Honestly that's a great approach. Child actor fame is such a massive liability for the child in question. Let them decide if they want to capitalize on the fame after they're old enough to make an informed choice, not before.

[@SplashSurfer216]

@@thundersheild926 indeed. In fact, there are some child voice actors that are open about their roles on Bluey such as Judo and Mackenzie.

[@ImNotFunny541]

Fun Fact: Dude who made Bluey made Dan The Man (Joe Brumm)

[@cherriemaesicad8830]

​@@ImNotFunny541no way, i loved that game, i just repeatedly kept beating the final boss cuz i didnt know what to do anymore, still waiting on the sequel

[@ImNotFunny541]

@@cherriemaesicad8830 Same here brother/

[@Plaguedocwhoneedsabreak]

GOOD GRIEF, HE’S NAKED!

[@tubofmacaroni]

Oops stole your comment sorry-

[@MilkshakeVA]

Spongebob jokes never get old.

[@SushiSpider-tw5ro]

Took the words straight out of my mouth

[@frosgare]

SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

[@travelsizedhispasian]

"✨"

[@eski0234]

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest" -C.S. Lewis

[@MKSC74]

That’s so true.

[@princessthyemis]

wonderful!!

[@WolfTamer]

Reminds me of old school Disney vs modern Disney. Old school was aimed at families not just children, so adults watch it and be just as amused, especially with some of the more mature themes they got away with versus now where it's clearly more skewed towards children.

[@themoocow7718]

Love that quote. And it’s true.

[@Ujulahipobaka121]

Not the best example

[@George_M_]

"Hand the kid a tablet and ignore them" is the main school of thought now.

[@genosootaku8649]

It's very sad that it happens in my family. My uncle has a son who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, him and his wife didn't even bother checking him even though he was already showing symptoms before. Even worse they keep letting him watch those nursery rhymes videos, same thing over and over on tablet/smartphones and even TVs so that he would shut up and eat. He still watches those till this day, kid's 9 years old now yet he still can't talk.

[@SpiceHoundG]

Thats horrible omg..

[@cricco016]

​@@genosootaku8649 Omg I'm so sorry for him :(

[@boinqity4621]

the craziest part is that it isnt even just kids. people are doing this shit with every aspect of their life. a ton of people will get like a cat or something but instead of interacting with it they get an automatic litter box an automatic feeder an automatic toy etc. and then they wonder why their cat acts out lol, they're social creatures just like humans

[@boinqity4621]

@@genosootaku8649that is genuine child neglect, this is the type of shit that gives people complex ptsd. not even an exaggeration, look up gabor mate's interviews and lectures on childhood neglect

[@Spectacles_]

The "Distractatron" is literally the type of machine you'd see in a (well made) kids cartoon episode about teaching kids not to stay in and watch TV all day LMAO. That is _comically_ evil.

[@mark-jf5ik]

directly reminds me of black mirror

[@thebestbattlecatsplayer8241]

It's like that one thing from the amazing world of gumball where he has like 7 forms of content and a sandwich just so he stands still

[@Gelatinocyte2]

Commercially evil

[@DuasdaKubelimas]

​@@thebestbattlecatsplayer8241 In what episode

[@Days_long_past]

THE DISTRACTATRON-INATOR

[@scarlettefoxx5585]

WordGirl literally features a mad scientist who fights his own psyche and the psyche of a mouse for control of his body. WordGirl is amazing

[@tubofmacaroni]

Real

[@NickLogoAbk2913]

The ultimate PBS show

[@Bagel_Ice]

oddly relateable

[@elrow1256]

@@Bagel_Ice what..

[@jakescartoons6045]

You have no idea how much I want PBS to bring WordGirl back on the air with new episodes. Heck, I'm even willing to write for it if I have to.

[@jimmygarza8896]

6:00 "What, am I gonna blow up"? "No, worse! [You'll teach children vocabulary!]" "...And then you'll blow up!"

[@kiricappuchin]

It always pains me to see network TV shows for kids getting cancelled left and right while low quality, ugly YT Kids content farms are just allowed to run rampant. Glad I grew up with shows made by people who actually care about the kids watching lol

[@octologue3206]

Yeah Netflix is the king of that. They make dozens of bad children content and cancel really good shows.

[@harveyanimations8974]

Me too

[@allendepacheco3419]

It's going to get worse with the rise of AI generated content where people can just make cocomelon knock offs and somehow be even less engaging.

[@NobodyAsked-xh8cs]

The only thing that is going to get worse with the rise of AI if you crying your balls out for attention instead of doing anything about it.

[@NobodyAsked-xh8cs]

Then tell people to watch actual TV shows instead of manufactured nonsense only a person who lives under a rock would like.

[@ZatchZXman]

My parents decided to show my sister copious amounts of Coco Melon before going to kindergarten. She did so poorly in school that the teacher had to have a talk with my parents and myself that something had to be done else she'll have to be held back. After giving my parents 10 across the face, I went on a 6 month sabbatical and had to regulate what my sister could watch and tutor her. I had to sit down with her and get her to watch the media I watched when I was growing up, Between the Lions, Electric Company, Cyberchase, Word Girl, Sesame Street, etc, on top of doing activities together such as building legos, go fish, visits to the park, etc. By the end of the 6 months, she not only did complete 180 in performance, she also began reading at a 2nd grade level. She's now more motivated than ever to read and write. The other day she squirreled away my copy of The Hogfather by Terry Pratchet and was able to read aloud the word "archchancellor". If you have kids, DO NOT LET THEM WATCH COCO MELON. It is making them stupid.

[@mastermoye3915]

Dropped this 👑.

[@Horseygirl535]

Same here I hate Coco melon the songs are really annoying it makes you want to bang your head on the wall 😕

[@isabeld.paredes4923]

Even as an adult, I used to watch PBS programming for both adults and children. Among their animated shows I used to watch Arthur, Word Girl, The Magic School Bus, and the cartoon segments within Between the Lions, even Cyberchase

[@jan_Eten]

absolute *KING.*

[@probablyagoat-gq2gu]

Completely off topic, squirreled is the longest one syllable word

[@MattMcIrvin]

When my daughter was in the target age for this stuff, I showed her DVDs of old "Electric Company" episodes (which had actually been labeled "not for children" since there were a few segments that haven't aged well, and research on what was optimally educational had moved on). But with appropriate guidance, that show taught her to read just as it'd taught *me* to read. She was a fan of "WordGirl" too. When she was a little older and watching shows like "Adventure Time", "Gravity Falls" and "Phineas and Ferb", I remember thinking that we were actually in a golden age of that kind of media, since those cartoons were *so* much better than the garbage I'd watched on Saturday mornings in the 1970s. They weren't educational shows, but they had substance--actually quite a lot of narrative complexity with multidimensional characters, some thoughtfully presented messages and sometimes even epic continuing storylines.

[@Levacque]

People act like it's a horrible task to actually provide guidance to their children about what they are watching. But, assuming the best case scenario for TV show quality, kids still don't get 100% of information out of something if they don't have a chance to talk about it. You can watch Sesame Street and learn vocabulary, but you might miss the friendship/loneliness lesson from Big Bird if Mom and Dad aren't there to say why Big Bird was sad this episode, for example. But then, what do you possibly have to discuss about Cocomelon? If there's nothing for an adult mind to engage with, there's likely nothing for a child mind to learn.

[@AdrianDaWeeb]

Using word girl is probably one of the best examples I could think of.

[@legitusername-zl7to]

*word girl passively agressively bending a bar of metal*

[@KeyFChicken]

I agree 1000%

[@enderguardian7443]

the fact that it’s shockingly similar to invincible is hilarious to me

[@BuckRoseYT]

@@enderguardian7443 It's like the show is Invincible, but for kids XD

[@lanaplayz7316]

Agreeed:3

[@figs-oliomedley]

people nowadays will never understand the sheer pain and panic of realizing you only have one more chance to get a question right and not be a Party Pooper while watching Crashbox

[@darkorder99]

you really didn't have to activate my nostalgia like that.

[@mildbuffaloenjoyer9510]

My first childhood crush was Dora smarmy

[@sloppiesweeaboocorner]

It was all about being a super duper pooper scooper in those days haha! Except for ol riddle snake that one scared the hell outta me haha

[@SuperPlushBros.689]

@@sloppiesweeaboocorner crashbox 😦

[@MasterAlpha1000]

Ok boomer

[@essdeecard]

This reminds me of Jim Henson’s, the dark crystal, and how he thought that it was unhealthy for children to be never be afraid and how he wanted to get back with the deep and dark roots of the fantasy genre through Hans Christian Andersen’s Stories. I feel like whenever people hear the words *Family Friendly*, they automatically think it equates to being made “For Kids”. When in actuality, it means that it’s made with kids and adults in mind. With things that children and adults can understand.

[@WswiftK]

Dark crystal gave to me so much nightmare when I was a kid but I still love it to this day. I would include neverending story.

[@ImusNoxa]

Shrek is a great example of family friendly entertainment. Kids think the jokes are funny, but they don't really get why they're funny. Adults (with taste) think the jokes are HILARIOUS because they understand completely.

[@inkerJ]

The thumbnail having the Cocomelon baby with red eyes to represent the current standard of children's animation really feels like the way shows like Word Girl would represent this sort of thing.

[@NobodyAsked-xh8cs]

Meanwhile you forgot about Teletubbies and Boobah. The cycle repeats, but its always different in some way.

[@GumSkyloard]

It'd be a giant robot baby.

[@savegalkissy]

@@NobodyAsked-xh8cs while all of these are brain numbing, i do think there is value in the fact that your examples were shows made in a system that can at the very least, hold the shows to some standards, and the shows around them had to as well. While I will admit it was very easy to simply change to a channel with sex violence and death, those were Grown Up Channels, you feel? While coco melon as far as I can tell is innocent, the fact is that ytkids (and the internet in large) has no quality control, and ppl actively make deceptive substanceless content with fetishes and age inappropriate content aimed at kids. Of course, with recent news about Nickelodeon, I know my points are not that strong, but the high concentration of Elsagate concept still existing is going to have some worrisome effects on kids, if it hasn’t already

[@ZatchZXman]

From what I've seen, it is in fact making the kids stupid. If you ever have kids. Do not let them watch it. Do not make the same mistakes my dumb as shit parents did.

[@ElectroBlastLuigi]

@@ZatchZXman Who hurt you?

[@Damian_1989]

"It's just for kids" is the biggest and most reliable crutch for laziness

[@SoulHero7]

Crashbox was amazing to watch as a kid. Distraction News was my favorite bit and helped me learn how to filter out unnecessary clutter from gathering information. A skill that we so desperately need more of nowadays.

[@skythealmighty2826]

i liked Odd Squad for a similar bit they had with Obfusco- a little bit in your face, but it was good to know for the future!

[@XiaoIsMyHusbandBTW]

my favorite was the dolls one solely because barbie but second place would go to the math skeleton

[@qwertyman506]

One show I really liked was Cyberchase, because it taught math concepts that were a few grades above my level. Things like, how to label and read graphs, how to find the areas of simple and complex shapes, and how to solve problems. Most other math shows only taught how to add. It felt "illegal" to learn that complex suff outside of school, it made me feel really smart.

[@nattythepanda4692]

DUDE CYBERCHASE, I STILL VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE EPISODE ABOUT NEGATIVE NUMBERS.

[@xaviidk]

CAN'T FORGET ODD SQUAD BRO THAT WAS FIRE TOMORROW. I'M 'BOUT TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW.

[@qwertyman506]

@@xaviidk Odd squad is great, super entertaining, but they don't deal with concepts as complex as cyberchase's

[@ZimVader-0017]

Cyberchase saved my butt during math tests 😆 They happened to show the episode about fractions the week I had a test on fractions. I understood better watching the show than with the teacher.

[@yikes_uwuyt3161]

Same omg Cyber chase is one of my all time favorites shows growing up, I even played the CD-Rom games they made for it at my library, also I love the opening music so so so much

[@cloudshifter]

People saying "it's for kids" fail as an excuse to do less work don't realize that this suggests they have to do triple the effort instead, cause kids are a more delicate audience. You also need to be careful to pass the right messages and help them learn valuable lessons. The content ought to be educational while also being disguised into a great film for both their interests and adult interest.

[@plaidhatter1674]

Honestly, it makes me wonder if this is why newer generations, myself included, are turning out a bit off.

[@Token2-jw2nt]

Exactly! I was just talking about this particular subject a moments ago, you took the words right out of my mouth!

[@jonelrobinson582]

Agreed!

[@Drekromancer]

@@plaidhatter1674 I wouldn't be surprised. You are what you eat, both physically and mentally. So I'd assume that a steady diet of empty platitudes and garish colors would do strange things to a child's malleable mind. At least compared to what they could be absorbing instead.

[@yoshisreal]

Calling that statement a lame excuse would be an absolute understatement.

[@StylzB]

One of my art teachers thats more like a mentor to me worked on Word Girl back in the day and learning about all the love and passion that went into the show really shows how much care went into creating a great show that's a also educational.

[@noahbossier1131]

Nice

[@keiyakins]

There's also the fact that kids are information sponges. You don't have to directly *teach* everything for them to learn. For example, a well-written, engaging story is helping kids learn storytelling just by exposing them to it.

[@ernie39]

exactly!!

[@Iamyolomonkey-ed2gh]

Or even just by reading well written books! I picked it up that way myself.

[@keiyakins]

@@Iamyolomonkey-ed2gh Books are a way you can deliver stories, yes.

[@jayfoo]

Bluey is unironically my favorite show right now. It's so unapologetically Australian and crafted with such care. I hope all future media (not just children's media) can learn from Bluey and create something genuine. Also, Joff Bush and his team writes some of the best scores out there.

[@soupcide]

oh my god its the silly music guy! guys its the music dude! he makes music! oh my god! ( i love ur music )

[@jayfoo]

@@soupcide lol it is I, the silly music guy

[@AFishInPajamas]

@@jayfoo I am, however, saddened that they seldom make official releases for the montage tracks of the show. I am in dire need of the extended version of The Decider and Curry Quest's scores. 😭

[@quantumslime7265]

Truthfully Bluey is suuuuuuper high up there on my list of favorite shows. As an adult it has so much that I missed about being a kid as well as stuff that helps me understand how my parents must have felt watching me grow up. It just radiates wholesome.

[@harveyanimations8974]

It’s just a good show with soul, which is all it needs to be

[@mrseaweed88]

I think one of my favourite quotes from any TV show ever comes from bluey which is- "i don't want an important life lesson, i just want an ice-cream" because 1. It's something both kids and adults could probably agree on and 2. You could absolutely imagine a kid saying that.

[@Planefan1000]

*a valuable lime lesson

[@doodledude2d295]

@@Planefan1000 a valuable life lesson**

[@yeeyeeyeeye]

​@@doodledude2d295 No they were right. The actual quote is "a valuable lime lesson."

[@lolliii5477]

this was the least scripted dialogue. change my mind.

[@julias.7534]

Arthur was REALLY good at this because it never even felt like learning because a lot of it was just slice of life social and emotional issues being expressed in more complex ways than the usual kid's fair of "I shouldn't take my sister's toys because it makes her sad." It was like, "here's the episode that's a metaphor for grappling with the trauma of 9/11." I also learned about the magna carta and how to spell certain words, but that was more incidental than anything -- the same way you can learn something just by scrolling social media for long enough, but with more intent and accuracy.

[@Kiernimbus]

Yeah, I think Arthur is another great example of a kids TV show with substance. I think Doodley excluded it mostly due to the other PBS shows displayed here already, but it was definitely on my mind when he was showing examples. I grew up with Wordgirl, Arthur, and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, and I'm pretty happy that these shows still receive acclaim.

[@FrankTheAmazing]

I despised Arthur as a child. I'm not sure why. I remember not being particularly fond of any of the characters.

[@Thot_Patrol_USA]

@@Kiernimbus​​⁠​⁠it really sucks that most of the shows i remember before ditching them weren’t the actually good shows and were shit like peppa pig and barney. barely watched caillou though, thank god. i did watch these shows that people are all of a sudden having a nostalgia explosion over seeing them in my recommended a million times. fetch, arthur, maybe wordgirl, but most of it i dont remember watching as a kid. being close to adulthood I can finally appreciate them but my god why the hell didn’t I watch more of these actually good shows? i could only remember the theme song of fetch because i do remember actually getting excited to watch it.

[@ZEDCorbett]

"A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k" 🎶

[@UncleSamsoniteLover69]

Ironically, the weakest episodes of Arthur are the ones that tackle overly simplistic morals. The episode “Arthur’s Big Hit” immediately comes to mind.. When your show’s weakest moments are a result of attempting to handle subject matter that’s too simple and boring for your target audience anyway, that’s a good sign in my book.

[@Cyb3rSovL]

*fun fact, bluey is ment for ALL AGES.* in some episodes, bluey's parents are shown and comforted by other characters, even their own children! so,children can learn something for themselves, and parents can also learn something for themselves too. (you can also watch it if you're bored) *i might not be entirely correct, but im just stating facts*

[@lackedpuppet9022]

They did a true/false Q&A video, and answered the _"Was the show secretly made for adults?"_ with both simultaneously.

[@DuasdaKubelimas]

@@lackedpuppet9022 Link?

[@lackedpuppet9022]

@@DuasdaKubelimas It might get filtered out automatically by KZbin for being a link, so I'll send it in the next reply but the video title is _Yes / No Q&A | Bluey_ , and its uploaded by Bluey - Official Channel.

[@boxeswithfoxes]

Bluey is the only modern kids show nowadays that’s good

[@princesspikachu3915]

“I don’t want a life lesson! I just wanted ice cream…” -Bluey

[@EStewart573]

You go back to the ancient 60s BBC shows like Bagpuss and The Clangers, and it is absolutely amazing how much creativity went into the stories that they tell. I was literally the most captivated kid, watching the start of the clangers as it zooms out from a city, to show you the earth, and then the stars and you're just always hit with this feeling of wonder about where you exist in the universe and what else could be out there. The Paddington TV series, Ivor the Engine (Yes, Ivor, not Thomas. This one features dragons!), The Wombles. There was so much imagination put into all of them, so much to be inspired by, to make you think! I hope more parents make sure to let their kids know there's more interesting stuff out there than a story about "a dirty yellow bus that has a boo-boo"

[@austinreed7343]

No wonder Kevin O Neil found those shows worth a visual cameo in LOEG.

[@HYP3RBYT3-p8n]

I literally read that as 60 BC at first lol

[@strangeaelurus]

"yes, doodley," we all say in unison

[@huntedperson3147]

yes, doodley

[@chalkbored]

Yes, doodley.

[@mattplays3824]

Yes, Doodley.

[@theonlythings1161]

Indeed, Doodley.

[@Echooeey]

Yes, doodley

[@luigio8484]

have you heard of Pocoyo, Doodley? it's a kid's show meant a bit on the younger side, a bit more so than the ones you mentioned here, preschool. It's been ages since I've watched it so I did a quick glance and the episode structure is just about 7 minutes, focusing around one concept like what a "phone" is, or... some cloud friend? Regardless, there's one standout thing about Pocoyo, it's animation. It's a pure white void, with just the characters and objects, and the animation is extremely snappy. I've always been fascinated by how it looks, and the visuals alone feel they carry the jokes and such, some points even resembling the little jokes we make with crouching in a FPS. I don't think it got popular overseas due to it being made in spain and other factors, but *I implore you to check it out, Doodley*

[@SGTIvan921]

Wow, someone mentioning Pocoyo is the last thing I expected. I grew up with that, even got my mum to buy CDs of that show as a kid. Man, time flies.

[@WhiteGuyGraal]

Pocoyo has so much personalities. I loved it as a kid. The elephant, the duck, the dog , the octopus and SLEEPY BIRD

[@SGTIvan921]

@@WhiteGuyGraal I used to tell my mum that she was the Sleepy Bird, haha! Oh, the good times.

[@_SparkHere]

MAN Pocoyo brings back memories.

[@inzane101room]

Ahhh Pocoyo was my childhood! Another show, probably a rival to Pocoyo, Jelly Jamm is actually super good too! Check it out!

[@okankyoto]

The way kids WILL watch almost anything makes it even more important that what is produced for them is as good as it can be!

[@edk.2045]

genuinely I could just sit down and watch Curious George, Word Girl, etc. because they're all made so well for all audiences instead of appealing to the lowest common denominator. it's the mark of a good writer that someone could make a non-lingual monkey so compelling

[@menaatefadly]

Hehe monkeee

[@TH_Sofa]

@@menaatefadlyhehe funny monkey movie goes “Upside Down” :^(((((((((

[@plaidhatter1674]

Curious George, especially, had a ton of great episodes that still make me laugh now. None of them were in your face education either. They weaved it into situations perfectly, and left some episodes like the mysterious sound being timeless.

[@summerheart9834]

curious george taught me a lot of different things i doubt i would have known otherwise.

[@chordalharmony]

Curious George is legitimately fantastic, as is Word Girl. I’d also add Wild Kratts and Cyberchase on the list, all 4 shows are surprisingly well written.

[@Cptn.Viridian]

People really be like "think of the kids" and then sit them down in front of the distractotron.

[@jan_Eten]

couldntve said it better myself, captain viridian

[@celebrityguest.9530]

i’ve been watching bluey lately and it’s become one of my go-to things to watch for comfort (as well as when i age regress if being honest) and the lessons it teaches regarding like,, emotional intelligence, that’s so legit. helll, this morning i was watching a few episodes and then there was an episode in which bingo had to take a puppet home for the weekend and take pictures of what they did together only for them to realize all they did was watch cartoons on a tablet, it made them feel bad and they realized they needed to take time away from the tablet and like,, live. go out and play. be kids. and i think that really stuck with me. like.. in this day and age there are not gonna be a lot of shows actively encouraging kids to stop watching cartoons for a bit and go out and play. that show does a lot of good and we could stand to have a lot more of that.

[@whynotanyting]

5:59 > Eats > Defines vocabulary > Refuses to elaborate > Explodes What a chad

[@Jar.Headed]

"... Æ 💥" Such inspiring words

[@purple6012]

Like TF2.

[@timymax]

2:08 that's actually incorrect, her massive vocabulary is literally part of her superpowers. In S2 E20 the plot is that a peice of her home world Lexicon Falls to Earth. When she is intracting with the material dubed Lexonite she loses all of her superpowers for short time. She also loses her ability use big words and will find herself miss pronouncing them when exposed to lexonite. The villain Mr. Big even made a cage out of the stuff and trapped her in it and put special lock on it that would open the door if she could define a specific into it, potent

[@J3D1D14H]

Imagine she becomes a linguist when she grows up

[@verysourdragon]

Um actually moment in the wild!

[@briancows8368]

Bro actually knows the lore, ay I respect it doe

[@averyfishyfish]

Ok Dr wordgirl

[@Hanz_M]

@@averyfishyfish Yep, that's them!

[@JetSetDman]

i think one of my favorite jokes ever done in Word Girl was this one episode where they were trying to teach the word "envelope" (as in the verb form), and they had the villain character constantly using the word at every opportunity he had, leading to word girl actually getting increasingly annoyed by it as the episode went on

[@mondotwistedmojo]

the verb form is envelop :)

[@yoshisreal]

I really hate how "family-friendly" has been watered down into 'kidshow fodder' (stuff like Cocomelon and cringe-worthy KZbinrs like Ryan's World) because the literal term 'family-friendly' was intended to mean that something is suitable for both kids and adults, and I'm glad shows like Bluey and Wordgirl are actually aware that a "family-friendly" show has to appeal to *families*!

[@nope.mp4strategies909]

In Russia we have a cartoon called Smeshariki (in English it could be heard as Gogoriki or Kikoriki), which is still popular since 2004. Its popularity lies precisely in the fact that it is a properly made “family” cartoon. And what a shame that English-speaking people will never be able to see it in its full glory due to the fact that the translators have made poor adaptations of jokes and humor, and some episodes have lost their meaning (I watched some episodes of Smeshariki in English). In this cartoon, a child is attracted by the bright visuals and constant actions on the screen, while an adult can see funny everyday situations and laugh with good humor. There are no good or bad characters in the cartoon. They're all just different. And what's most remarkable is that only 4 of the 9 characters are teenagers. Of the other 5, three of them are middle aged and two are elderly, and some episodes consist of only the second adult half, and this is done in such a way that it was pleasant for me as a child to watch them all! I repeat, it's a chame that, due to poor translation, Smeshariki (Gogoriki or Kikoriki) were missed by people in the West (In Germany, they even delayed translation and showing until the last minute, since it was too “adult.” And no, not because there was something indecent there, and because supposedly children will not understand the meaning of the series).

[@NinTOONdo64]

Even Thomas/Railway Series creator Reverend Wilbur Awdry knew that kids were smart and not stupid. "You've got to remember that you're not merely writing for children. You're writing for the unfortunate people; mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers... who've got to read the stories aloud. Not just once, but over and over and over again." -Reverend W. Awdry A quote I wish more writers of children's stories and shows remembered and take note of.

[@naesala]

This is why I watched loads of Phineas and Ferb as a kid, lol. Wasn't exactly educational but it was a kids show my mom found enjoyable enough to keep on.

[@alpyki2588]

Exactly. We give kids garbage to watch and read that we ourselves wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. And then we're surprised when they either warch the most asinine stuff ever conceived or hate reading. Yes, if you give kids just pretty colors or a boring story after boring story, what should you expect?

[@TronicSSJ07]

I am so glad someone brought up Thomas, because it is such an underrated gem. Yes it’s in a terrible state now but back then, it was genuinely educational with teaching the morals in everyday life, but also entertaining with the banter between the engines.

[@autobotoctolingthomasho3362]

@@TronicSSJ07even the current Thomas media such as bwba era(excluding the fan media like shuter productions) are totally the true definition of brain rot, it worse that cocomelon in my opinion

[@keldeostudies149]

Glad someone brought Wilbert awrdy up one of the few writers in history that actually knew what he was doing... It's ashame the show it self went down quality size because of some greedy companies cheaping out and treating thomas more as a toy train show then a actual story. In fact awdry was very hesitant on having his show made in America because they would've made it into something unrecognizable (which would happen some years later in fact)

[@katefresina832]

I was talking about this with my mom the other day, and she said that even the shows she watched back in the '60s and '70s had more substance than what the kids watched today. She watched shows like Puff the Magic Dragon and Captain Kangaroo. Not only were those shows educational, but they didn't pander to kids and were fun and engaging. And again these were shows from forty to fifty years ago. I worked at an after-school center and was one of the few people who refused to play Coco melon (I worked with the kindergarten and first graders) so I put on Captain Kangaroo and Puff the Magic Dragon, which they loved. Yes, kids will watch anything, including shows from the 1970s, but they need substance and engagement.

[@BeatUpToys]

Who exactly is Puff the Magic Dragon? As that sparked some nostalgia from the song of the same name I used to listen to

[@sensorymode6261]

I'm gen z and in addition to the shows that were new when I was a kid, I also grew up watching the Muppet show, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, and fraggle rock. Absolutely loved that stuff!

[@OHNOAAAAH]

The whole Distractatron thing sounds like something a super villain in a kids show would make

[@Volcano22207]

Yes thats called a bord of directors/ceo

[@Just_a_commenter]

I appreciate the acknowledgement that kid-friendly animated content doesn't have to be reduced down to flashing colours and noise to grab attention, _nor should it be._ Harnessing the power of entertainment to convey meaningful lessons to kids is such a valuable thing. Things ranging from the mundane to serious can be shown to kids in a way they'll actually take to heart the lessons at hand, setting them up to be a better person as they grow. I really, really wish there were more high quality programs that did so, since Bluey is the only standout I can immediately recall. Even ignoring the possibility for good, I resent the idea of just putting what amounts to meaningless noise in front of kids to placate them. It's just an insult to their growing mind to be like "look, pretty colours! Silly scenarios! that's it, keep looking at the noise rectangle!" Kids may not all be geniuses, but let's not treat them like idiots. They're just tiny humans that have yet to experience the dread of taxes. All in, good video.

[@Khal1337time]

okay, i see you everywhere, and i have to ask why did you make vore your main pfp like-

[@Halberds8122]

@@Khal1337time _GOOD LORD YOU'RE RIGHT_

[@AFishInPajamas]

Such a profound comment for someone with a questionable avatar lmao. Jokes aside, this is a great comment; I couldn't have worded it better myself. I enjoyed reading allat.

[@Khal1337time]

@@Halberds8122 i mean if they can have their pfp be that and be fine, fuck it we ball its back to the fat shor. a comment/reply section full of degens :3

[@aidenlegobatman]

​@@Khal1337time I was going to say something, but guidelines say to keep it SFW soooo- "Someone cut the cake. We told them not to, but they cut it anyway. Hello?

[@lune-3214]

Thanks, you unlocked my core memory of CRUSTLESS BREAD, the greatest adversary to Chuck the Evil Sandwich-Making Guy

[@juneru2]

Apple & Onion is a more recent example of a good cartoon that's educational without being _"educational"._ It'sa slice-of-life show about two newfound best friends figuring out life as young adults, and through that they learn alot about life. They do cutaways to define words, sing songs while doing chores/work, and have a lesson at the end of each episode, but never did it feel like a boring "educational cartoon". The strange world, odd sense of humor, and adult cast of characters really makes Apple & Onion feel like a show where everyone can learn something, not just kids.

[@pudnik2410]

Yeah, too bad they dropped the ball later in the series :(

[@summerheart9834]

omg i remember that what happened to it??

[@pudnik2410]

@@summerheart9834 The situations became overly unrealistic and less grounded in partial realism

[@summerheart9834]

@@pudnik2410 oh well thats dissapointing

[@pudnik2410]

@@summerheart9834 I know, it was SUCH a good show :(

[@EnigmaticGentleman]

Its ironic when you think about it, once animation finally started gaining respect the companies just jumped for the more profitable teen and up demographics almost completely leaving children's animation in the dust. Its not even like you cant have both, Owl House found massive popularity in all age groups, and it certainly achieves in teaching kids productive things (moreso about mental health than academic topics granted).

[@CrowandTalbot]

The 90's-early 2000's was truly a boom of children's entertainment and edutainment that genx-genz did not appreciate enough

[@Marphic_]

I never considered children’s animation from the angle of publicly funded television (in retrospect, the ‘this show is brought to you by viewers like you. Thank you!’ message makes a lot more sense). And there’s so many more shows for children out there that set the bar for educational media. Unfortunately there’s fewer modern examples to pick from but I’m happy Bluey stands out against the corporate tide. My show growing up was SpongeBob, and as popular as it is, there’s so many reasons why its first few seasons excelled as much as they did (please watch EmpLemon’s video about it, amazing essay!). It tackled issues in a realistic way that kids could relate to, using characters that weren’t easily identifiable as children themselves- like goofy young adults? It felt immersive, lively, and real! The corporate strive for profit by cutting creative corners is painful, I hope to see a resurgence of more versatile media in the future. Thankfully indie animation is easier and more accessible than ever, we get some good gems (like you Doodley!)

[@pyro-millie5533]

Early spongebob was so brilliant.

[@NXP_UwU]

I grew up with little einsteins, I know far too many classical music pieces and paintings thanks to that show. Loved the show, it was probably my favorite show as a child, learned a lot from it.

[@ultranovva]

Ah same! I love oil drop timers due to that show

[@jambon2730]

​@@ultranovva OMG SAME, that and the little wood people climbing up a stair

[@themoocow7718]

Loved that show! I remember so many classical songs from it.

[@richieflareon3530]

I remember when they went to Egypt and had a fun time Ah the memories

[@Horseygirl535]

Same here 😄

[@TheRyu64]

This video was great. More than explicit information such as lessons and numbers, cartoons are important because they introduce kids to more abstract concepts like storytelling and aesthetic sensibilities too.

[@theatand]

I hope more shows will start to realize they should entertain a family as a whole. It used to be a "family TV" and it shifted to individual screens, which changed what the shows were going for. I will say Bluey is great as there are just as many lessons about being a parent as there are about being a kid. The best example is "Exercise", the kids are just playing while the Dad has to figure out how to exercise while including their play.

[@lumaleelumabop]

Hearing you mention Sesame Street reminded me of the South African variant I watched as a child, Takalani Sesame! It featured Elmo with a different name and also a whole cast of new puppets with South African names! One episode that left an impact on me was an episode where Elmo learns that his friend is HIV positive. HIV was and still is a huge talking point here in SA, so I remember a lot of SA tv trying to educate kids on the matter. At first Elmo is sad cause he thinks that meant he couldn't be near his friend anymore. However an adult explains to him that HIV isn't spread through contact and he's absolutely delighted he can hug his friend. The friend, her name is Kami, is a very prominent character and she is quite literally the reason I learned about HIV at the time and learned something! It makes me smile whenever I think about that moment because there where loads of silly hijinks and jokes in the show, and also it took the time to teach children something! idk I'm rambling but this video reminded me that Sesame Street is still so great.

[@doodley3d]

That's really neat! Sesame Street is really good at handling sensitive and difficult subjects, so it's nice to hear that it even does that worldwide. It's a real treasure of a show that I hope inspires future generations that children's media can and always has been thoughtful and heartfelt.

[@herlastborn]

The Sesame Street in different countries are actually entirely separate instances of Sesame Street that sometimes have crossovers. Like Abelardo, the large parrot from the Mexican Plaza Sesamo visiting his cousin, Big Bird, from the American Sesame Street.

[@lumaleelumabop]

@@herlastborn i've heard about that! growing up with takalani sesame and then seeing american seasame street and elmo with an american accent was definitely a culture shock lol. But it's honestly amazing the reach that Sesame Street tries to have all around the world.

[@Noah-A1634]

One major example of a Substance Cartoon that has deep themes that Kids can understand is Wander Over Yonder on Disney Channel. The show follows Wander in his many misadventures helping people around the galaxy; and Wander does Substance animation not just for kids, but for adults as well! The more simple messages such as "it never hurts to help" or "A little bit of nice makes naughty think twice" are good for kids to understand, but in some episodes, there are more deeper, and even darker themes that can resonate with older, and sometimes troubled audiences! Such as in the episode "The Black Cube" where it's revealed one of the villains is only evil because he is perceived as such, and is bullied and ostracized for it; one moment where the black cube walks over a bridge in one scene and looks over, to some it just looks like he's just contemplating what his life to, but to others it looks like he's contemplating ending it all! and keep in mind there isn't any dialogue during that same scene. But in the end, Wander's pal, Sylvia comes over to not only help the Black Cube, but also tell off his bullies that just because you had a bad day doesn't mean you have to project it onto someone else. Substance cartoons overall sometimes don't just need to be educational, but theraputic

[@Mewzuw]

Cyberchase was my entire personality during childhood, I love this show so much even though I didn't get any of the math problems back then, the story was just so entertaining C:

[@DrPumpkinz]

Dude, same. It's even still running, which is crazy. I checked out one of the more recent episodes I had never seen before, one that came out LOOOONG after I had stopped watching it as a kid, and it's still an amazing show.

[@KeyFChicken]

Cyberchase is another amazing example of educational and entertaining

[@Definitely_a_Fox]

This video didn't awaken any childhood memories, but you sure did.

[@Mewzuw]

@@DrPumpkinz WHAAAAT, that's so cool!

[@Mewzuw]

@@Definitely_a_Fox Glad I did!

[@andreas.2494]

Back then educational children's media had so much heart, it was never about who can grab the most kids attention, the writing, stories, and plots were engaging and wholesome it made you part of that world. Oswald taught me to be calm in certain scenarios, Wubbzy taught me to look at things in an optimistic view, Toot and Puddle taught me that traveling can be fun and be friendly with the people you meet along the way, and Meggie and The Ferocious Beast taught me that being creative and that the imagination is a powerful tool. I hope that in the future children's media will become more engaging and not just a method to distract kids.

[@arhopkins2000]

This is the same reason I admire the Railway Series and the first few Seasons of Thomas and friends. Reverend Awdry created stories that taught children, but in an engaging and fun way that is enjoyable for a lot of people. It makes me sad to see the franchise be twisted into something to try and compete with cocomelon and paw patrol. Bluey and word girl proves that the kind of show Tomas used to be can still be profitable and successful. It just takes a little more creativity. I’m doing a school project on the Railway series and read through all 26 of the reverends books, they were fantastic! I will definitely be reading them to my children in the future.

[@thesupershinymegagengar2034]

Cocomelom is like the emergency procedure parents would use to distract their kids, when they obviously want nothing to do with them.

[@BaeYeou]

This reminds me of a discussion I once came across (I can't quite remember if it was a video or a forum thread or a blog post) that basically said, "hey, we shouldn't be giving kids those fake toy instruments that just play an off-tune song when you press a button if giving them actual experience with a musical instrument is a viable option." I think that the same thing applies here (namely the takeaway message to not treat kids as just needing flashy lights and stimulating sounds as entertainment). Kids are information sponges, they'll basically absorb anything that grabs their attention. If we make the stuff that grabs their attention devoid of any useful information, then how can we expect them to go beyond our own perception of them as just "dumb kids"? Giving a child a proper way to learn in a way that captivates them rather than handing them internet kids videos with the saturation cranked up will easily give them a headstart in learning more useful and practical skills such as spelling and vocabulary, maths, art and music, etc., so it's just sad seeing people accept the cheapest content that just passes the bar as "acceptable" and handing it over to their kids.

[@xanderonamy]

The worst part is when the generation they raised poorly gets bad, they absolutely dogshit on them

[@cozmic124]

parents that give their children an ipad are usually the same ones to later complain about how their children are 'so dumb'

[@xanderonamy]

@@cozmic124 then blame the ipad

[@Dapper-Alex]

For those who are reading this in the future, the video is called "The Bad Way to Teach Music to Babies - Dubious KZbin Channels & Bleeping Toys" by Tantacrul

[@Kit-ie5oc]

Glad I'm not the only one who remembers CrashBox so fondly. It definitely can be a little frightening for kids, I remember being scared by the parts where the robots would do maintenance in the dark and the credits, but overall it's an incredible kids show.

[@milgrau2233]

No kid will ever remember any cocomelon video with pride and fondness after they grow up bruh

[@lolliii5477]

to make them grow up, step 1: *stop them watching cocomelon.* difficult point: tantrums, addiction-growing difficulty: *IMPOSSIBLE**

[@N3gativeR3FLUX]

@@lolliii5477 EASY WAY TO DO IT: shut off your power and internet

[@ashimates]

Not to mention kids who are neurodivergent NEED that attention grabber. As a child who had an undiagnosed learning disability, the cartoons that had a world and soul behind them were the ones that helped me learn. Especially moral lessons. I just really hope producers see the success behind Bluey and we grow from there because I would've definitely loved that show as a kid :')

[@blalhber5447]

Me too

[@cohengamertv6548]

The original Thomas Show walked so Bluey could Run

[@223Drone]

Problem is corporate entities tend to learn the wrong lessons as to why shows like Bluey are good in the first place.

[@costelinha1867]

True, hence why I'm so glad Bluey exists... (that and the strong neurodivergent coding in this show... nice representation you know?)

[@costelinha1867]

@@223Drone That's because unlike the writters who made bluey, these corporations don't actually care about the children that will watch said show, they only care about milking them for profit. They see children as nothing more than a walking ATM machine.

[@skiniver5307]

Seeing crashbox in the thumbnail made me so happy, it was my everything

[@kootunesscrewy]

Cocomelon is basically the Velma of indie animation. The cartoon is already considered the worst indie animated cartoon series. Even worse than Ctrl + Alt + Del.

[@chobies5383]

It's considered indie? ( about cocomelon)

[@kootunesscrewy]

@@chobies5383 Well, the studio behind the show is not a big corporation as like Paramount. It's more like GLITCH in a way. Either way, still the worst thing in the indie scene.

[@chobies5383]

@@kootunesscrewy Crazy amount of massed produced merch raking in hundreds of millions of dollars, they're in the process of becoming a big corporation

[@kootunesscrewy]

@@chobies5383 Yeah. I'm glad I support GagofGreen. The guy never uses Animatic Battle for fame and money like that. He just made it to make his fans happy. Kinda sad that no reviewer is talking about this amazing cartoon. Outside of one guy.

[@remixchild]

@@chobies5383 imagine if Barney had a son

[@StellarSiren]

Being reminded of Word Girl was the last thing i was expecting today lol

[@Cat_DeGaulle]

Ya

[@origamisb]

Same here. Childhood memories unlocked

[@StudioTradimento2]

It’s the Hidden gem of hidden gems, it’s unironically hilarious

[@TheKingNaesala]

Before I was separated from my former partner's daughter, I helped raise her with PBS being at the forefront. She LOVED Wild Kratz teaching her about animals and it made her passionate whenever we'd go to the zoo. She was less wild about Between the Lions and similar more on-the-nose education, but despite that she was capable of reading well above her level (when she'd slow down). Children's media helps children learn, but the point about making them passionate too learn is really the most important bit.

[@Edgy_Rabbid]

I LOVE this video, so I wanna share my story whit kids animation (as an autistic kid) As a kid, I watched TMNT (2012), SpongeBob and my little pony… and as a kid I was never taught basic manners and stuff because I was severely neglected. However, I’ve been told I’m an extremely nice and understanding person… TMNT and MLP taught me how to make friends… because I was autistic, and didn’t make my first friend around first grade. I don’t remember what SpongeBob taught me, but it helped me through the trauma of my childhood. Also I wanna mention Dora, Dora was my favourite show as a baby… and when I was a baby I was told I wouldn’t be able to talk and all that stuff… but I apparently “wanted to be like Dora” so I spent time learning how to talk because of that show. So TLDR, children’s animation is important, especially for neurodivergent kids who might not understand certain things..

[@Red-in-Green]

THIS. I’ve never been diagnosed, but I’m very aware of the fact that I had to learn about the social world on purpose, seemingly unlike anyone around me. Even now I struggle being thrown into situations where I don’t have a solid script. And you know where most of those scripts came from? TV! Experiencing stories was the best way I had, and still have, of pulling together the way I need to function in society. (My mom only let me watch educational tv when I was small though, which may have something to do with why I spent several minutes today explaining to my coworker why velociraptors are hilarious. I’m 24)

[@ewoklord-726]

That’s inspiring, man. The fact that something as simple as a kids show can get people through the toughest times of their lives… that’s the POWER of TV! Also, just wanted to say, I hope that you’re okay these days. It sounds like your childhood was… a lot, and I hope that things got better for you, or if they haven’t, that they will! This, too, shall pass!

[@brrgames]

Unfortunately, a lot of my nephews and nieces like Cocomelon. I remember trying to show one of my nieces something better. The flamingo segment of Fantasia 2000. She was crying and the parents had to put on Cocomelon to have her calm down. True story.

[@mintygreendays]

SMH.

[@austinreed7343]

This is the only situation where I’d let the kid just cry it out.

[@DuasdaKubelimas]

If I ever have a child I would restrict their smartphone usage until they're 12 They'll get full control when they're 18 Now isn't that good parenting?

[@OriginalAkivara]

@@DuasdaKubelimas Not far enough. No smartphone at all, if they want one they can buy it themselves once they're old enough. If school requires one for a grade, go to office and raise a huge stink. They can have a dumbphone for calling/texting/listening to FM radio/taking potato-quality pictures/having a 4-operations calculator. Wanna use the internet? We have a machine for that, it's called the "personal computer". The internet does not belong in your pocket.

[@thenightstar8312]

And people still scoff at the idea that society is de-evolving

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

I find it funny that Care Bears [specifically the T.V Specials, movies, and 1980s and early 2000s series] and The Adventures Of Teddy Ruxpin, both shows based on toys, actually have a lot of substance and good morals while CocoMelon is just... nothingness. As an American, I find that British shows are underrated and deserve to be talked about more. The original versions of Thomas The Tank Engine, Fireman Sam, Bob The Builder, and Postman Pat are very calming and often have life lessons, and sometimes are just fun for fun's sake while still having substance. Another British show that deserves credit is Engie Benjy, a show about a mechanic who helps others with their vechicles' issues. Often through creative problem solving. While later seasons of the show go for a Dora-route with interactivity, it weirdly stays high quality even with that change. Sometimes Benjy doesn't get to save the day, which I find a realistic and refreshing change. Examples of this are the episodes Astronaut Jollop, Jollop Mixtures, and Jollop Alone.

[@jacobjcb8883]

It's incredible how they got Ant and Dec to do the voices for Engie Benjy About the 4 other shows you mentioned, I may be biased here but I think the British are best when it comes to storytelling

[@MaliciousMalcontent]

Not only can kids shows have more engaging things than Cocomelon, but kids shows can be scary, or sad, or thrilling, just as long as good prevails. That's the enduring power of folktales, which can be very dark but they almost always have a good ending even if somewhat tragic. No one will remember Cocomelon once it stops airing.

[@Modtro64]

I whole heartedly agree. Just because Kids will watch anything, doesn't mean they SHOULD. I remember growing up watching shows like Between The Lions, Zoboomafoo, Cyberchase, Arthur, Reading Rainbow, PB&J Otter, Rollie Pollie Ollie, Bear in The Big Blue House, etc. I was always engaged in a way that was both captivating and not at all pandering. They helped fueled my imagination, and helped me to be the artist I am today. We really need to get more people out of the mindset that "Kids are stupid and don't know anything" Sure while they don't immediately get everything around them, but that doesn't mean they're not smart. In fact there's a surprising amount of kids that are smart, somewhat mature, and willing to learn. I seriously hope one day I make something worth entertaining all ages. Excellent video!

[@MsVilecat]

Fun fact: the Kratt brothers after Zooboomafoo got to create their own animated show where they learn about and save endangered animals around the globe. It should be available on PBS Kids. Edit: forgot to mention the name of the show: Wild Kratts

[@Desmaad]

People frequently confuse ignorance and stupidity; they're not the same.

[@noone1929]

WordGirl had a lasting impact on me an my brother's humor. We loved it as PBS kids, and I can't believe it doesn't get more love online, thanks for covering it!

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

I'll never forget that one scene in WordGirl where Ms. Powers pulls out an Omni-Man on our protagonist when they landed on the train station.

[@ZimVader-0017]

That woman nearly killed Dr. Two Brains. She was ready to blast him to smithereens with her eye lasers.

[@thecluckster3908]

I usually judge how good someone’s parenting is by what they decide to put in front of their child. It doesn’t take that much effort switching from coco melon to Mr. rogers, yet so many parents just either are too lazy or just don’t care about what their child is consuming.

[@mommalion7028]

? You’re a parent?

[@Tommy-pv1vh]

i remember watching mr. rogers, i recently learned more about him and respect him even more

[@OriginalAkivara]

People act like they're deathly allergic to older media these days even though it should be more accessible than ever. Like reading/watching/playing/etc something made before 2000, or even 2010? GASP! SHOCK!! THE HORROR!!!

[@thecluckster3908]

@@mommalion7028 no, but I like learning a lot about good parenting and choosing the media your child consumes is the easiest thing to do so if you can’t even do that right I think it’s safe to say you’re not the best parent if you do that.

[@rrops_pico8]

​@@OriginalAkivara Precisely. I tried showing one of my Fortnite-obsessed friends some retro games that I liked (old arcade games and some indie titles like ULTRAKILL), and he was like, "Ew these graphics suck", "Where multiplayer", and "I don't see a battle pass in this". I wasn't friends with him anymore, because I saw that he was just some loser addicted to flashy, microtransaction-filled AAA shit and didn't appreciated other games (old and indie specifically).

[@Antifearn]

Both WordGirl and CrashBox are in my top five favorite kids shows from when I was a kid and I had so much fun rewatching both of those series as an adult, even if it was only on in the background while I was doing something else like cleaning, cooking, or drawing. Another show I absolutely loved as a kid that had a very comforting, yet educational tone (similar to Bluey) was Charlie and Lola. The animation in that show was so beautiful and colorful, and I just loved seeing the slice of life adventures of these two imaginative British siblings.

[@mikilojzik]

Fun fact for you: Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey, actually worked on Charlie and Lola before creating Bluey

[@BreakfastSandwitch]

I absolutely ADORED Crashbox when I was younger. All the different segments were so engaging and fun to watch. Honestly I think it’s one of the reason I love stop motion so much. Happy someone is giving it the attention it deserves!

[@vanillabean379]

Agreed😁

[@briancows8368]

DUDE this show terrified me as a kid, yet it still kept me so captivated and engaged with all its little “pop quiz” and learning parts of it. I love it now and I wish more people knew about it and yeah have it the recognition it deserves

[@jan_Eten]

mood

[@Satanlex]

Fr crashbox is amazing

[@jan_Eten]

@@Satanlex yeah ik

[@Gibberish_]

adding my own examples to the conversation because i completely agree: the original thomas and friends was a charming show with actual model trains used to tell the story rather than animation. i get that some people found the models creepy, i never did, but that’s just me. anyway, the show was an adaptation of a book series called The Railway Series, originally written by Rev. W. Awdry, and later continued by his son, Christopher Awdry. when adapting the show to a tv series, the goal was to portray the railway and the trains on sodor as realistically as possible, with the only difference between sodor and reality being that the trains had faces. it also taught lessons through its stories, in an organic manner (at least, to my knowledge, it’s been a while) eventually it was adapted to cgi, which, while it took out the charm of the models, was relatively alright. initially the writing wasn’t great, with repetitive storylines and such, but it was no cocomelon. later a different writer was put in charge and the stories became much better, until the movie Big World Big Adventures. the franchise quickly went downhill. there was suddenly much more focus on keeping kids’ attention, with wacky dream sequences and such. two of the main characters (edward and henry) were cut out of the spotlight, and after a while, almost never mentioned again. they were replaced by nia and rebecca in order to bring more girls into the main cast, and while i respect that goal, these new characters had very little substance or personality other than “nice”. after a few seasons of this, the show ended. however, what popped up in its place was much more in line with the general trend of kids shows in today’s age. the main characters became much smaller and toddler-like, while their personalities were changed. rebecca was replaced again with an engine named kana. but the biggest thing was the change in art style - everything was two dimensional. now, this could have worked, i have nothing against 2D, the problem is that the physics became nonexistent fairly quickly. the trains can bend, jump, move their front wheels around as sorts of hands, etc. this could work with a new franchise, especially if the writing had more substance as mentioned in the video, but this was thomas and friends, a show that was meant to be slower and more realistic at first, becoming just a colorful distraction only meant to grab kids’ attention. not only that, but the owner of thomas and friends, mattel, is a big toy seller, so one of their main goals is to sell toys, which shouldn’t be a goal for any children’s show. but im just a random guy on the internet. maybe im a bit too worked up over this specific series lol there’s probably a bunch of stuff i’ve missed, but that’s the gist. tldr thomas and friends was stripped of everything that made it charming and special in order to grab the attention of kids, with the new iterations having very little substance.

[@jan_Eten]

i read all ðat =D

[@Gibberish_]

@@jan_Eten thanks lol, means a lot :D

[@rbgerald2469]

I tried watching AEG, and it isn't all that bad. It's basically just a meh. On one hand, despite the childishness of the show, they finally were able to write decently characters that were dropped the ball hard in BWBA (Nia, Ashima a wee bit) and characters that were basically not given attention by writers during the mainline show's time (Terrence, Diesel (albeit with a change of personality, which feels refreshing because the mainline show never really bothered to finish Diesel's redemption arc as a character)) On the other; it sacrificed original qualities of the characters and turned some of the steam team into sort of just...there. (Edward) And the animation but I digress. My idea is; give kids time to watch AEG, BUT; lead them to discover the real Thomas And Friends.

[@cadensherman1983]

Hell yeah. I used to be so into Thomas when I was little I almost died because I tried to touch a moving train as it passed by my playground, lol. I loved the way it was all set up and realistic, as well as the realities of it, like you said. It made me research trains further and was one of the first things that sparked my interest in engineering

[@yoyleb1711]

i was going to comment this exact same thing LMAO

[@Shadowsolution]

To my surprise, I haven't seen a single mention of Wild Kratts. That's what I grew up with, primarily. From what I remember and watched recently, it doesn't exactly teach life lessons, but it does something that I haven't seen any other 'kids' show do. It teaches viewers about the natural world - from specific species, endangered species, humans' effects on nature, the food chain, complicated creature lifecycles, ecosystems and how they function, and much more along those lines. Not only that, but the enthusiasm from the Kratt brothers for every single episode is genuinely wholesome to look back on. Every episode features unique "creature power suit" designs that are colorful and full of interesting shapes that made my imagination as a child go wild. It was a seriously passionate show, a couple of brothers hoping to empower a younger audience to help care for the world they're going to one day rule. I grew up to be a very aware person, and of course a huge animal nerd. But another crucial part of these simple childhood shows is how they affect an entire person's life. When you're that new to the world, those shows end up becoming part of it. The things you're exposed to become you. Children's brains are sponges - whatever information from whatever sense they take in is stored strong. It has to be that way. Sadly, things like Cocomelon really don't retain any information, and end up filling their head with blank space and making it harder for them to develop the skills they need in life. Whatever religion, manners, customs, practices, a child will grow up into an individual that can't deny their most vulnerable life stage's instinctual belief. I'm very thankful that I got to grow up with kids my age, shows like Wild Kratts and Odd Squad (which shaped my humor), and supportive guardians that exposed me to nature and just kind of let me eat dirt. Now, I work as a 2D and 3D digital artist (hence why I'm on this channel at all) and I do custom commissions for people. I love what I do, I just hope those kids can find something real to hold onto.

[@salpertia]

This is a breath of fresh air. We traded sesame street, cyberchase, wordgirl, between the lions, word world, electric company, jacob two-two... just to name a few... for drivel not teaching kids anything at all or bland beyond all comprehension. Thank you for bringing this topic more attention.

[@chrisfratz]

I remember discovering Crashbox as a kid in the mid-2000s by finding it in the HBO section of The On demand service that our Comcast cable box had, and what measurimized me about the show was the animation. And honestly, just watching the intro to the show again just after you mentioned it in this video, it looks stunning. I think I keep falling more in love with stop motion the more I see it, it's amazing.

[@jan_Eten]

>measurimized you mean mesmerized?

[@chrisfratz]

@@jan_Eten Yeah, I guess spell check wasn't working in my favor.

[@austinreed7343]

I discovered Crashbox at a fancy hotel that had HBO.

[@gothicanimeangel96]

I think kids generally get intrigued by things that seem just slightly above their age demographic. Like cocomelon type things will keep young kids distracted but they do not inspire play, and they do not stick with you

[@ThatGrayCartoonPony]

THIS! ☝ You cannot imagine how much I hate hearing stuff like shows needing to be dumbed down because it's made for children. Just to quote/translate a French youtuber (Karim Debbache): "It's something I hear a bit everywhere and it makes me react: “it’s for kids”. [...] Exactly, it's for KIDS, it should require twice as much care! [Because it's] at this moment in life that we build our tastes and our critical minds. We should stand up against low-end entertainment that treats children like cash cows."

[@Sundowner-pi9pi]

That general second half, it's basically: imagine if elsagate and cocomelon were the norm for children's television.

[@DuasdaKubelimas]

More disrespectful children Children commiting various illegal acts A worser world That's what I can think of

[@rrops_pico8]

i grew up with spongebob, crashbox, and pbs kids. to see that taken away for some shit like, "SKIBIDI TOILET OHIO RIZZ COCOMELON GYATT REAL" is saddening, and dwindles my hopes for the future generations even more. My younger sister, age 7, is obsessed with this stuff, and every time i show her things that me and my older sister watched as kids, she'll flip out and go apeshit. We are in the process of helping her wean off of elsagate.

[@noahbossier1131]

@@rrops_pico8 it’s because of the accessory baby epidemic

[@rrops_pico8]

@@noahbossier1131 true, but we'd need a whole cultural Renaissance in children's television to fix it.

[@austinreed7343]

@@rrops_pico8 And worse, bad actors will take advantage of a desire for a programming renaissance and use it to bring about bad ends.

[@jacobeee9563]

When I watched Crashbox as a kid I didn’t even realize I was learning, the visuals and gritty environment made me assume I was watching something made for adults.

[@metaknightjudgesyoursins4710]

I think what makes me love Crashbox even as an Adult grownup today is that the characters have.. ACTUAL character Most modern kids shows I’ve seen have had predictable character types Everyone’s cheery Everyone’s happy Everything’s sunshine and rainbows With Crashbox, Captain Bones actively insults the viewer if they get the question wrong Professor Rocket is overly hyperactive and rushes you Dora Smarmy is snarky but very monotone. And The Revolting Slob is… the Revolting Slob. Hell even the intermission robots show more personality, as some feel overworked while others feel unbothered by it. It’s the littlest things like that that make me see how much Crashbox was ahead of it’s time and i’m glad they haven’t rebooted it cuz they’ll probably bastardize everything about the show.

[@syabilaazri7834]

I think that also have been missing from children cartoon show. "Personality"... i remember how there a guy who review Thomas and the Tank Engine and he explain how Thomas use to have a bad habit of making fun on one of his train friend (i dont remember the green train name is...) sure, that make Thomas sound like a jerk but the reviewer point out that what the show production want to show, that even the main character can have a flaw so they can learn their lesson. After all, if you make character with zero flaw, there no be a lesson need to be learn.... even Bluey have her flaw, remember what she did to Sock on X-mas?

[@tayloreh]

Virtually all PBS shows are the perfect example of quality fun kids content. Ruff Ruffman, Super Why, Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, Mister Rogers. Storybots is another somewhat modern example that is quite great. Speaking of Super Why, they has a comic themed shorts reboot on PBS recently thats quite educational in a word girl way. I got to play one of the bad guys :)

[@prayagsuthar9856]

Honestly, it would be lovely if parents just showed their kids PBS Kids instead of KZbin, anybody can get a signal for PBS with an antenna 🤷🏽‍♂

[@thenexttangle8568]

Electric Company too! But that one's just me, hehe

[@alpyki2588]

They were also broadcasting Boohbah, Teletubies, and Caillou. They are a very good station for not showing complete garbage, but they helped this trend. Caillou walked so that CocoMelon could run.

[@tayloreh]

@@alpyki2588 Cailou can be annoying but beyond aesthetic similarities, it has a lot more going for it than Cocomelon.

[@alpyki2588]

@@tayloreh The issue is with Caillou is that the main character just kept doing tantrums and just actively encouraged bad behavior. When people would let their kids watch it, they would emulate his behavior, and when they stopped letting them, their behavior improved. There was one episode that he pinched his sister, which is a good improvement from the story it was based on, because this 4 year old would've *bitten* her. I don't know much about Cocomelon (I don't let my child near the stuff and she doesn't like cartoons anyway), but at the very least I haven't heard accusations of increased tantrums after watching (besides turning the show off). I never said Caillou is as bad as Cocomelon, but its certainly not a bright spot on PBS' record.

[@ThenewTchannel]

Literally the only thing I needed to see for the point to be made was to see Wordgirl in the thumbnail. Literally peak edutainment, not only because it went into more advanced vocabulary than your typical edutainment cartoon, but because it was just insanely fun and hilarious and inventive, especially with the wacky villains

[@SlurpyPie]

I'm not sure if this counts but I remember growing up watching Rango and loving every minute of it despite how unconventional it was, it was rated PG but it wasn't presented as a kids film with its rather realistic looking animations and surreal yet hilarious presentation and ended up becoming my favorite film as a kid and even now as an adult where I've come to appreciate it more. It kinda made me wish more animated media treated kids with more maturity.

[@damian9303]

I remembered always seeing that movie promoted when they tried selling 3D TVs back in the day, can’t say I ever actually did watch it so quite interesting to hear about it in this context

[@smivan.]

8:53 A lot of Soviet young children's cartoons were about this core idea, not teaching specific subjects or concepts - but providing inspirational role models for children, or sometimes reversing that by being about a troublemaker who has to patch up all the problems they stirred up. There's some pretty good stuff from that era that was still regularly popular with children even decades after the actual release, and it's an interesting view to contrast with.

[@HukoJlau_06]

As a Russian, I can definitely agree. My parents always showed me old Soviet cartoons.

[@RoyalFate17]

As a teacher, I just talk to kids as if they were just really short adults, it works fantastic

[@yggdrasilsaltar]

i watched word girl when i was younger and the words it taught me i still use sometimes when talking to people so the show even without me realizing it. i’m glad its getting the praise it rightfully deserves

[@rbgerald2469]

Despite coming late to it, I have to say Sofia The First is one of the many examples of children's shows with substance. Good stories, good lessons, characters that everyone can relate to (boys and girls; young and old alike) , and connecting with Disney's previous stuff, it made my younger self (who didn't like the show at first) reexamine my previous misconceptions with the show... It even was strengthend a few years afterward after reading about the show's producer (Craig Gerber). He stated in an article, “In a world where many young girls want to dress up as princesses, Sofia could serve as a positive role model, displaying traits and learning lessons that young girls (or boys) will retain long after they trade in their gowns for other costumes.” Looks like he did it well. Amd I'm proud to say I'm a fan.

[@noahbossier1131]

Agreed. Disney junior shows like doc mcstuffins and Chris nees Netflix shows like Ada twist are good choices

[@ultimately_futile__]

its so nice hearing Doodley loving the wordgirl show cuz it just means that even adults could be excited if their kid came and asked them "Hey Dad/Mom! Can you watch some TV with me?"

[@ufologiaestereografica1524]

Amazing content, as always. I've got an awesome lil' cousin who's very much neurodivergent, so much so he doesn't really talk to people. He's the most resourceful, intelligent little man, and he enjoys to learn new things soooo much. Whenever i'm doing something that grabs his attention, he'll just stand there by my side hoping i explain what i'm doing, and i surely love to do so. Some months ago, the drain on the shower clogged and i went to pry it open with a screwdriver and a doorstop, he just sat there with me and watched closely and listened to me explaining how a lever works. Little man got so excited he tried to lift the goddamn fridge with a mop and some books some hours later. Of course, my aunt was furious. I don't think she understands the boy and the curious eyes he has for everything, so she'll just put Cocomelon on the tv hoping the kid will get distracted enough to not be bothersome, and that makes me so genuinely sad. Whenever i'm there and she puts something on the TV, I try to change it to something that will actually engage with lil' man to teach him something. It's hard to make him keep his attention on a screen if it's not Cocomelon or some cr4p like that, but so far, he really likes Bluey and Sesame Street. When I showed Bluey to his mom, she loved it, and they've been binge watching it for more than a month now. His mom was so happy when she told me he was having fun and getting to know other kids in the playground, he even made some friends, and I'm very happy lil' man is learning to be social even without speaking much. After watching this i'll try to convice him he already grew out of Cocomelon, cause I know damn well that's not rewarding his curiosity.

[@damonminnix4660]

You’re doing real good by him. This makes me happy for y’all. He has a tough future ahead, but a bright one, with large credit for that brightness to you. Good stuff. :)

[@CosetteTape]

Im 27, and Ive been looking at the old kids media I watched in my youth: An American Tail My Neighbor Totoro, Secret of NIMH, The Iron Giant. In comparing these to even things made for 7-10 year olds today, i was struck by the depth of their subtext and the refusal to pull punches in their text. Theres genuine fear, drama, and pathos there, but its handled with tact and subtlety so as to not overwhelming the young viewers. That all-ages aspect is hard to come by these days.

[@herlastborn]

I like to say that's the difference between "children" and "family" movies and why it annoys me when they are almost always grouped together. Children shows and movies are made in a way that they are pretty much just purely visual stimulation with maybe a tiny bit of plot, leaving the adults or teens bored or unamused. Those kind of media are not something you would be willing to watch when you're older. Family movies are something you can enjoy as a kid, watch again when you're a bit older and learn something new, and watch again as an adult to realize the full context of the story. Especially with My Neighbor Totoro, it's enjoyable and fun as a kid, then, as an adult, you start to see the allegories to death and can further appreciate the story.

[@Treeman3]

Brother, stop using acronymns, i want to know what you mean with NIMH, if you are talking about good shows, SHOW them, don't just hide it behind behind letters Remember, there are other generations that lack the good shows you did

[@CosetteTape]

@@Treeman3 my brother Secret of NIMH is the title, straight-up. the word is an acronym IN the movie and what it means is a mystery.

[@trinefanmel]

Well said, sir! This is why I loved watching the Octonauts as a kid, and still do to this day: it was a show directed at a young audience which taught kids about various kinds of obscure marine life and the importance of conservation and pollution management, but was framed as a series of shared adventures had by a group of researchers and conservationists - in TVTropes terms, the education elements were JUSTIFIED. What I found the best about the show was that it promoted qualities such as teamwork, selflessness, and courage, and tackled some pretty mature themes: natural disaster, pollution, serious illness, serious injury, and even death. Predators were a serious threat to contend with, but they weren't treated as evil; the captain's authority was always reasonable and generally, disobedience had realistic consequences, but the show acknowledged that there are times and places when it is necessary to do things your way despite what others tell you to do. Granted, the US version tacked on a little end-of-episode wrap-up that reviewed the animal-of-the-episode (which I personally thought took away from the other lessons) but I grew up woth the UK version which basically presented the information and allowed the viewer to take away from it what they wished. As you said: giving the child a choice in what they learn.

[@noahbossier1131]

Agreed

[@chickennugget6684]

It's really great how they represent the different aspects of the sea with different characters too

[@SnakeEyesOfficial42]

Crashbox reminds me a bit of The Electric Company. I grew up with the reboot. It also taught vocabulary and grammar. There was a live action plot, and cartoon bumpers with various art styles and characters in between breaks in the story. It also aired on PBS lol

[@jonelrobinson582]

I love the electric company. It was favorite when I was a kid

[@ericstelzman5190]

Fun fact: The Electric Company was Spider-Man's debut on TV.

[@InkyBoiArts]

Not sure if it counts, but the original Thomas from the 80’s also falls into the ‘edutainment with substance’ type of program. It wasn’t about schooling problems, like math, or reading, but it was about morals that all children would benefit to learn. Simple, four-minute-long stories about personified Steam and Diesel engines making mistakes, learning lessons, and all while also dropping little breadcrumb trails of real world railway history (more often in the original Railway Series books)

[@Dumparino]

Oh my GOD THANK YOU for talking about this. I work at Warner Brothers TV and worked at DreamWorks TVA previously and I always get looked at like I'm a psycho when I say stuff like this. I would die to make a well-written, well thought-out kid's show, (especially preschool) but no one wants to dedicate the time, money, or effort. It's so frustrating.

[@noahbossier1131]

Why do they not want to dedicate the time. I want good shows. I don’t understand why they can’t make something really good

[@David_Burt_Art]

Myself and a few of my animation friends got jobs on preschool shows right out of school. I'm so glad I got to contribute to a project where the higher-ups cared about the legacy and quality of the art we were making. I would have a difficult time compromising to work on those cheap engagement-maximizing shows out there, even in this industry drought we're going through.

[@noahbossier1131]

I absolutely agree. It’s insane we need more bluey and doc mcstuffins type shows

[@Mr._Fictitious]

I may something that may ruffle some feathers, but hear me out... Cocomelon is Temu-Grade Backyardigans. Backyardigans and Cocomelon share the fact neither show necessary teaches anything, and primarily focuses on Song and Dance. However, Cocomelon does not have some of the important things that make Backyardigans one of the G.O.A.T.s of Nick Jr Media. Backyardigans had plot. The music and song were wholely original and contextual to the story. The episodes that riff on other stories (such as Robin Hood, Journey to The Center of The Earth, Night at The Museum, and Spy Thrillers) don't even need context to be enjoyed, but those who know the context will have fun pointing out where those stories come from. While the characters could fit a variety of archetypes each episode (Pablo for instance, might be a dastardly villain one episode or a plucky hero the next), you could still identify some patterns in their behavior across a couple different episodes. Also, while it's a more opinionated point, the music in each episode absolutely slapped. The vocal performances and riffs were spectacular. Backyardigans hit just right. I feel like Cocomelon and the Co-clone-melons could've been good had whoever made them took more of a page out of their book. At least the _plot_ element. Admittedly, I can't really expect well-done original music from those guys when they started out as just a Low-Budget KZbin series (I mean, I'd still personally say it's worth a try. You can't make a masterpiece without standing atop the ashes of failed attempts, but I can understand why you wouldn't want poor quality music in a series.)

[@serenib33]

I agree! And also, some parts were funny; now and then.

[@koy5902]

I never cared for backyardigans as a kid, but looking back I also really appreciate the diversity. If I recall correctly there were african american and hispanic characters, though I can't remember any details.

[@moodlemcdoodle5746]

backyardigans was so great because it was all about imagination and play, like it was very clear to me even as a small child that the whole point of backyardigans is its about a group of kids who go out and play at different stories and genres every day, and imo even if its not educational in a traditional sense it did encourage imaginination, storytelling and roleplaying among kids which was my favourite way to play!! Kids love to make up stories together!! The backyardigans represents every group of kids on a playground pretending to be like their favourite characters sooo well

[@maninanikittycat4238]

Bro Backyardigans was my jam when I was little!

[@wokekoala3888]

I'm 21 and remember watching Word Girl when it was coming out. Aside from school, that show was probably my biggest influence in learning vocabulary. I almost forgot about this show until its recent revival, but I'm now realizing how big of an impact it had on me.