This show is just plain fun. Episodes last about 10 minutes each, so it is easy to dose for little kids. Pingu is a young penguin and lives with his caring mother, father (who knits!), and little baby sister Pinga. Pingu is a bit mischievous but not in a bad way. Plots are easy enough for a 4 year old to follow, may be a bit advanced for a 3-year old, but aesthetically nice to look at!
Pingu
(Rated TV-Y, Children, cartoons, & animation, Where to watch: Sprout)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Young penguin learns and grows at the South Pole.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 3 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Pingu was written by Deirdre Sheppard
Parents need to know that this claymation series is funny, endearing, and entertaining. Although the series is appropriate for all ages, the plots might be difficult for the youngest viewers to follow.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how to control emotions. How can you prevent a temper tantrum? How can good deeds help you overcome bad behavior? Parents can also discuss the show's format with their kids. How can you visually grasp a story when you don't understand what the characters are saying?
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More on Pingu
What’s the Story?
After finding success in Europe, the Swiss animated series PINGU has made it across the pond to the United States. Chilling out on PBS's Sprout channel, Pingu is about a family of penguins -- particularly the adventures of son Pingu. Pingu often teams up with his equally mischievous friend Robbie the Seal, and together they explore the ins and outs of growing up at the South Pole.
Is It Any Good?
Pingu and Robbie are often a magnet for trouble, and usually their impish conduct ends up coming back to haunt them. In one episode, for example, while Pingu is ice fishing, Robbie coyly steals his friend's catches. The ordeal ends with Robbie hitting his fin on a rock and crying, but instead of Pingu being angry at Robbie, the young penguin cries with him while caressing his wound. Young viewers will easily find this scenario funny and touching because the situation perfectly mirrors how kids behave with their peers. Some of Pingu's humor is aimed at the parents. For example, in one segment Pingu's sister throws a temper tantrum because her father ran over her stuffed animal. When the father buys a new toy to make up for it, the sister cries more and, as a result, the father cries because he doesn't know what to do next. It's funny for everyone, but definitely more relatable for an adult than a kid.
One element that sets this series apart is that all of the characters speak "Pinguish," a special penguin language conceived for the show (Pinguish became such a trend in Switzerland that a Swiss music artist created a popular rap song based on it). The incomprehensible language enhances the series' physical comedy, but the story outlines aren't developed enough for younger children to fully grasp complete plots based on visuals alone. Parents can use this minor disconnect to teach their kids how to pay attention to small details in order to piece a story together. When watching Pingu, expect cool claymation tricks. For example, Pingu and friends can turn their small, clay figures into balls to roll down a hill. The hip theme music is a nice touch, too, and silly acts of both mischief and kindness can carry the entire show. Even though some plots can be tricky for younger viewers to comprehend, the show is structured in a way that lets you enjoy the situations from moment to moment, too.
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
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I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Quite edgy for young childrens, there are few episodes that might scare young children(banned as I know). Like the episode "Pingu's Dreams" which features a huge walrus stalking Pingu in Pingu's dreams.
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
What is this language
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
Funny, cute and my 3-yr old grandson loved it, too.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Hands down my favorite cartoon from our extensive collection.
I discovered this wonderful, delightful cartoon quite by accident. After watching it with my children 7 and 3, I knew we had to own every one of them. A year and a half later my children are still watching this and still laughing out loud. The neatest thing is that there is no "real" dialogue but a penguin gibberish but young or old you understand exactly what is going on. Pingu and his sister Pinga are adorable and will certainly remind you of your own children. I can't say enough about this series, I have given it many times as a gift and always get grateful acknowledgements. This series orginates in Switzerland, so it can be harder to find. I found on a popular auction website and hope they put out more of the series.
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