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Willa's Wild Life

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Life's a zoo for young girl and her critter pals.

Themes in this show include:   friendship

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The show isn't based on a particular curriculum, but kids will learn about things like teamwork, curiosity, and problem solving.
  • Messages:

    Episodes promote positive issues like self-acceptance and taking responsibility for your actions.
  • Role models:

    Willa herself is resourceful and spunky, and her animal friends are always dependable. Willa's father is involved with his daughter, but in many of the stories, she has to turn to her animal pals for help and guidance because her dad is busy working.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Willa's Wild Life was written by Emily Ashby

Parents need to know that this animated series from the creator of Oswald is perfectly age appropriate for young kids. The simple stories are easy for kids to grasp, and they'll likely relate to some of the issues Willa faces (like wanting a certain hair accessory because it's "cool"). They're also sure to get a kick out of the wacky situations Willa and her friends find themselves in. If a fault can be found, it's in Willa's tendency to rely more on her animal buddies than on her dad for help in a jam, but at least the critters' advice is always sound.

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 taking care of animals. Which of Willa's animal friends would make good pets in real life? What would be involved in caring for them? What special care or living conditions would certain animals require?
  • How can people help care for animals that live in the wild?
  • What do you think animals would say if they could talk to people? If you could talk to any animal, which one would it be? What would you say?
Did this review help you decide?

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More on Willa's Wild Life

What’s the Story?

WILLA'S WILD LIFE follows the unpredictable adventures of a young girl named Willa (voiced by Jordan Todosey) and the menagerie of adopted animal friends who live in her home. There's just no way life could be mundane when your roommates include a walrus, a seal, a giraffe, and an alligator, and 6-year-old Willa is always full of big ideas for each new day. With guidance from her talking animal friends -- and lots of patience from her understanding dad (Peter Keleghan) -- Willa somehow manages to find solutions to the wacky situations she unwittingly gets herself into.

Is It Any Good?

Based on the book An Octopus Followed Me Home by Oswald creator Dan Yaccarino, this pleasant series will surely appeal to kids' sense of fantasy and adventure. Willa's house is the stuff kids' dreams are made of; hardly a cupboard, bathtub, or even toilet exists that's not home to a critter of some sort -- and, what's more, all of them talk! This lucky 6-year-old is set with friends of all shapes and sizes ready to help her navigate whatever the day has in store.

The show infuses kid-friendly stories with humor that young viewers will appreciate and positive lessons that they'll easily grasp. Willa may be a sucker for zany predicaments, but she's also good at asking for help when she needs it and listening to her friends and her father when they give her advice -- which sets a good example for her preschool viewers. Each episode also includes positive messages about values like responsibility and self-acceptance, reminding kids that learning opportunities that exist in everyday situations.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 4
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    WHAT ABOUT THE SONG?

    i need to know the name of the original song, it`s a french old song, beautiful. manuel.chinchilla@hotmail.com thanks from Costa Rica.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 4
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    WHAT ABOUT THE SONG?

    i need to know the name of the original song, it`s a french old song, beautiful. manuel.chinchilla@hotmail.com thanks from Costa Rica.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 2, 6
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Something for all ages - Great.

    Love it. Little kids will love the animals, older kids learn positive moral outcomes and good role modeling from Willa, her dad and her friends (animal and human) . Stories revolve around dilemmas Willa gets herself into and the right outcomes (Do the right thing, don't over-commit, treat others with respect, everyone is equal, etc.) The "zoo" represents the diversity of people - races, personalities, eccentricities, etc. The show enforces "working together" and "staying true to your friends". Adults will love the mid-century decorating and musical vibe (literally a jazz guitar and vibes) . This is a great cartoon for all ages.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 2, 6
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0

    Something for all ages - Great.

    Absolutely love it. Great inspirational messages for kids - I don't know if a 2 year old would get much more than "animals" and "colors" but there's nothing objectionable here for any kid IMO. Older kids will find great moral values (do the right thing.. don't over-commit.. be your best...etc). Adults will love the mid-century vibe , music, style and color scheme of the cartoon. It's an absolute winner all the way around

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