Common Sense Refreshes, Expands Successful Seal Program
Latest TV Selections Offer More Opportunities for Families to Learn Together
SAN FRANCISCO, October 22, 2019—As parents and educators look for ways to find quality media for kids, Common Sense Media has announced a rebranded and expanded Common Sense seal program to recognize not just exceptional television and movies, but also video games, learning tools, and advocacy for families. While we're recognizing the latest TV seal recipients today, the selections for the new categories will be announced in 2020.
"We're thrilled to broaden the program to help parents and educators quickly and easily identify Common Sense Selections for quality media," said Colby Zintl, chief marketing officer, Common Sense. "If you see the seal, you know it's a good choice."
After five successful years of the program, the seal now includes a new name and look—an update that speaks to today's media and digital well-being landscape—which coincides with this latest round of Common Sense Selections for TV.
The most recent 15 show selections align with themes of inclusivity, kindness, and problem-solving. There's Cartoon Network's Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, about a fearless warrior who settles in a kingdom to protect it from enemies; Universal Kids' Norman Picklestripes, which highlights the importance of helping neighbors and maintaining a strong community; Netflix's Basketball or Nothing, a docuseries about a Navajo Nation high school basketball team; and Universal Kids' Where's Waldo, based on the popular book series, which combines information about different countries and cultures with lessons about problem-solving and teamwork.
Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling on Netflix follows a transgender character's transition from male to female, which serves as a lesson about accepting change and loving unconditionally. Nickelodeon's Middle School Moguls promotes inclusion in small but notable ways with characters that defy media stereotypes, including a student with same-sex parents, a teacher who's nonbinary, and a tween who designs fashion for body types that challenge runway industry norms. Mr. Mom on Vudu follows a married couple who trade primary gender roles in their household, and ABC's Mixed-ish shows a unique and sympathetic look at race.
Netflix's Twelve Forever and Archibald's Next Big Thing, Disney's Descendants 3, Pup Academy, and Bluey, as well as Cartoon Network's Infinity Train and Steven Universe: The Movie all teach children about the power of youth, friendship, growth, and self-reflection, rightly deserving the Common Sense Selection honor.
"I'm once again thrilled to see so many shows offering families the opportunity to learn together. Themes of inclusion, compassion, and empathy continue to shine in this round of Common Sense Selections," said Polly Conway, senior TV Editor, Common Sense.
The Common Sense seal program was originally developed to recognize outstanding movies, TV series, and TV specials with an official seal. Whenever you see the new and improved Common Sense Selection seal, you can trust that the content is not only age-appropriate but has the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting impact on society.
The fall 2019 Common Sense Selections for TV are:
Title
Age
Type
Premiere Date
Network
Infinity Train
10
series
6/17/2019
Cartoon Network
Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart
8
series
7/1/2019
Cartoon Network
Where's Waldo
5
series
7/20/2019
Universal Kids
Norman Picklestripes
4
series
7/27/2019
Universal Kids
Twelve Forever
8
series
7/29/2019
Netflix
Basketball or Nothing
10
series
8/2/2019
Netflix
Descendants 3
8
TV movie
8/2/2019
Disney Channel
Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling
10
TV movie
8/9/2019
Netflix
Pup Academy
7
series
8/26/2019
Disney Channel
Steven Universe: The Movie
10
TV movie
9/2/2019
Cartoon Network
Middle School Moguls
7
series
9/8/2019
Nickelodeon
Archibald's Next Big Thing
5
series
9/6/2019
Netflix
Bluey
4
series
9/9/2019
Disney Junior
Mr. Mom
10
series
9/12/2019
Vudu
Mixed-ish
10
series
9/26/2019
ABC
About the Common Sense Selection Seal
Common Sense Selections are determined by Common Sense Media's in-house team of seasoned reviewers, editors, and child-development experts, based on our proven rubric for independent, age-based ratings. Common Sense Media has applied these ratings to more than 33,000 reviews of movies, TV shows, and other media since the organization was founded in 2003 and has honored 187 films and 276 series/specials to date. More information is available at https://www.commonsensemedia.org/seal.
About Common Sense
Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.
About Pentagram
Pentagram is the world's largest independent design consultancy. Working from offices in New York, London, Austin, and Berlin, the firm's 24 partners specialize in different areas of graphic design, industrial design, and architecture, producing brand identities, publications, environments, products, and digital media for a wide range of international clients. For more information, please visit pentagram.com.
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