Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of fun, learning in special about weather science.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection
What's the Story?
In THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS RIDES AGAIN: THE FRIZZ CONNECTION, risk-averse Arnold chooses to take a field trip to the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival because it sounds stress-free. But when the Magic School Bus (transformed into a hot air balloon) gets hit by a lightning strike, the bus splits into three parts. The class gets split up too as the three bus balloons re-spawn in Hawaii, Peru, and Nova Scotia. Even worse, Mrs. Frizzle has been split into three parts too, and each Frizz character is a different part of her personality. Her students have to figure out how to ride the air currents and get the balloons back to Albuquerque so the three Frizzles can rejoin -- before she disappears forever!
Is It Any Good?
This has the same adventure, humor, and science learning as other Magic School Bus episodes, and fans of the series will enjoy this special. Mrs. Frizzle makes abstract atmospheric science concepts such as air currents, high and low pressure systems, and tornadoes concrete and understandable. Along with this comes a fair amount of weather-related suspense, so kids with a fear of thunderstorms or tornadoes may be sensitive to this episode.
While the plots of many Magic School Bus episodes go into impossible territory, The Frizz Connection is fairly complicated and nonsensical (why does Mrs. Frizzle get split into 3 parts but the students don't?). But kids are unlikely to question the plot and will just enjoy the clever conceit of seeing Mrs. Frizzle's personality get distilled into three different characters. And the lesson Arnold learns when trapped with the rule-following version of Mrs. Frizzle is great: sometimes playing it safe will actually lead to more trouble.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about curiosity. Did anything in The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection make you feel curious? Is there anything weather-related you'd like to learn more about? Was there anything in the episode that was confusing to you?
How did the kids in Mrs. Frizzle's class use teamwork to get back to Albuquerque? Can you think of a time you used teamwork in your own life?
What do you think Arnold learned from this field trip? Do you think he'll keep playing it safe, or try taking more risks?
If your personality split into three parts like Mrs. Frizzle's, what would the three "yous" be?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 20, 2020
- Cast : Kate McKinnon
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Lesbian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : STEM , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Teamwork
- Run time : 44 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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