Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute, fluffy shorts about tiny cats in bananas.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bananya
What's the Story?
BANANYA opens by letting viewers in on the secret of bananas that nobody knows: adorable kitties live inside. From there, a friendly narrator introduces us to the Bananyas, creatures he discovered living in bananas after many years of research. Each have their own names and distinctive personalities, despite not speaking any intelligible words, and the narrator describes them in the episodes by opening up the "Bananya Identification Guide." Nya, for example, is very optimistic and carefree. He loves to play, likes sweet treats, and his dream is to become a trendy chocolate- covered banana.
Is It Any Good?
What's not to like about tiny anthropomorphic cats who live inside of bananas? With its calm tone and simple animation reminiscent of Curious George, Bananya is every bit as adorable as it sounds. Despite the undeniable cuteness, though, it's unclear who the target audience is, as basic concepts like colors are reinforced while adult terms like "narcissist" are also used. It's confusing, and with super-short episodes, there's not time to develop a plot arc, let alone a clear message. On the upside, there's a lot of identification of feelings, an essential building block to developing emotional intelligence. In the end, though, parents may find the show to be repetitive and boring. With the bevy of animated shows and shorts streaming these days, there are a number of better options available.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what happens in our brains when short pieces of content like Bananya make us happy. Talk about how dopamine is created and the role it plays in technology addiction.
How does the short length of Bananya's episodes affect the plot development and overall message of the show? Do you think this format is effective or not, and why?
Point out how the Bananyas sometimes talk about how they're feeling and label their emotions. Why is it important to be mindful about our own emotions? How does it help us become better communicators?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 1, 2022
- Cast : Frank Matano , Lindsay Sheppard
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Animals
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate