Booba

TV review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
Booba Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 4+

Curiosity inspires young creature's funny discoveries.

Netflix Kids' Animation 2014
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Parents say

age 3+

Based on 27 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Booba is a show about the daily adventures of a young furry creature who loves to explore and learn about the world around him. Each episode finds Booba (voiced by Roman Karev) in a new place -- an office, an art room, a bakery, a movie theater -- and presents him with all kinds of new things to discover, which he does with great enthusiasm. In each location, he makes discoveries by jumping right in and letting his curiosity lead the way, always to educational results and often to hilarious ones. Parents will notice a glaring lack of supervision in Booba's world that enables some potentially dangerous scenarios, but they all turn out OK in the end. Because Booba doesn't speak but does make a variety of sounds, viewers learn to interpret his facial expressions and the sounds to understand his emotions.

Community Reviews

MommaK
MommaK Adult
May 11, 2022
age 3+

Love Booba

My almost 4 year old little boy thinks Booba is cute and hilarious, and I agree. He is naughty and inquisitive and often has consequences for his actions so we can talk about making good choices. I love that he doesn’t talk so we can narrate it. Sounds like the negative parents are just sitting their kids down and not using it as an opportunity for discussion
2 people found this helpful.
Shell5693
Shell5693 Adult
February 1, 2022
age 2+

Booba mind of a 2 yr old

This innocent creature curious about the world around him is just up my 2 year Olds alley. They are the same mentally and I think that's the appeal young kids don't sensialize it like adults do they see it as funny a thought process like their own they relate. In a world where there's high expectations for even 2 year Olds and their education it's nice for them to be able to have some laughter. Innocent fun.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 27 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BOOBA, a curious creature explores the world around him to discover how things work (and don't) and what he likes (and doesn't). Booba (voiced by Roman Karev) doesn't talk, but he makes noises that express his emotions of wonder, surprise, excitement, and joy as he finds new places to investigate. When you're young and insatiably inquisitive, there's no end to the adventures you can find in the most ordinary of places.

Is It Any Good?

These hilarious shorts capture the essence of early childhood exploration with a comical look at kids' reactions (by way of a furry creature tot) to new discoveries. Booba is fascinated by everything -- a sweet treat on the top shelf of the refrigerator, the office hole punch, an odd-looking contraption with oh-so-tempting cheese in it, and so on. Booba's world, like the one real-life kids live in, is filled with big and wondrous things just waiting to be touched and tested.

But just as Booba's curiosity prompts many funny predicaments and some valuable cautionary lessons about self-guided exploration, some experiences put him in potentially hazardous situations that would benefit from a grown-up's guidance. Parents who watch with their kids can use the opening to talk about their own rules and boundaries about new places, people, and experiences. Booba's nonverbal manner of communication also encourages conversations about emotions and self-expression.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Booba's great sense of curiosity. Why is it important? How can you tell he likes to learn about new things? Does he ever seem nervous to do so? What aspects of his explorations surprise him? Delight him? Kids: Are you as enthusiastic about new experiences as Booba is?

  • How does Booba communicate how he feels without words? Can you always understand his feelings by his sounds and expressions? How does our ability to interpret these kinds of signals help us show compassion to other people?

  • Kids: Do you think this show is meant to teach you something? What lessons, if any, do Booba's experiences teach you? Do you think Booba learns lessons from his adventures? What might they be?

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