Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle, colorful, and calming show has a Teletubbies vibe.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Buddi
What's the Story?
Five brightly-colored friends (Cini, Kelta, Vihi, Puna, Iso) explore their fantastical home BUDDI Kotti. Each 12-minute episode is actually two separate 6-minute storylines, and each story is very simple. The friends might be playing with a marble which they lose and then find again, or they might be playing outside when they are interrupted by a rainstorm. They model positive behaviors like cheering up a friend when they're sad, sharing a toy, and openly displaying emotion. The characters don't speak words, so their emotions are displayed through a mixture of facial expressions, baby babbles, the musical score, and in the case of the Cini character, a digital thought bubble that pops above its head.
Is It Any Good?
This show is the 2020 equivalent to Teletubbies: it is likely to delight very young children but not teach them a ton. The design is stunningly beautiful with the characters' vibrant colors and candy-like scenery, and its musical soundscape is similarly pleasant. Each episode is one continuous string of musical chimes and sound effects. Toddlers will enjoy the characters' voices, which are kind of like digital baby babbles (think if Wall-E was a baby).
While the show is very much benign, its loose themes of friendship and emotion are not likely to be absorbed by its young viewers. The characters don't talk, and the shows are so short, that the very vague lessons like "share toys with your friends" are not concrete enough for this age group.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about which characters are good friends. What makes them friends? Why do you like your friends?
What do the characters on Buddi learn? How do they express their emotions?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 20, 2020
- Cast : Greta Jameson , Ralf Jameson , Clementine Laikin , Felix Laikin
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
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