Parents' Guide to

Calico Critters

By Jenny Nixon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Cute series is light on story but full of warmth.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2018
Calico Critters Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Calico Critters Series: Scene #1
  • Calico Critters Series: Scene #2
  • Calico Critters Series: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Dagoldma
Dagoldma Adult
February 3, 2019
age 3+

Boy crazy

You may think that because of its fabulously bite-sized episodes, this show was written thoughtfully and common-sensically for young children. Not at all. The episode I just watched showed three critters in full-skirted dresses taking turns telling each other about their ideal date. Ending with them giggling and congratulating each other.
1 person found this helpful.
peppermint24
peppermint24 Parent
January 5, 2019
age 4+

Calico Critters and Boyfriends?

Storylines include ideal dates, ideal presents, boyfriends... This was not at all what I expected from Calico Critters. While the characters are adorable and the town charming, I don't know why a show aimed at young children should feature so many references to dating.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

CALICO CRITTERS is an adorable anime series consisting of 3-minute "mini-episodes" that follow the lighthearted adventures of a happy young bunny named Bell Hopscotch, as well as her various pals and relatives who call Calico Village home sweet home. We meet new friends in each episode, from the peppy, overalls-clad chipmunk Dominic to young Aidan, a cuddly teddy bear who has a troublesome habit of getting into other people's baked goods. Episodes feature town events such as concerts and surprise birthday parties, holidays like Halloween, and some fun dream sequences where fuzzy friends imagine what their future lives will be like. Inspired by the toys that bear the same name, the show is made in a style that almost mimics stop-motion animation, so it appears that the toys are actually moving.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (3 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

With each episode calling it quits by the three-minute mark, there's no time to get bored even if the storylines aren't thrilling you (and the visuals are so cute it almost doesn't matter). Calico Critters won't win any awards for screenwriting -- the "adventures" here are slight and fluffy stuff -- but they're innocuous enough, with a mellow tone and super appealing visual style that may be just the ticket for families looking to have some harmless fun in front of the TV. Parent beware, however: the Critters come off so charming and sweet in this series, kids may end up wanting to rush out and bring home more of the toys in real life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the length of Calico Critters episodes. Would you like to see the gang having longer adventures? What are some fun stories you can imagine these characters being a part of in the future?

  • What did you think of the animation style used for Calico Critters? Did you like the way it looked as though the toys were actually walking and talking, or would these stories have worked better in another style?

  • Families can talk about imagination. Kids: How do you play with your toys? What kinds are your favorite for playing pretend?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: November 1, 2018
  • Network: Netflix
  • Genre: Kids' Animation
  • TV rating: TV-Y
  • Last updated: February 27, 2022

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