Creative Galaxy
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Kindly alien finds artistic inspiration to solve problems.
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What's the Story?
CREATIVE GALAXY introduces preschoolers to Arty (voiced by Christian Distefano), a friendly alien who uses his affinity for being creative to solve problems that arise around him. Whether it's finding just the right Mother's Day present for his mom (Samantha Bee) or transforming the local library into an inviting space, Arty and his magical sidekick, Epiphany (Kira Gelineau), always manage to save the day using one art form or another. With a one-of-a-kind spaceship that can take them anywhere in their colorful universe filled with planets such as Fabrictopia, Buildora, and Sculpturon, these two travelers find inspiration in adults who love the arts as much as they do.
Is It Any Good?
This vibrant animated series sends kids two prominent messages: First, every problem can be solved with a willingness to think outside the box; and second, art in any form is a worthwhile endeavor. In the first case, preschoolers have no greater example than optimistic Arty, who sees challenges as opportunities rather than stumbling blocks and who eagerly turns to others for advice when he needs it. In doing so, he shows kids that there are many ways to arrive at a solution to a problem.
But that's only half the story. Creative Galaxy also takes great care in how it fosters an appreciation for art not only in the traditional sense through painting and sketching but also with respect to tasks such as building and working with fabric. In each case, kids learn about different techniques unique to each discipline and watch the process by which a project is designed and completed. Live-action segments between the stories that show kids creating artwork using those same techniques likely will inspire your kids to try the same. Positive examples of friendship and family relationships stand out in Arty's dealings with his parents and his pals, which has further merit for youngsters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different creative media Arty and his friends use in Creative Galaxy. What kinds of tools do your kids like to use when they create? How does art in any form allow you to express yourself?
Kids: What problems does Arty solve in the stories? How might you do so differently? How does it make you feel when you help other people?
Parents can use the show's lessons in art appreciation to inspire creativity in their kids. Use simple supplies such as cotton balls, wooden sticks, and stickers to create your own masterpiece, and discuss how it can be used to help someone or solve a problem of some kind. Or check out our list of apps for mess-free creativity instead.
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 19, 2013
- Cast: Samantha Bee, Cloris Leachman, Christian Distefano
- Network: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Brothers and Sisters, Great Boy Role Models, Space and Aliens
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: July 30, 2022
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