Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lively series has wildlife, imagination, adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Jane
What's the Story?
Inspired by animal expert and activist Dr. Jane Goodall, JANE is an educational series about a budding environmentalist committed to saving endangered animals. Nine-year-old Jane (Ava Louise Murchison) uses her imagination to find ways to help at-risk wildlife. Helping her are best friends David (Mason Blomberg) and Greybeard the chimpanzee. Sometimes traveling around the world trying to help different species' animals gets them a little carried away, and there are moments that are a little scary. But together they find ways to help the animals, and even inspire adults to find ways to do the same from time to time.
Is It Any Good?
Part live-action and part digitally animated, the bright, entertaining series features children learning about animals and the environment, and using this knowledge to dream up worlds to protect them. In Jane, the same-named heroine and best friend David engage in lots of digitally enhanced imaginary play, during which they employ inventive problem-solving skills and apply the lessons they're learning to improve the real world around them. With the help of technology, they talk to experts who share details about the animals featured in the episode, and the things we can do every day to help protect them.
Throughout it all, Jane also features other valuable life lessons, ranging from the importance of apologizing when we make mistakes to the importance of occasionally taking emotional risks in order to live a fuller life. Overall, it's a lively series that offers plenty of learning opportunities while being a lot of fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the work of Dr. Jane Goodall. Did you know that she's considered the world's top expert on chimpanzees? Why? How does her work inspire this series?
Which of the species of animals featured on Jane are your favorites? How are their natural habitats changing due to climate change and other human-caused factors? What things can you do every day to help protect them?
Which of your toys would you like to bring on real-life adventures with you?
Jane often makes mistakes in the name of wanting to protect animals. She sometimes has a hard time apologizing for them. What do you think about this behavior?
How do the characters in Jane demonstrate compassion, courage, curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 14, 2023
- Cast : Ava Louise Murchison , Mason Blomberg , Tamara Almeida
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Friendship , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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