Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Themes of perseverance, friendship dominate dystopian tale.
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Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Based on 33 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a vibrant and captivating series that effectively combines adventure with positive messages, focusing on themes of friendship, acceptance, and diversity. While some parents express concern over the representation of LGBTQ+ characters, most viewers appreciate the show's inclusive approach and its engaging storytelling that appeals to children and adults alike.
- positive representation
- engaging storytelling
- themes of friendship
- diverse characters
- appealing to all ages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In KIPO AND THE AGE OF WONDERBEASTS, a teen girl is thrust into the world aboveground after living her entire life in a subterranean burrow in an untamed post-apocalyptic world. As Kipo (voiced by Karen Fukuhara) explores her new surroundings and tries to figure out a way to get home, she encounters mutant animals, dilapidated urban remnants of a bygone time, and an uncertain destiny. That is, until she befriends a hardened surface dweller named Wolf (Sydney Mikayla), a mutant pig pet named Mandu (Dee Bradley Baker), an optimistic boy named Benson (Coy Stewart), and a bug named Dave (Deon Cole) who repeats his life cycle over and over again. Her new friends band together to get Kipo home ... if they can avoid the many dangers on the surface.
Is It Any Good?
A striking animation style and unique story carry this exceptional series from the moment it introduces its brave, talkative heroine. In Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, to meet Kipo is to love her. Despite her uncertain circumstances, she keeps a positive attitude and a belief that everything will work out well. In that way, she's in sharp contrast to Wolf, whose awareness of the harsh realities of life on the surface give her a shrewdness that often comes across as ill-tempered. Somewhere in the middle falls Benson and the ever-hilarious Dave, who provide some levity to even the tensest of moments. The members of this motley crew are one another's best hope for surviving in a world dominated by mutated creatures that have varying degrees of nefarious plans for humans.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is a dystopian tale that's devoid of the kind of political or social themes that often filter into the genre, instead sticking to messages of hope and resilience that play out in different ways relative to the characters' respective personalities. Despite their disparate natures, Kipo, Wolf, Benson, and Dave share a determination to beat the odds, and they learn to lean on one another to take the calculated risks that are needed to do so. This captivating series is one that will appeal to many different viewers, which bodes well for families looking for fresh watch-together fare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the uncertain world of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Who's in charge there? How are disagreements settled and deals made? How does this scenario compare to what exists in the present? Are futuristic stories like this entirely far-fetched, or are there any elements of possible truth in them?
What qualities does Kipo value in other people? How do they differ from those that Wolf favors? Do her new surroundings in the surface world change her values in any way? If so, how does this serve her in the unfamiliar territory?
What accounts for Kipo's perseverance and optimism? How does believing the best of people and situations help her overcome challenges?
Is Kipo courageous because she has nothing to lose, or because she has everything to gain? Is there a difference, and if so, does it matter?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 14, 2020
- Cast : Karen Fukuhara , Dee Bradley Baker , Sydney Mikayla
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Dystopia , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Awards : Common Sense Selection , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 28, 2026
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