Kuu Kuu Harajuku
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gwen Stefani's animated series has mixed messages for kids.
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Kuu Kuu Harajuku
Community Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Well, it’s okay but...
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More like Poo Poo Stupidjunku if you ask me....
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What's the Story?
KUU KUU HARAJUKU follows five best friends and bandmates -- Angel (voiced by Emma Taylor-Isherwood), Love (Daisy Masterman), Music (Sally Taylor-Isherwood), Baby (Charlotte Nicdao), and G (Maggie Chretien) -- as they try to stave off trouble long enough to play a concert or two. In Harajuku World, there's no telling what kind of thing will interrupt their plans. Plus, their inept but well-meaning manager, Rudie (Danny Smith), always manages to bungle his job on behalf of the band's schedule. But the good news is that when HJ5 is together, there's always a good time to be had.
Is It Any Good?
Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls of the stage transition to this animated series with modest success, clouding themes of individuality and friendship with iffier ones. On the upside, each of the five girls is a distinct entity, and as you watch, you begin to see their personalities come to light. Among them are an unfailing optimist, a brainy Ms. Fix-It, and a team leader. They are also culturally diverse and inclusive, despite their Japanese-inspired roots. On the downside, however, they often define themselves by their visibility and perceived "Kawaii" (or cuteness), which makes them vulnerable to vanity and image obsession.
Kuu Kuu Harajuku is visually enjoyable to watch, and there's always some sort of bizarre happening in Harajuku World that will keep kids' interest. There's also the comical villain General No Fun (Ian Bliss), who manages to steal the scenes in which he schemes against HJ5. The bottom line? This cartoon is pretty mindless, and there are better choices for role models for this age group, but it's entertaining nonetheless.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about self-image. Kids: Do you think much about how you look or the clothes you wear? Do your friends ever react to your appearance, either in a good or a bad way? Are you influenced by what you see people wear on TV shows like Kuu Kuu Harajuku?
Kids: Does Harajuku World seem like a place where you'd like to live? What differences do you see between it and the real world? Why is imaginative play fun?
Do you have a favorite character among HJ5? What qualities do you admire in her?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 4, 2016
- Cast: Emma Taylor-Isherwood , Sally Taylor-Isherwood , Daisy Masterson
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: January 24, 2023
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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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