Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Self-love and acceptance shine in sunny musical special.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lulu Is a Rhinoceros
What's the Story?
In LULU IS A RHINOCEROS, Lulu (Auli'i Cravalho) appears to everyone else to be a bulldog. Inside, though, Lulu feels like she's a rhinoceros. As Lulu heads toward her city's Community Unity Day celebration, she meets other animals. They all tell her that she can't possibly be a rhinoceros, because she doesn't have pointy ears or horns, she doesn't like mud, and she doesn't communicate through squeaks and honks. Lulu's friend Hip Hop the bunny (Utkarsh Ambudkar) joins her on a mission to make Lulu's outside appearance match her inner rhinoceros-ness. With the help of Flom Flom the tickbird (Dulé Hill), Lulu learns that she doesn't need validation from others. Instead, she comes to trust the voice inside, because, as she sings, "the perfect me is me."
Is It Any Good?
Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is a balm for the preschooler (and grown-up) soul. It empowers young kids to trust that they are perfect exactly as they are, and that self-love is more important than being validated by others. Besides the heartwarming message, kids will love the adorable Lulu character, brought to life by a charming voice performance from Moana's Auli'i Cravalho. Lulu and her friends sing throughout the special, and the catchy tunes are ear worms filled with positive messages. Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is a fun, feel-good special that grown-ups and preschoolers can enjoy together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Lulu says, "If you love yourself and let it show, the world will smile at you with a big rainbow." What are some things you love about yourself?
Many of the other animals don't understand why Lulu thinks she's a rhinoceros. Do you think there's anything people don't understand about you?
If you meet someone in real life who's different from what you expect, how should you treat them?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 30, 2025
- Cast : Auli'i Cravalho , Dule Hill , Alex Newell , Paul Rust
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Book Characters , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales , Magic ) , Friendship , Royalty ( Princesses )
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate