Parents' Guide to

Norman Picklestripes

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Funny fix-it guy teaches about community through song.

TV Universal Kids Kids' Animation 2019
Norman Picklestripes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Norman with his tool belt.
  • Norman and some of the cast.
  • Bob babysitting owl chicks.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 2 parent reviews

JRaw
JRaw Adult
October 13, 2019
age 3+

Toddler LOVES it

My 3 year old loves this show! She thinks it’s so funny and really likes the music. Blanche is her favorite. We’re waiting for the toys and other merch now.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
guitargirl
guitargirl Adult
October 4, 2019
age 4+

A little scary and just not up to par with other kids shows

It sounded promising, but my kids really didn't like it at all. My youngest was actually a little frightened by the characters. The broadway show tunes also just don't seem to work. The concept is OK, but Bob The Builder is so much better. Is Universal just running out of ideas? Sorry, it's a fail.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

NORMAN PICKLESTRIPES is a stop-motion animated series about Mother Nature's son, a fix-it type who loves to break into song, Broadway-style. Norman is a green-striped creature who uses his magical powers and his tools to repair anything that happens to break in Plywood Forest. In doing so, he helps out his friends, including Bob, an overanxious porcupine; Bixie, an eccentric, creative skunk; Blanche, an entrepreneurial rabbit with a flair for the dramatic; and Marco, a young and overeager hip-hop dancing raccoon. With a positive attitude and a repertoire of show songs, Norm manages to fix what is broken and help folks resolve their differences along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This colorful and positive series highlights the value of living in a neighborhood where working together and helping each other is important. The stories are simple enough for young ones to follow, but the cast of characters, many of whom tote their own mobile phones, keep up with fashion trends and occasionally throw large parties, creating a story world that's both funny and modern. Meanwhile, Norm's willingness to jump into his golf cart to assist his neighbors combined with his love of singing (which is often showcased with a Broadway-style dance performance) adds some uniqueness to the whole thing. But the overall messages Norman Picklestripes offers about the importance of community, and being a kind and respectful part of it, are what really make this show worth watching.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the importance of community. What kind of things can people do to ensure that they live in a nice neighborhood? What are the different ways that we can all help each other?

  • What messages does Norman Picklestripes send about resolving problems between neighbors? What are some of the techniques that Norman uses to solve the differences between them?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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