Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lessons about science, nature in gentle adventure show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Octonauts: Above and Beyond
What's the Story?
Animal rescue squad the Octonauts comes out of the water and heads onto the land in THE OCTONAUTS: ABOVE & BEYOND, an adventure show that finds the courageous crew meeting up with animals who need their help and finding a way to come to their aid through a combination of bravery and science smarts. All the members of the Octonauts crew are present and accounted for, led by Captain Barnacles (voiced by Simon Greenall) and his sidekicks, Kwazii (Rob Rackstraw), Dashi (Teresa Gallagher), and Peso (Paul Panting).
Is It Any Good?
Intrepid, brave, and always up for helping an animal in need of rescue, the Octonauts are as full of derring-do on land as they were in the ocean, and this spin-off echoes the original in every way. Already minted fans of the British children's show will be familiar with the show's setup: The Octonauts team heads out at the beginning of each episode on a mission (business or pleasure) before soon running into animals that need some sort of aid, along with an expert who can explain the science behind whatever predicament the animals are in. Someone hatches a plan, it's a crazy idea but it just might work, and then: It does!
The familiar rhythm and easy-to-hop hurdles, accompanied by very gentle suspense, are comforting to preschoolers, who absorb messages about concepts like droughts, wind, or volcanoes while they're carried along by the storyline. The puffy anthropomorphic animal characters are easy to love, too, especially the Vegimals, half-plant, half-animal creatures that speak in sweet unintelligible squeaks and vocalizations (that only one Octonaut can understand). Parents will also appreciate that the voice acting has a mellow, soothing cadence that won't grate on adults' nerves. For science lessons served with a side of super cute, Octonauts: Above & Beyond is worth a watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the world's diversity. How do animals adapt to their surroundings? What signs of adaptation do you see in the creatures in Octonauts: Above & Beyond? How would they need to change if they lived in the water?
Kids: Is it fun to be part of a team? How must teammates work together to achieve a common goal? What happens if no one listens to the leader? How does that hurt the team's success? Can you name some teams that you belong to?
How do the characters in Octonauts: Above & Beyond demonstrate teamwork? What parts do courage and compassion play in their quests? Why are those important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 7, 2021
- Cast : Teresa Gallagher , Simon Greenall , Mona Grenne
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 5, 2021
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