Oswald
By KJ Dell Antonia,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Witty, gentle, surreal; ideal for preschoolers.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Oswald
Community Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Nice children’s show to watch and learn from a good role model
Report this review
Charming show
Report this review
What's the Story?
OSWALD follows the daily adventures of Oswald (an octopus) and his friends Henry (a penguin) and Daisy (a tall, fully mobile flower) in Big City. Oswald's dog is a hot dog on a leash, the ice cream vendor is a snowman, and the owner of the diner is a butterfly (and the mother of a caterpillar). It's all gently loopy -- funny to an adult in a surreal way, rather than an over-the-kids'-head way. Oswald is voiced by Fred Savage, and in every episode he sings a sweet, catchy tune about what the gang is doing.
Is It Any Good?
The animation is slowly paced, as suits the audience -- there are no sudden cuts or jerky movements. Scenes remain static for relatively long periods, but because such care has been taken with the background of Big City itself (houses are shaped like everything from stacked books to ice cream cones, passersby like walking cacti and gingerbread people), it's pleasant to watch, even for an adult. Even the most exciting episodes are handled in a very gentle, calming way -- there may be a giant snowball rolling toward Big City, but Oswald, Henry (David L. Lander), and Daisy (Crystal Scales) are always confident they can save the day. Most parents won't mind sitting down once in a while to share this one with their preschooler.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about each day's adventure in Oswald. Do you think Henry really wanted to try some of the new things Oswald was doing, even though he insisted on doing things "just like always"? If Daisy had followed the directions, would they have gotten stuck? Does Oswald love Daisy even though she's impulsive, and Henry even though he isn't adventurous at all? Why?
How do the characters on Oswald demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 20, 2001
- Cast: David L. Lander, Debi Derryberry, Fred Savage
- Network: Nick Jr.
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Music and Sing-Along, Ocean Creatures, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: February 26, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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