Phineas and Ferb

TV review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
Phineas and Ferb Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Duo's over-the-top schemes are fun for kids.

Disney XD Kids' Animation 2007
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Parents say

age 5+

Based on 128 reviews

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 380 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that there's little cause for concern in Phineas and Ferb, a fun-filled -- if slightly exaggerated -- cartoon for grade-schoolers. Kids will certainly enjoy the characters' over-the-top antics and adventures, and (aside from said antics possibly inspiring grandiose ideas), there's not much to worry about when it comes to messages. The sister character is a bit of a stereotype who nags, whines, and is obsessed with her boyfriend, but that's not the show's focus. Mild peril is played for humor, and allusions are made to youthful crushes, but little of this content will be new to kids, and most are likely to overlook it when there's so much other fun stuff going on.

Community Reviews

Showcritic4561
Showcritic4561 Adult
September 3, 2020
age 6+

Another Disney TV animated delight

Ah, the smell of my younger years watching Disney back then! From 222 episodes to 2 movies and an underrated series by the same creators that premiered 1 year after Phineas’s ending... Disney really rocked it on this one after 4 years in a row of underrated animated series. The series was overall entertaining and funny and the animation was quite playful & fun! I was actually quite sad to see this one go, but then a year later I was glad that the creators weren’t done with Disney yet... & they decided to continue working with them with their latest creation “Milo Murphy’s Law”... which is an underrated but good show, and if you haven’t seen that show yet I suggest you should... especially the crossover episode with Phineas!

This title has:

Great role models
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
August 11, 2020
age 5+

Don’t Listen to Negative Nellies

I grew up on this show, and only have the fondest of memories of it. No “trauma”. Some of the people reviewing on this website are such Snowflakes, you all need to remember this was released at a time where people weren’t offended by literally everything. I’ve been rewatching it recently, and there are some adult jokes in there, but it is NOT damaging to children in any way, shape, or form. Many others my age who grew up on this show still adore it to this day, and we all regard it as one of the best parts of our childhoods. The fact there’s multiple storylines at once is incredible, it’s one of the most multi-faceted shows that has ever existed. The relationship between Doofenshmirtz and Perry gets more entertaining as you age. That encourages you to be kind to your enemies; along with the facts thrown in, encouragement to explore your curiosities, and sheer imagination of this show, makes it a child’s literal dream. If you prevent your child from watching this because you find it ‘offensive’ or ‘having socially unacceptable themes’, you are severely depriving them. This show is both culturally, humorously, and socially enriching. I honestly cannot believe anyone would rate it less than a 4, that must be more of an issue within yourself than with the show, which is, and always will be, a total masterpiece.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 128 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Young stepbrothers Phineas Flynn (voiced by Vincent Martella) and Ferb Fletcher (Thomas Sangster) want to make the most of their summer vacation, packing in as much action and adventure as they can in PHINEAS AND FERB. Each day, the two schemers set to work on oversized plans for visions like backyard surfing, personal theme park rides, and overnight musical fame. They're accompanied by the family's pet platypus, Perry (Dee Bradley Baker), whose placid nature hides a top-secret identity and a mission to save the world from the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire). Despite their parents'; oblivion, the boys' antics don't escape the watchful eye of their older sister, Candace (Ashley Tisdale), who gets positively giddy about the chance to prove once and for all that they're up to no good.

Is It Any Good?

This fun-filled cartoon is sure to win over young fans with its exaggerated sense of adventure and the comical pairing of stepbrothers. Boisterous Phineas and his mostly silent partner in crime, Ferb, who nonetheless proves his worth as his stepbrother's go-to engineering guru are an entertaining duo. Kids will enjoy letting their imaginations run wild with the characters' zany schemes almost as much as slightly older viewers (and even parents) will appreciate the show's wit and clever humor.

Add to that the unlikely plot twists -- which ensure that the boys' work remains under wraps -- and Perry's continued ability to outwit the humans around him, and it's easy to like this fast-paced cartoon. Parents can rest assured that while there's little attempt to teach obvious lessons here, Phineas and Ferb is as innocuous as the premise is fun, making it a fine choice for grade-school viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role that exaggeration plays in comedy. Do storylines seem funnier when they're taken to extremes -- as in the case of Phineas and Ferb's many oversized schemes?

  • Do you think plots based on exaggeration can ever impact viewers (particularly young ones) in a negative way? If so, how?

  • How do the characters in Phineas and Ferb demonstrate humility and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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