Qumi-Qumi
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Imaginative series, misfit characters thoroughly entertain.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Qumi-Qumi
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Rated tv-y
Report this review
What's the Story?
QUMI-QUMI is an animated series set in an imagined world where three friends -- outcasts from their respective tribes -- find surprising camaraderie away from their own peers and with each other. Juga (voiced by Vladimir Ponomarev), Shumadan (Ponomarev again), and Yusi (Alina Rin) don't regret leaving their tribes behind, but that doesn't mean they're similar in personality or temperament, which becomes evident each time they're faced with a new adventure in their colorful, unpredictable world.
Is It Any Good?
Visually charming and surprisingly engaging for a show without dialogue, these energetic stories are a fun and innocuous pick for tweens. The Qumi-Qumi world is one of limitless possibilities, where magic and imagination inspire the most bizarre and hilarious experiences for these three friends. Some challenge their friendship, others cause them to solve a conundrum, and still others are merely opportunities to discover something new about their world.
The lack of recognizable language is distracting at first, but astute viewers (tweens and grown-ups alike) quickly will start to understand the cadence of the gibberish and the occasional recognizable word or phrase. What's most striking is how insignificant this exemption is from Qumi-Qumi's overall appeal since the show does such a good job of crafting interesting stories with effective body language, animation, and physical humor in place of traditional dialogue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how fantastical shows like this one inspire kids' imaginations. Which, if any, aspects of the Qumi-Qumi world resemble those of Earth? For those that are entirely made up, how do you think the creators came up with their ideas?
Tweens: Do you find truth in the idea that opposites attract? How is that evident in these three characters? Is it true of your friendships, or do you tend more toward people like you?
Why do you think dialogue was omitted here? Did you miss it? Would it have been easier to follow the story if the characters' speech was recognizable? What other methods of communicating your feelings or needs do you have?
Who do you think is this show's target audience? Does it appeal to grown-ups as well as tweens?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 1, 2015
- Cast: Vladimir Ponomarev, Alina Rin
- Network: Kids Central
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: May 24, 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
Positive Role Model TV for Boys
Best Superhero TV Shows
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