Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun musical shorts teach about diversity, communication.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Rise Up, Sing Out
What's the Story?
Rise Up, Sing Out is a series of animated musical shorts produced by musicians Ahmir Questlove Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) that educate young kids on the importance of diversity, communication, and friendship. Animated kid friends share ideas, sometimes have conflicts, and then sing age-appropriate songs that answer questions like "Is it OK for another person to touch my hair without permission?" or "What's it like to have parents from two different cultures?" Concepts explored through song include microagressions, hearing scary news on TV, Black hair routines, and more.
Is It Any Good?
These charming, super-informative musical shorts give kids powerful tools to communicate about and understand diversity, and Questlove's beats aren't too shabby, either. The animation is vibrant, with handpainted-style backgrounds, cute faces, and bold colors perfect for preschooler age-viewers. Some of the language can feel a little advanced for the intended age range; for example, "microagressions" is a long (but necessary) word. But the positive messages are crystal clear, and the series deserves kudos for not sugarcoating or over-simplifying real issues that audiences young and old can learn from. And other than that, it's wholly age-appropriate, showing kids that it's OK to ask questions and be curious about other people's experiences.
You can definitely hear a bit of The Roots in each upbeat song written by founding members Questlove and Black Thought. Some parents might be reminded of the classic "One to Grown On" segments shown on Saturday mornings in the '80s, but these shorts are relevant, real, and most of all, fun for kids to watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about racism. What should you do if you ever notice someone being treated unfairly because of the color of their skin? What are some actions families can take to fight racism?
How do characters on this show display communication and compassion? Why are these character strengths important?
Kids on Rise Up, Sing Out ask really good questions. Do you have any questions after watching this show? Who can you ask?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 4, 2022
- Networks : Disney Junior , Disney Channel
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Activism
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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
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