Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Short film has catchy songs, great characters, mean cat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Robin Robin
What's the Story?
ROBIN ROBIN begins on a dark and stormy night. Lighting flashes on the bark of a tree, feathers are seen floating to the ground, more feathers, a cat slithers away and a lone egg quivers in the moonlight. It wobbles and rolls off the branch, making its way to the soft ground, where a family of mice is on its way back from a "sneak," bearing bits of cereal and crumbs from a "who-man's" home. The father mouse (Adeel Akthar, Sweet Tooth) notices the bird hatching and carries her into the mouse den before the cat can claim her. He decides to bring her into the family and show her their ways, even though she's definitely not a mouse. She's a robin. Will Robin learn the Mouse family ways? Will she learn about being a bird?
Is It Any Good?
Delightful, uplifting, and very well-crafted, this short film could make its way into the holiday entertainment pantheon. The songs in Robin Robin, though few due to the short format of the show, are memorable. Maybe not quite A Charlie Brown Christmas level great, but very catchy. It almost makes one wish the show were a little longer. But the short format works here, developing a nice story arc that doesn't get overly schmaltzy -- which can happen when there's a Christmas tree in the scene. Robin (Bronte Carmichael, Christopher Robin) is an adorable goof.
Kids will want to watch this one more than once. Adults will appreciate the fantastic performances (Magpie, voiced by Richard E. Grant, could give a certain Frozen snowman a run for his money, given the chance). A very nice addition to the holiday canon.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about perseverance in Robin Robin. How does Robin learn to fly? Are there skills that you work hard to attain?
The Mouse family and Magpie live in what seems to be a dump. How do they make do with what they find? What are they missing?
Robin goes in search of food in order to help her family. Is what she's doing courageous? What's the difference between courage and risky behavior?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 24, 2021
- Cast : Adeel Akhtar , Gillian Anderson , Richard E. Grant
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , Holidays , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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