Parents' Guide to

Shelldon

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Quirky characters overshadow messages in floundering show.

TV ION, NBC, qubo Kids' Animation 2009
Shelldon Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 4 parent reviews

SUSANNE THE TEACHER
SUSANNE THE TEACHER Adult
October 12, 2011
age 4+

GREAT SHOW FOR YOUNGER KIDS - with strong female character

I think this is an excellent show for children between the ages of 4-8. The stories are fun but always have a message about friendship, teamwork, responsibility and self-respect. I think the comment above about the quirky characters is a little too sensitive. There is absolutely no bad language, violence or inappropriate behavior. Were it anymore "toned down" the characters would only preach and not entertain. I also disagree about the girls. ONE is stereotypical, but she is a minor character compared to Connie who is strong, intelligent, independent and respected by all the boys for her intelligence and abilities.
The PurThe purple ninja
The PurThe purple ninja Parent of 5-year-old
January 30, 2011
age 5+

The characters need work.

I don't like this show because its characters are based on stereotypes. The characters are classified by boy/girl hobbies and say to little kids, girls are always into makeup and singing while boys are into skateboarding and rock and roll. The show has some good values, but I don't like that the characters have only gender dominant traits.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SHELLDON chronicles the aquatic adventures of a young Yoka Star Shell named Shelldon (voiced by Samuel Sadovnik) and his best friends, Herman (Jason Kesser) and Connie. The trio's undersea exploits throughout their hometown of Shell Land offer plenty of opportunity for fun and games, but there's always a lesson to be learned in their escapades as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (1):

Youthful sea creatures and brightly colored visuals aside, this ocean-set show is no Finding Nemo. The cast is a mish-mash of strange, exaggerated characters with over-the-top personalities, a few of whom are loud, angry, and rude. While the show does attempt to infuse the stories with kid-friendly messages about self-confidence and respect for diversity, the characters' personas are at times so distracting that their words and actions miss the mark.

What's more, Shelldon struggles to net a clear-cut set of viewers. The characters' highly imaginative nature gears it more for little kids than older ones, but some of the marginal content (name-calling like "dweeb" and clashes with bullies, for instance) aren't age-appropriate for the youngest viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Shelldon's life compares to that of real-life kids. Kids: Can you relate to his issues with friends and family members? What problems did he have to overcome? Who did he turn for help? What did you learn from his experiences?

  • Have you ever seen real-life versions of these sea creatures? How accurate do you think the characters are? Is it important to be true to life in animation? Why or why not?

  • How does this series compare to some of your favorite shows or movies? What makes something a "good" show to you? Which are your favorites?

TV Details

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