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Parents' Guide to

Special Agent Oso

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Friendly panda's missions send good messages to kids.

TV Disney Channel Kids' Animation 2009
Special Agent Oso Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Special Agent Oso TV Show: Scene #1
  • Special Agent Oso TV Show: Scene #2
  • Special Agent Oso TV Show: Scene #3
  • Special Agent Oso TV Show: Scene #4

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 20 parent reviews

Lovealways01
Lovealways01 Adult
January 3, 2020
age 2+

Great

People get so offended I hat this generation for once let a child have fun it’s a good show it teaches them to make stuff and ask for help
Lynnskds5
Lynnskds5 Adult
October 14, 2018
age 3+

I love this show

Oso helps teach problem solving skills to young children. Parents are so quick to step in and solve problems for them, that they don't learn this skill. When they get to school and have to face any problems, they over react and get frustrated instead of just thinking on their own. The "3 easy steps" helps them breaks down the task that needs to be done if they are overwhelmed. What adults doesn't need that, too? Lol
See all 20 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In SPECIAL AGENT OSO, a caring panda named Oso (voiced by Sean Astin) comes to the aid of kids who need help with everyday troubles like cleaning their room, finding a lost item, and planning a special surprise. As part of an international organization of helpful stuffed animals, Oso is always ready to lend a hand -- er, paw -- to the kids he meets, and his assignments let him exercise the skills he learns under the guidance of senior agents Wolfie (Phil Lewis) and Dotty (Amber Hood). Armed with a ready supply of high-tech gadgets -- including perky virtual assistant Paw Pilot (Meghan Strange) -- Oso is prepared for anything and can solve problems of any size.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (20 ):
Kids say (25 ):

Oso is a welcome hero for every kid who's ever envisioned her cuddly teddy bear as a living, breathing best friend. He's the consummate champion for the kids he helps, and preschoolers will relate to the characters' troubles and benefit from seeing how they and Oso follow simple steps to fix them.

Special Agent Oso's interactive format encourages kids to think independently of the characters and try to solve problems on their own, and the educational content ensures that they'll pick up important preschool skills along the way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about solving problems in Special Agent Oso. Kids: What kinds of problems do you encounter during a typical day? How do you try to solve them yourself? What tools do you use to help?

  • How do you feel when you solve a problem on your own? Who do you turn to for help when you can't do something on your own?

  • How do the characters in Special Agent Oso demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

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.

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