Parents' Guide to

Splash and Bubbles

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Friendly fish introduce preschoolers to ocean science.

TV PBS Kids Kids' Animation 2016
Splash and Bubbles 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 3+

Based on 16 parent reviews

Saw I.
Saw I. Adult
April 3, 2023
age 2+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Avasmom1
Avasmom1 Adult
November 13, 2018
age 2+

This is a good show!

I'm really not sure why the are so many negative reviews of this show! I watch this show with my one year old daughter every day. She dances when they sing so the songs can't be that bad. I've learned facts about fish that I didn't know watching it and it's also inspired me to google even more facts about them! If you think it's not educational you're not paying attention! To the person who complained about the puffer fish attracting females to his nest because "there is enough sex on tv..." all I can say is that for most fish reproduction occurs externally meaning that they don't have sex. If you're finding something sexual in this show you're looking too hard or you're just a weirdo. The song he sings about not knowing what he's doing he's just doing it is apt because there's a difference between instinctual behavior (like things fish do) and thoughtful behavior (like in humans). To the people who think it's disgusting or gross, it's not, it's nature and you can't really argue with nature. Plus I hope your kids are aware that they are not fish. To the complaint about the "Do what you feel" song it can easily be turned into a learning opportunity ie. "Do what you feel within the limits of your environment" , but I guess they couldn't be bothered with that and so just changed the channel. Why leave teaching your kids about rules to the television? To the person who says "cute fish do not know what they are doing or where they are going. No direction, no purpose and no dedication" they don't know because they are fish and knowing what you're doing requires self awareness. Just because they don't know doesn't mean they don't have direction, purpose or dedication! Poor fish! And lastly to whomever wrote the previous review, ummm, I don't even know where to start. So just two things, gravity still effects you under water, that's why the sand is at the bottom. And the turtle isn't going to suffocate if he eats the plastic bag he's going to get sick mainly due to the toxins in plastics. But I guess if flashing lights are all you need for entertainment, best of luck! This really is a good show and it really is educational! Watch it and you will probably learn something plus it will definitely give you lots of things to talk about with your kids!!!

This title has:

Great messages
See all 16 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SPLASH AND BUBBLES follows two best friends -- a yellowback fusilier named Splash (voiced by John Tartaglia) and a mandarin dragonet named Bubbles (Leslie Carrara) -- on their far-flung adventures in their ocean habitat to learn about other species and their underwater surroundings. Their Reeftown home is a lively, colorful place, but Splash and Bubbles yearn for the great beyond and the secrets it holds, so they set off with their pals Dunk (Raymond Carr), a somewhat timid pufferfish, and Ripple (Aymee Garcia), a sensitive seahorse, to make new acquaintances and see the sights. Inevitably this leads them to discoveries about the ocean and its inhabitants but also about themselves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (16 ):
Kids say (5 ):

This charming series inspires respect for marine life and the ocean's diversity by pairing the characters' comical adventures with more traditional educational segments. Splash and Bubbles entices youngsters much the same way Finding Nemo's vibrant scenery and endearing characters did, bringing a certain intimacy to the vast expanse of the ocean through its friendly characters. Reeftown is a bustling community of all different kinds of marine life, but when Splash and Bubbles explore beyond its boundaries, they discover even more diversity and fascination.

What really distinguishes the educational quality of this show, though, is the pairing of the characters' stories with the live-action "Get Your Feet Wet" segments that reinforce the oceanography concepts. When an animated octopus shows how being an invertebrate lets him move in unusual ways, it doesn't resonate quite as much as does seeing an actual octopus squeeze into a narrow bottle, for instance. These close-up views of the wonders of marine life will amaze preschoolers and inspire curiosity about more wonders of the underwater world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • How do Splash and Bubbles' adventures inspire your curiosity? What other character strengths and life skills do you think are important?

  • Families can talk about the different creatures Splash and Bubbles meet. What makes them similar? How do their differences help them survive in their unique surroundings? Why is diversity important even within the same habitat?

  • Do your kids like science topics? How does marine biology rank among their interests? What practical applications of science do you see in your own life?

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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