Super Sema
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Super Sema
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Super Sema is an animated series about a kid superhero. Produced by Lupita Nyong'o (who also voices a character), the series is set in the fictional African town of Dunia, where humans live together along with artificial intelligence beings like robot villain Tobor and his army of Bongalalas, a Minion-like army of tiny bots. His self-serving schemes always get the attention of Sema and her brother MB, who use STEAM skills -- science, technology, engineering, arts, and math -- and creative problem-solving to save the day. Even though the series deals with big issues like deforestation, lack of electricity, and contagious viruses, the tone is light and age-appropriate, and Sema always saves the day in time. Parents should note that the show doesn't always show real-life science lessons -- trees grow overnight, meteors glow, etc. -- but they're always based in reality. For example, in one episode, Sema and MB convert the heat from rotting trash into a power source; in another, they create a GPS system (but in this scenario, "G" stands for "goat"). But creative problem-solving is always stressed, and kids will love to see Sema's solutions in action, while parents can support with more in-depth STEAM exploration.
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What's the Story?
Sema (voiced by Stycie Waweru) is a young girl who lives in the African village of Dunia with her brother MB and grandfather Baba. She's just a regular kid, but she also serves as a local superhero thanks to her ingenuity and STEAM skills, which she works on in her very own fully equipped science lab. It's a good thing Dunia has a superhero, because it also has a supervillain, Tobor, a humanoid robot who's set on wreaking havoc on the community along with his underlings, cute robot creatures known as Bongalalas. Each episode gives Sema the opportunity to "techno-vate," or use technology to solve problems. She and MB always come up with the perfect solution in her lab, whether it's harnessing the powers of a meteorite chunk, creating a tree-planting drone, or programming a 3D printer to make pizzas.
Is It Any Good?
The show's tone is light and buoyant, and Sema's cheerful spirit and can-do attitude are infectious. As the theme song states, Sema is a "maker, creator, and techno-vator," and while her STEAM-based solutions aren't always totally realistic (trees can't really grow overnight), her quick mind and ingenuity are just as important for kids to witness. Equally important is the futuristic African setting and the colorful community of Dunia itself, beautifully rendered here by Nairobi-based media company Kukua, along with executive producer Lupita Nyong'o, who's also Kenyan. Cultural traditions and activities like dance and football are seamlessly sewn into Sema's adventures, and Dunia shares more than a passing similarity to Black Panther's Wakanda. For such a brief show, Super Sema brings a part of the world that's not always shown in a positive light to joyful life.
The five-minute episodes move pretty fast plot-wise but usually don't feel rushed. That said, it would be fun to get a little more fleshed-out Sema time and to learn about some of the supporting characters, like her grandfather, Baba, who's raising Sema and MB himself. Tobor's goal of AI triumphing over humanity is also a little complex in a world that otherwise supports technology, and his character (who's missing a heart) does recall the "disabled villain" stereotype of someone who will destroy others in order to be "made whole." But families who love STEAM and adventure will love spending time with Super Sema.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the community of Dunia. How is Sema's village similiar to your own town or city? What is different? Have you seen Africa portrayed in other shows or movies?
What makes Sema "super"? What makes you super? Do you think everyone has a superpower of their own? Can kindness be a superpower? What about courage or empathy?
Sema is always creating things in her lab, like a VR game, an upcycled van, and a 3D printed pizza. Which ones sound the most fun to you? What do you have in your own home that you could use to create a science experiment or art project?
Do you think one person has the power to change the world? Can you name any real kids that have had a big effect on the world? If you can't, that's OK! Learn about brave kid heroes Malala, Greta Thunberg, Marley Dias, and many more who raised their voices about issues that they felt strongly about and were heard around the world. If you had the chance to share your voice with the world, what would you say?
How do Sema and MB work together to defeat Tobor and save the day? Why do you think teamwork is an important character strength? Have you ever had to do something along with a sibling, like clean the house or weed a garden? How do you make sure you get along?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 8, 2021
- Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Claudia Lloyd
- Network: YouTube
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: STEM, Great Girl Role Models, Robots
- Character Strengths: Courage, Curiosity, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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