Parents' Guide to The Boy & The Octopus

TV Disney+ Drama 2024
The Boy & The Octopus TV show poster: Side profile of young boy in front of a Christmas tree. A small octopus hides in his beanie

Common Sense Media Review

Fernanda Camargo By Fernanda Camargo , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Heartwarming tale of friendship is also an ad for Disney.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Boy & The Octopus TV screenshot 1: Profile of young boy in front of a Christmas tree. A small octopus hides in his beanie
  • The Boy & The Octopus screenshot 2: Medium shot of 10-year-old boy at the beach. He looks up scared at the orange octopus that sits on his head.
  • The Boy & The Octopus screenshot 3: Young boy wears a Mickey Mouse beanie that hides a small orange octopus. Octopus reaches to touch a snow ball.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In THE BOY & THE OCTOPUS, a boy meets an octopus while on vacation and they develop a strong bond—quite literally! As they return home, their friendship helps the octopus to explore a new, enchanting world. Seeing the octopus' dreams get bigger, the boy comes up with a plan to help him achieve it—including a little help from Santa.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Director Taika Waititi hits the perfect balance between touching and funny in this lovely short that embodies curiosity, friendship, and the dreamer in all of us. From color grading to casting choices, The Boy & The Octopus sets viewers in a warm universe that leaves you wanting more. The story itself is very effective, and the absence of complex dialogue makes it appropriate for all age groups.

Even though the marketing is clear in the Disney references, the beauty of the film is in inspiring viewers of all ages to dream and pursue those dreams.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the message in The Boy & The Octopus. What do you think the movie is about?

  • Like Ariel in The Little Mermaid, the octopus wants to explore life beyond the ocean. What were some of the things he learned and got to experience?

  • Have you ever had to say goodbye to a friend? How did that feel?

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

The Boy & The Octopus TV show poster: Side profile of young boy in front of a Christmas tree. A small octopus hides in his beanie

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