Parents' Guide to

The Owl House

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Engaging, quirky fantasy series has diversity, LGBTQ+ leads.

TV Disney Channel Kids' Animation 2020
The Owl House TV 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 7+

Based on 17 parent reviews

min F.
min F. Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
April 8, 2022
age 4+

Enjoyable for adults and kids alike

This is one of those cartoons that's enjoyable for adults too! Both my 9 year old boy and 6 year old girl love it! So many fun and clever jokes and references in it!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
5 people found this helpful.
Jackson L.
Jackson L. Parent of 2, 6 and 13-year-old
May 9, 2023
age 12+

Great for more mature kids.

An amazing show! After season 3 ended I felt like I had to make an updated review. I'd say this show is suitable for ages 12+. There's characters drinking alcohol, going into pubs, etc. Characters were also burnt, cut, and slashed. There's not that much blood or gore at all considering it's made for kids. A character is cursed causing her to slash her father's eye (even showing blood!). There's a scene in season 3 where a character is possessed. There's also some scary imagery across the entire series such as Belo's demon/monster form, the Collecter's puppet archives, and more. If your kids are mature, then this really is an amazing show! There is also a LOT of diverse representation. The main character Luz is confirmed to be neurodivergant, and bisexual. There's a non- binary character whom uses they/them pronouns, and a lot of Hispanic representation too. The whole theme of the show is that you don't have to fit in and can just be yourself. The main character Luz even quotes this, "Us weirdos have to stick together!" Overall one of my favorite shows of all time!

This title has:

Great messages
2 people found this helpful.
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When an imaginative teen named Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) accidentally discovers THE OWL HOUSE and a world of fantasy and magic, she knows life will never be the same again. Suddenly the idea of a dull summer spent at "reality check camp" fades to black, and Luz instead befriends a rebellious but kindhearted witch named Eda (Wendie Malick) and her small demon companion, King (Alex Hirsch). Alongside her new companions, Luz gets swept up into their quest for individual freedoms, challenging the conformist society of the Boiling Isles. With the whole summer ahead of her, Luz throws herself into the task of learning witchcraft as Eda's willing apprentice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17 ):
Kids say (219 ):

This engaging, inclusive, and visually intriguing show is part fairy tale, part graphic novel, and part classic kids' series with obvious -- and worthwhile -- social themes. Put the parts together, and you have The Owl House, a very likable, quirky story about an enthusiastic teen who doesn't let what others think she should be like dictate how she sees herself and her self-worth. Instead Luz seizes the opportunity to follow her heart and develop her passion even though it contradicts the norms of both her human society and the new demonic one into which she arrives.

Of course, in order to do that, she has to break some rules. She deceives her mom to stay in Boiling Isles and throw in with witches and demons. But the fact that her new friends hail from traditionally infamous types -- including a witch, demon, basilisk, and other fantasy creatures -- reminds viewers not to judge a book by its cover. Even so, these potentially confusing factors should be weighed in considering your kids' readiness for the show. The great news is that The Owl House is exceedingly well written and enjoyable to watch alongside your older kids and tweens, giving you the opportunity to discuss these kinds of themes as they come up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Luz' decision to stay with Eda and King in The Owl House. What inspires her to do so? Are there repercussions for her decision? What risks would have to be considered in making a similar decision in the real world?

  • Why are individuality and self-expression frowned upon in the Boiling Isles? How does forcing everyone to act similarly make it easier to control them?

  • Is Eda a good mentor for Luz? Does the fact that she's a witch and/or rebels against the rules influence your opinion? In what ways can rebels be good examples of courage or integrity?

  • How do Luz and other characters in The Owl House demonstrate compassion? How have you demonstrated this character strength in the past, and how will you continue to work toward it?

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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