Parents' Guide to

True and the Rainbow Kingdom

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Whimsical world's heroine helps her friends solve problems.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2017
True and the Rainbow Kingdom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 3+

Based on 23 parent reviews

Cecebri
Cecebri Adult
May 4, 2021
age 3+

Not the worst but misses some easy opportunities

My 4 year LOVES the music and colors. The humor is harmless; she thinks Bartleby the cat is hilarious. I like True's approach to problem-solving by reviewing what she knows about the problem, identifying the obstacles and using resources to save the day. I desperately wish there was more diversity in the cast (all of the humans are assumed to be white) and more variety in the character development (Grizelda is always irredeemably bratty, Z is always unflappably wise, etc). At the end of the show we try to talk about what True learned and it's always a bit of a miss which signals to me that, while the show is fun and benign, she's not actually getting anything good out of it either. There are better ways to use her time but it's not the worst.
1 person found this helpful.
Severne
Severne Adult
April 11, 2020
age 5+

Junk food por little girls

I totally agree with the previous opinion titled "junk food". Visually: overstimulating (colours,speed,fast scenes and dialogues). Messages:just fast food for the mind. I wish our little children could enjoy the cartoons like Miyazaki ones (Totoro,Ponyo,Nicky with apprentice)
1 person found this helpful.
See all 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In TRUE AND THE RAINBOW KINGDOM, a kindhearted 8-year-old named True (voiced by Michela Luci) lives in a whimsical land and possesses a very special magical gift: the power to activate the Wishing Tree and use its wishes to help people solve problems. Whether it's a friend who's feeling overlooked or an entertainment star with a severe attack of self-doubt, True never fails to find the perfect way to set things right again, thanks to three unique wishes shared by the tree. Once happiness is restored in the kingdom, True and her best friend, Bartleby (Jamie Watson), can get back to enjoying the delights of their colorful home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (23):
Kids say (13):

True's magical power has less to do with the Wishing Tree and more to do with her knack for illustrating the value of effective problem solving. She takes great care in naming the problem and contemplating a possible solution before visiting the Wishing Tree and asking for additional help. What's more, even as the anthropomorphic wishes hop into action at critical times in the process, none can do the job alone; it requires a combination of them plus True's patient guidance to achieve the required effect. The resulting theme? Solutions aren't always simple to predict, but a little perseverance goes a long way.

But as kids aren't likely to seek out a show for this kind of quality content, True and the Rainbow Kingdom wins them over with its visual appeal, humor, and thoughtful characters. Everything in Rainbow Kingdom lives up to its name with vibrant colors, and there's much creativity in the inhabitants' unorthodox shapes and sizes. Even True's antithetical peer, Grizelda (Anna Bartlam), serves a vital purpose in this colorful world, reminding kids of the results of negative traits like selfishness.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why character strengths like perseverance and empathy are important. Where do you see these character strengths in True and the Rainbow Kingdom? Is it frustrating when solutions don't work the first time? How does it feel to help someone else solve a problem?

  • What aspects of Rainbow Kingdom resemble the real world and which are imaginative? Is it an appealing place? Why is it fun to imagine different places and creatures? What are your favorite topics and characters for make-believe play?

  • Who are some of your favorite TV characters? What positive behavior do they model? Do you ever question the things they do, or imagine you would do them differently?

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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