Tuca & Bertie

TV review by Martin Brown, Common Sense Media
Tuca & Bertie Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Energetic animated series tackles complex adult topics.

Netflix Comedy 2019
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Tuca & Bertie is an adult cartoon that takes place in a similar universe as Bojack Horseman, where characters are birds and other animals (and sometimes plants) that behave like humans. The show follows two 20-something women as they navigate familiar sitcom areas like moving in with a significant other or trying to get a promotion. The show contains some cartoonish violence, a liberal amount of profanity, including "f--k," "a--hole," and "s--t," and a wide variety of sexual situations, including simulated sex and female nudity. The show frequently involves complex issues such as alcoholism and sexual harassment.

Community Reviews

Marcus Dubois
Marcus Dubois Adult
October 18, 2020
age 18+

An odd mixture of childish and adult

I don't recommend this show to anyone really. It lacks substance and tries to make up for this with excessive randomness, noise, and a rather annoying character. There is sexual content and substance use, which is fine, but in combination with everything else, it simply didn't work.
Moneydog23
Moneydog23 Adult
January 18, 2020
age 16+

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TUCA & BERTIE, a toucan (Tiffany Haddish) and a songbird (Ali Wong), respectively, are best friends and former roommates who still live in the same apartment building. Tuca is living on her own for the first time after getting sober, while Bertie has just moved in with her boyfriend, Speckle (Steven Yeun). The two best friends help and encourage one another as they deal with life issues like going up for a promotion and buying a house.

Is It Any Good?

Pulling from a bottomless well of energy (and supported by an incredible cast), this series frenetically switches art styles to land jokes and confront complex everyday issues. Creator Lisa Hanawalt is giving absolutely everything she has to her first series (she previously gave BoJack Horseman its signature look).

Early on, Tuca & Bertie can't quite decide whether it wants to be a colossal rush of classic sitcom story subversion, or just an endless stream of memes, but it's exciting to watch as it settles into itself and finds its own unique voice.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the world of Tuca & Bertie. What does it mean that everyone is an animal? Why do you think a show for adults is presented this way?

  • What else happens on Tuca & Bertie that couldn't happen in real life? What do these surreal events mean? What do they add to the meaning of the story that wouldn't be there otherwise? What other stylistic choices do the creators make to help tell the story?

  • What kinds of difficulties do Tuca and Bertie encounter throughout their day? How do they deal with these problems?

TV Details

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