Twelve Forever

Name: Twelve Forever
Item: Twelve Forever
Rating: 4
Author: Mandie Caroll

TV review by

Mandie Caroll, Common Sense Media

Popular with kidsParents recommend

Common Sense says

age 8+

(i)

Wonderfully weird show has heart; expect weapons, fighting.

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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 8+

Based on 18 reviews

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Twelve Forever TV Series: Todd, Twelve, and Esther run, look determined

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Twelve Forever TV Series: Dr. Champion, Colin, Galexander, and others greet Twelve on Endless Island

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Twelve Forever TV Series: Butt Witch casts a spell on Brown Roger

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Twelve Forever: The wacky world of Endless Island

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A lot or a little?

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

Positive Messages

Be your own person. Let others be themselves, too. Speak up for yourself and your friends. Don't ignore your problems. You can make your situation better. Creativity, imagination as self-care. It's OK to break out of gender roles that don't work for you.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Relatable main characters exhibit loyalty, honest communication, support. Characters engage in behaviors and roles outside gender expectations, without ridicule. All main characters struggle with big emotions, get mad, yell, especially Reggie/Twelve; negative consequences, lesson-learning follow. Main villain is cruel, dismissive, destructive. A same-gender couple and many genderless creatures populate Endless Island. Same- and opposite-gender crushes happen. Reggie is white; Todd and Esther are well-developed characters of color. Single parents are featured.

Violence & Scariness

A fair amount of fantasy violence. Regular use of weapons (hockey stick, ax, bazooka, etc.) in bloodless battles with villains on Endless Island. Reggie as Twelve hacks off a villain's tail, no blood. Some scary moments, perilous action when Butt Which morphs into a giant, multi-armed creature, attacks main characters.

Sexy Stuff

Main characters develop crushes indicated by blushing, awkwardness. Hugs, quick kisses between same- and opposite-gender couples.

Language

Occasional mild language including "jerk," "stupid," etc.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Twelve Forever is an animated series about Reggie, or Twelve (Kelsey Abbott), whose desire to remain a kid is so strong she's able to escape to a fantasy island where she won't grow up. Her friends Todd (Anthony del Rio) and Esther (Jaylen Barron) join her on Endless Island and together they relax, adventure, fight off villains, and grow as friends and individuals. Created by Julia Vickerman, of Powerpuff Girls and Yo Gabba Gabba fame, this series addresses middle-school issues with its own quirky voice. Weirdly constructed creatures populate the island, toys that get buried there come to life, and their adversary is called the Butt Witch. There's cartoon-style, bloodless violence, and some scary, perilous moments pass in a closing battle. Reggie regularly has angry outbursts; on occasion, her friends do, too, using language like "stupid" and "jerk" -- but they always get to the root of the problem and support each other. Tweens and younger teens will enjoy the imaginative world, relatable yet quirky characters, and the raw emotionality of this colorful cartoon.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byButteeChipPirate August 24, 2019

age 6+

Highly Reccomended!

This show is incredible, both in quality and for children! I am a mother of two girls and boy, ages 13 and twins aged 9, and they all loved the show! Each chara... Continue reading

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Adult Written byCrunchyapple August 30, 2019

age 7+

Sweet, sensitive show that’s actually funny

I enjoy watching this show with my kids. It’s silly, it’s weird, the humor isn’t dumbed-down or gross-out. It’s smart and funny and absurd in the best ways. Rem... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written byfroggyboppin August 28, 2019

age 6+

Can’t wait for season 2!

A perfect addition to the Netflix original cartoon family. Comparable to Adventure Time and Gravity falls, Twelve Forever is (forbthe most part) light hearted a... Continue reading

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Teen, 14 years old Written byBlooberry August 23, 2019

age 6+

I LOVE it!

I love this show! As someone who was 12/13 only a few years ago, I can really relate to all the characters, especially 12! It was hard to grow up and mature, I... Continue reading

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What's the story?

TWELVE FOREVER is a story about 12-year-old Reggie, a weird kid who doesn't want to grow up, still likes playing with toys, and hates girly things. She and her friends Todd and Esther can escape to Endless Island, an absurdly wonderful place full of strange creatures who adore and are loyal to Reggie's crew. Endless Island serves as a respite from the real world, but fears and anger have a way of manifesting into real and troubling creatures on Endless Island that force the friends to confront their problems rather than run from them.

Is it any good?

Twelve Forever is a surprisingly touching show that will appeal to older kids, teens, and adults. Real life for Reggie, Todd, and Esther in Bethune, Iowa, is drab and stressful, while Endless Island is an '80s-era fever dream: all exploding color, bizarre creatures with cute voices, ice cream cone forests, and life-size, rideable balloon animals. The quirky characters are reminiscent of Adventure Time, and fans of that show are likely to be pleased with this one.

What makes Twelve Forever unique is the show's compassionate core. Unlike in their real lives, the friends experience acceptance and unconditional love on Endless. The lessons that come on the island feel well-earned; they aren't forced upon the kids as they often are back at school and home. The non-stereotypical gender representations and same-gender attraction/love have a light touch and feel natural.The friends' reliance on fighting and weapons to resolve conflicts is a concern, though it's entirely bloodless, and their victims are mostly fantasy creatures and villains. Younger kids might be baffled by the humor and the intense weirdness of Endless Island, but tweens and teens are sure to love this fun new show.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about how Twelve Forever alternates between fantasy and reality. Why do you think Endless Island exists? How do problems get solved in real life and on Endless Island? How does using violence create more problems than it solves?
This series involves some pretty serious themes like being an outcast, parents who pressure kids to be something they don't want to be, and intense anger. What issues do Reggie/Twelve, Todd, and Esther face that you can relate to? How do they deal with their problems? How do you? Who can you go to for support?
Reggie/Twelve, Todd, and Esther have very different personalities, but that doesn't stop them from being great friends. What character strengths do you see in them? Which characters inspire you? Why?