Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uncanny pet talents impress in family-friendly series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Unleashed
What's the Story?
UNLEASHED is an animal talent competition in which owners and their pets put their impressive skills to the test in front of kid judges and celebrity panelists Peyton List, Preacher Lawson, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. From dancing mini horses to swashbuckling rats, these creatures and their humans put their best foot (or hoof or paw) forward in the hopes of being crowned the episode's most entertaining pet. Host Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias presents the eventual winner with a silver crown trophy that doubles as a food bowl.
Is It Any Good?
This lively, kid-friendly series helps answer age-old questions like "Can a squirrel water ski?" and "Can I teach my hedgehog how to run an agility course?" In every case, it would seem, the answer is yes, as these animals show off amazing trained skills at the hands of their respective people. From acrobatics to four-legged dancing, each act is unique and impressive in its own right, always with a theme of sorts that helps elevate the performance value and contribute to its effect.
Unleashed is a fun pick for families, especially those that love animals themselves. It's full of corny jokes and other bits of comedy, plus a unique music performance by one of the judges that serves as a recap of the episode's performances before the voting takes place and the winner is revealed. It's not a show that inspires you to think much (beyond the obvious "How did they do that?"), but in this case, the visual entertainment and unexpected talent show does the trick.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the animals' performances reflect character strengths like determination and perseverance on the part of their people. How does setting and revisiting goals often help you succeed? How much time do you think it took some of these teams to perfect their skills?
What qualities of the performers and their respective acts are being judged in this competition? Do you agree with the judges' results? Why or why not?
How does competition help us hone our skills and want to improve? What lessons can be learned from losing? From winning?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 22, 2020
- Cast : Gabriel Iglesias , Peyton List , Utkarsh Ambudkar
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Variety Show
- Topics : Animals
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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