Walter & Tandoori

Using hyperbole and humor, this series introduces kids to environmental issues in simple ways that resonate with their understanding of the world. The stories don't overcomplicate topics like global warming and noxious carbon dioxide; rather they present them in context that's easily understood even by young kids. Even with Walter not speaking a discernable language (he uses series of noises but few recognizable words), viewers have an easy time identifying the problem, realizing its negative effects on people and the planet, and appreciating that Walter always does everything in his power to make a positive impact on the situation.

But there's another side to Walter & Tandoori's simplistic stance on what often are multi-faceted, real-world issues, and that could leave kids with the false impression that every one of these concepts is one-sided. When Walter gets irate at a neighbor who's using noisy machinery to do yardwork, it's implied that Walter's right to silence supersedes his neighbor's right to tend to his personal property. Commercial fishing practices take on new emotion when Walter befriends the fish caught in a net and harasses the fisherman to release them without care that he's depriving him of his livelihood. The bottom line? This animated series raises some important issues for today's eco-aware kids, but it needs a reality check to tell the whole story.