Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sex, violence, language in absurdly funny stop-motion show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Women Wearing Shoulder Pads
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WOMEN WEARING SHOULDER PADS is a stop-motion animated series for adults set in colorful 1980s Quito, Ecuador. The plot centers on Spanish entrepreneur and "rich girl turned rich woman" Marioneta Negocios (Pepa Pallarés), who hatches a plan to market cuyes (guinea pigs) as lovable household companions rather than tasty snacks (the creatures are commonly bred for meat in some parts of South America). This makes her enemy #1 to the intimidating Doña Quispe (Norma Maldonado), a famous cuy-butcher and restaurateur. Complicating matters further are mysterious stalkers, torrid romances, and rebellious children.
Is It Any Good?
If a 1980s telenovela were mixed with an old-school Rankin-Bass holiday special and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, you might end up with something similar to this show. It's niche, yes—but wildly unique. Like the shows Women Wearing Shoulder Pads takes inspiration from, the story is dramatic, and characters behave in hilariously over-the-top ways, which is somehow extra funny when enacted in such a handcrafted, organic, and clever visual style. This series is definitely not for everyone (especially little kids), but fans of experimental weirdness should get a real kick out of it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the market for shows like this. What is the appeal of animated shows for adults? Does any of the content cross the line?
Talk about the style of animation used in Women Wearing Shoulder Pads. Can you think of other popular shows and movies that use stop-motion animation? What draws people to this labor-intensive style of animation?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 17, 2025
- Cast : Pepa Pallarés , Norma Maldonado , Gabriela Cartol
- Network : Adult Swim
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 7, 2026
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate