# Is there any children's programming with depth? Or at least a modicum of charm? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359 "2013-09-08T22:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/21 "2013-09-09T06:51:06Z")
Fairly Oddparents is still limping along, but the current opinion is that it’s been on life support for many, many seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/22 "2013-09-09T06:58:09Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Fairly Oddparents is still limping along, but the current opinion is that it’s been on life support for many, many seasons. Wait, what? They’re still making new episodes? Huh. (And I should clarify that my earlier post was asking about “you” in opposition to “the actual target audience/viewership”.) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/23 "2013-09-09T07:03:01Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Wait, what? They’re still making new episodes? Huh. At least they were in June when I was at Phoenix Comicon, Tara Strong mentioned that she was still doing voicework for it. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/24 "2013-09-09T08:53:34Z")
I’ll second Phineas and Ferb, all the Aardman stable of programmes and Octonauts. Incidentally, it may be re-voiced for other markets but certainly in the UK the voice of Captain Barnacles is done by none other than Simon Greenall, aka one of Alan Partridge’s longstanding sidekicks “Michael”, famous for “hoying a monkey into the sea” because it ate his fags. (I believe it bounced off a rock first though) That knowledge always gave an extra dimension to 54th running through of " the snot sea-cucumber" episode. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/25 "2013-09-09T09:14:02Z")
Gravity Falls has characters, plot, and a certain subversive wit. As filtered through Disney, of course. Ditto Phineas & Ferb, although that might be getting stale. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/26 "2013-09-09T11:06:00Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > _The Backyardigans_ is the bomb. You will enjoy it more than the kids do. Quoted for truth. I freaking love this show. My five-year-old has inexplicably developed an interest in watching **[Tracy Beaker Returns](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Beaker_Returns)**, which is set in a children’s care home. It’s quite the parenting challenge to explain to a child that young, for example, why an older girl on the show cut the leg off a younger boy’s stuffed animal as a threat to make him keep quiet about something he’d seen her do. But she seems to be keeping up and not getting upset, so we let her watch. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/27 "2013-09-09T13:35:39Z")
Stephen Spielberg’s Animaniacs. I’ve never seen a program intended for children that was more enjoyed by all ages. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/28 "2013-09-09T13:59:47Z")
I have to admit I’ve been pretty impressed by “Thomas and Friends”. Most episodes have a point, whether it’s to be loyal, to know when to ask for help, or just to know when to admit you were wrong. Plus all the characters are basically good, but sometimes their worse instincts get the better of them, and that’s what the story’s about- overcoming arrogance, pride, sloth, etc… Ni Hao Kai Lan is another one my son likes. The theme song is a bit hyper, but the show’s pretty good- more of the “how to act” stuff similar to the Thomas stuff, and her grandfather is a kindly old fellow who helps out and offers sage advice. Sesame Street is still Sesame Street, 40 years later, even if the primary characters have changed, and the live action actors have as well. My son particularly likes the Super Grover and the Elmo’s World shorts. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/29 "2013-09-09T14:59:33Z")
In my family we like _Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood_ (done by the _Mr. Rogers_ people) and _Sid the Science Kid_ (done by the Jim Henson people). I watch _Adventure Time_ by myself, but one time I had it on and a 4-year-old was here and he seemed to like it well enough! ---
**Author:** ![Neo-Calredic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@Neo-Calredic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neo-Calredic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/30 "2013-09-09T17:01:06Z")
My two-and-a-half year old daughter’s favorite show at the moment is The Magic School Bus on Netflix. She also likes Go, Diego, Go (and Dora, though not as much) and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Her other favorite show is Dr. Who. It’s not a kids’ show, but she loves it – she actually prefers the episodes with monsters. It might be too scary for some kids, but for whatever reason, she loves it. She calls him “The Doctah.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/31 "2013-09-09T17:51:33Z")
My 3 1/2 yr. old granddaughter is currently besotted with Nick Jr.'s latest offering: Paw Patrol. It has dogs and vehicles, her favorite things. It has the same plot as another favorite, Oomi-Zoomi, and a slew of others. Problem happens, lead characters gather, cooperate, and fix the problem. Everyone celebrates. Oomi Zoomi uses numbers and patterns a lot, Paw Patrol does some general education type stuff, i.e. don’t bother baby sea turtles, recycling is good, and so on. She also likes Peppa Pig, which is an obvious British import, from the accents and speech patterns. Whether any of this measures up to “depth” or “charm” is in the eye of the beholder. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/32 "2013-09-09T19:29:28Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Little Einsteins. Not charming. Annoying. Those kids need to switch to decaf and stop over enunciating. ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/33 "2013-09-09T19:49:35Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The one with the talking hands - are you talking about “Oobi”? I loved that show, and I don’t even have kids. There are at least two episodes featuring feet. 😃 > > There’s another cartoon that’s reappeared on Disney Jr. called “PB&J Otter”. It’s about three otter siblings named Peanut (boy) and his sisters Butter (who wears a diaper) and Jelly. Their favorite treats are fishsicles and tuna pancakes, and they live on the shore of a lake with their parents and other animal families. It teaches lessons without being preachy, and is fun to watch. YES - Oobi. Amazing what those people could do with their hands. I also sort of liked how they lived with their grandfather, but without explaining why. The Feet People. I have to say I disagree with feet people and hand people commingling. Great way to get foot in mouth disease. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/34 "2013-09-09T20:03:34Z")
Animaniacs (mentioned above) Tiny Toons Adventures (also by Spielberg) The entire early Nicktoons lineup. [ul] [li]Doug[/li][li]Rugrats[/li][li]Ren and Stimpy[/li][li]Rocko’s Modern Life[/li][li]Real Monsters[/li][li]KaBlam[/li][li]Hey Arnold[/li][li]Angry Beavers[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/35 "2013-09-09T20:06:28Z")
No love for Bubble Guppies on Nick Jr? For the toddler set. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/36 "2013-09-09T20:47:01Z")
**Sattua** , I don’t know. They just keep getting bigger, and they’re not babies anymore… and it’s not _fair_! Although they have just this week started sleeping through the night, and I think I will take the cute-toddler-plus-sleep phase over the cute-babies-no-sleep phase. **Neo** , one of my five-year-old’s first words was TARDIS. He right now spends his days either constructing 'inators (from Phineas and Ferb) or TARDIS variations. Out of Duplo. Endlessly. He was really upset last week for three days when I told him the only way to become a Timelord was to be born on Gallifrey to the Timelord species. I see this as a sign that we are good parents :). ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/37 "2013-09-09T22:42:17Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > No love for Bubble Guppies on Nick Jr? > For the toddler set. Hell, no. That is probably the most ridiculous show on there. Here’s a mystery: Where the dickens are Max and Ruby’s parents? The only adult we ever see on that show is the occasional visit by their grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/38 "2013-09-09T22:58:34Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Spongebob Squarepants. A deeply philosophical show, inculcating good moral values in kids. And fun, too. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/39 "2013-09-09T23:12:04Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > OP: Just to ask, why, and to what extent, should children’s TV creators care what _you_ find “deep” and “charming”? **John Di Fool** hasn’t had a chance to reply yet but I feel compelled to interject. Nowhere does **JdF** say or imply that any TV creators should care what **JdF** finds deep or charming. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359/40 "2013-09-09T23:36:46Z")
But if they don’t, they’re “lazy, conservative, undaring, or simply cowtowing to what their advertisers want.” Maybe I’m reading too much into that (and other bits), but it certainly sounded like it to me. I realize that parents control what their kids that age watch, but still. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-childrens-programming-with-depth-or-at-least-a-modicum-of-charm/668359.md?page=3)