After being around my colleagues with kids, entertainment has gained a whole new meaning, especially animation for children. While I’m not a mother to human children (though I do have fur kids), talking about animated films and series has helped me relive some of my childhood memories — nostalgic flashbacks of turning the television on Sunday morning and hearing the Spongebob Squarepants jingle.
For my mum colleagues, keeping the kids engaged can make or break long-haul destinations, so we decided it would be fun to create a list comprised of animations with similar themes that are sure to entertain both parents and their children!
Growing pains
For the kids: Hilda
2 seasons, 26 episodes
Hilda is an 11-year-old girl who grew up in a cabin in the woods with her mum. They eventually have to move into the nearby city of Trolberg, leaving their cabin home behind. The story follows her feelings surrounding the move and creating experiences with new friends David and Frida, her deer-fox Twig, and an elf named Alfur.
For the adults: Big Mouth
5 seasons, 50 episodes
Going through puberty isn’t easy. Geared toward adults, this coming-of-age sitcom explores the passions, obsessions, and terrors of teenagers experiencing bodily and hormonal changes. Through the eyes of cartoon characters Andrew, Nick, and Jessi, we can cringe and laugh at our pubescence while possibly learning a new thing or two about our bodies.
Horsin’ around
For the kids: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
6 seasons, 143 episodes
In the enchanted land of Equestria, every pony is instilled with magical qualities like honesty, loyalty, laughter, and kindness. In My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, the animals learn that teamwork brings harmony between the three kinds of ponies — Unicorns, Earth ponies, and Pegasi. Journey together with Twilight Sparkle and her pony pals as they embark on adventures and learn valuable lessons about friendship.
For the adults: Bojack Horseman
6 seasons, 76 episodes
Tragicomedy and satire-based, this sitcom is not for the faint-hearted. The series centres around Bojack Horseman, a 50-year-old self-loathing retired horse who drowns himself in sex, drugs, and alcohol. While he used to be the most beloved sitcom horse of the ‘90s, now, 20 years later, he’s trying to regain his dignity in Hollywood by hiring a ghost-writer for his autobiography.
Ups and downs
For the kids: Molang
52 episodes
Molang is a quick and fun little animated series for the young ones. Follow Molang, the bunny, and Piu Piu, the chick, as they go through the ups and downs of their everyday lives with the occasional outdoor trip. Each episode is four minutes short, where the characters speak gibberish in their cute pastel-coloured world.
For the adults: Tuca & Bertie
10 episodes
In a world of humanoid animals, Tuca, the toucan, and Bertie, the songbird, are best friends experiencing the ups and downs of adulthood in Bird Town. In this hilarious sitcom, they navigate things like moving out, moving in with a long-term partner, career changes, sex, and a yeast infection.
I spy, women masterminds
For the kids: Carmen Sandiego
4 seasons, 32 episodes
An orphaned girl is raised and trained to become a super thief by a group of villains at V.I.L.E. Academy. When she discovers the true intentions of V.I.L.E., the orphan girl adopts the new name Carmen Sandiego. She decides to take down the villain group as the modern-day Robin Hood. Although marketed for kids, this series is nostalgic for adults who grew up with cartoons like Kim Possible and Totally Spies.
For the adults: Inside Job
10 episodes
Recently premiered in October 2021, Inside Job is a comedy series set in a world where conspiracy theories are real. These conspiracy theories are controlled and kept secret by a team led by tech genius Reagan Ridley and her dysfunctional team members. Watch them fumble and work hard to hide the world’s conspiracies.
Magic vs sci-fi
For the kids: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
5 seasons, 52 episodes
On the planet of Etheria, two orphans, Adora and Catra are raised by an evil army called the Horde. When they get lost in the woods one day, Adora picks up a magic sword that transforms her into the legendary princess, She-Ra. Realising that the Horde is evil, she decides to help fight against them and join the Princess Alliance. However, Catra feels betrayed and abandoned by Adora, making them mortal enemies. Watch along as these magical princesses unite to fight against evil and find out whether Adora and Catra’s conflict is ever resolved.
For the adults: Arcane
9 episodes
Newly released Arcane is a fantasy sci-fi, action-adventure drama set in the past, relative to the League of Legends universe. This series serves as a prequel to the game and re-tells the stories of characters from the rich city of Piltover and the dark underbelly of Zaun, and the tensions that boil over between both cities as new inventions surface. You don’t have to know the League of Legends game to watch the series!
Dragons galore
For the kids: Wish Dragon
1 hour 42 minutes
Din, a college student in Shanghai, dreams of reuniting with his childhood best friend, Li Na, who moved away from their neighbourhood 10 years ago. He chances upon a mysterious older man, who gives him a teapot. After a series of events, a dragon called Long emerges from the teapot and informs Din that he will grant the student three wishes.
For the adults: The Dragon Prince
3 seasons, 27 episodes
In The Dragon Prince, war rages between the magical land of Xadia and the Human Kingdoms. Elven assassins are sent to kill the royal princes and the king of the human kingdoms. However, the two human princes, Callum and Ezran, and an assassin elf, Rayla, discover a secret that could change the war. They decide to team up to end the thousand-year conflict between humans and magical creatures, all while taking care of precious cargo — a baby dragon.
Saving the world
For the kids: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
3 seasons, 30 episodes
Kipo is forced to flee from her burrow, an underground city, and is faced with a post-apocalyptic surface world where large mutant animals roam. She has to learn how to survive with the help of new friends Wolf and Benson while looking for her father, whom she lost when they fled. With their newfound friendship, they battle the evil mutant mandrill, Scarlemagne, to save all humans and mutes from his plan to take over the surface. The series has also been praised for its character diversity, particularly for LBGTQ and characters of colour.
For the adult: Super Drags
5 episodes
Super Drags tells the story of three gay co-workers leading double lives as department store workers and drag queen superheroes. They fight to save the LGBTQ community from the evil queen Lady Elza and other evil nemeses. In Brazilian Portuguese, the singer, drag queen, and LGBTQ icon Pabllo Vittar wrote the opening song and voices Goldiva. The series also has an English dub featuring the voices of RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Trixie Mattel, Ginger Minj, Willam, and Shangela.
