A decade ago, Netflix began adding original children’s cartoons to its streaming service. One of its earliest and most successful original animated series for kids was “Turbo FAST,” based on the DreamWorks Animation film “Turbo.” Since then, Netflix has expanded its library of original children’s content, including series like “Oddballs,” “Hilda,” “The Cuphead Show,” and “Orion and the Dark.” These cartoons have helped Netflix become a leading provider of children’s programming in the streaming industry. Whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen.

Oddballs (season 1)

Oddballs, an animated adventure-comedy streaming television series, was created by James Rallison and Ethan Banville for Netflix. Set in the fictional town of Dirt, Arizona, the show follows James, a bubble-shaped kid, on bizarre adventures with his best friends: a dim-witted crocodile named Max and, later on, a time-traveling girl named Echo. The first season consisted of twelve 20-minute episodes and was released on October 7, 2022.

PARENTAL NOTES

Oddballs is rated TV-Y7, but it may be too mature for young children.

• It’s certainly an irreverent program that isn’t afraid to nudge the limits for laughs. However, for what it’s worth, most of it is very cartoony and unreal.
  • A sentient toaster falls into a pond, electrocuting a scuba diver, whose lifeless corpse then floats to and bobs on the surface.
  • In one episode, James tells an AI grandmother / 3D present printer that he’s clearly her illegitimate grandchild.
  • The phrase “take it sleazy” is uttered once.
  • A character gets shot in the gut with weaponized toast, and the wound explodes with green blood (the character is a genetic experiment). For the rest of the scene, the character has a piece of toast sticking out of his bleeding abdomen.
  • The word “murder” is used more than once.

OVERTLY BASED ELEMENTS

It’s All About The Based

• It absolutely roasts the artificial self-esteem movement with their participation trophies and constant need for validation.
• It kicks modern Leftist parenting in the cajones, taking shots at “live your truth” and other woke platitudes.
• The show advocates the need for children, especially male children, to have a healthy outlet for aggressiveness and to occasionally have mildly risky fun (e.g., hardcore pillow fights).
• It pokes fun at climate change alarmists by making fun of cow farts, etc.
• It roasts hipsters in general and man buns specifically.

WOKE REPORT

What Would Shows Do Without Girl Bosses?

• Episode 4 introduces a sporadically recurring girl boss whose only purpose is to show up the male lead.

Gender Roles Schmender Roles

• In one scene, a female scientist dips and kisses a male scientist in celebration. However, the role reversal is done comedically because it’s obviously not something that would/should happen.

Vera de Milo Returns

• Although it isn’t explicitly stated, the children’s gym teacher is clearly a parody of a stereotypical lesbian gym teacher. Once again, however, it is used to comedic effect.

Season 2 (coming soon)