Struggling to find entertaining, yet thought-provoking, quality shows you can enjoy together with your kids? The streaming service Apple TV+ has been producing some spectacular content for the whole family! These exclusive shows range from heartwarming feature films, to jaw-dropping documentary series for young viewers. They’ve also lovingly showcased classic and new books and comics for the new generation.
Here’s a rundown of some of family-friendly favourites that we love:
New Releases
1. Luck
Everyone has always wished for a little good luck to get everything going their way. What if this could be guaranteed – all day, every day? Travel to the Land of Luck and meet talking animals, tubers, goblins and leprechauns, who ‘create’ good and bad luck for humans. Sam has grown up with the worst luck, but when she find a lucky penny – everything changes for the better. Eager to help her best friend, she journeys to the land where good luck moments (such as “Jam Side Up” and “Front Parking Spot”) are designed. Conversely, the Bad Luck crew determine how you lose keys down manholes and drop your ear phones into dog poop!
Helmed by the producers behind Cars and Toy Story, Luck certainly delivered a feel-good emotional journey. Star-studded voices were provided by Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Simon Pegg, and John Ratzenberger. I liked how it embraces the balance of good and bad, as well as diversity. The movie also shows the importance of persevering and pivoting when things don’t go the way you want. Suitable for all ages, but probably 5 and above would get most enjoyment out of it.
Filled with cute characters, mythical creatures and whimsical detail, Luck is full of heart and humour. My 7 and 10-year olds enjoyed it from start to finish, saying that they loved the movie since children are always have bad luck.
Take note: It does depict the realities of young children looking for adoptive families.
Genre: Animation
Streaming from: 5th August 2022
Kid-Friendly Documentaries
2. Prehistoric Planet
Watched the latest Jurassic World film and can’t get enough of dinosaurs? Prehistoric Planet is a five-part documentary series with amazingly realistic computer generated visuals of dinosaurs based on the latest findings (hint: the raptors you saw in the original Jurassic Park are now feathered and turkey-sized). You will think you have travelled back 66 million years ago to watch these amazing animals feed, fight for territory, and care for their young in various biomes.
My family enjoyed watching this together, gawking at the unusual Quetzalcoatlus walking on its four wing bones and the elegant swimming elasmosaur. Our favourite dinosaur was the shaggy duck billed Deinocheirus in the Freshwater episode using an entire tree to scratch an itch.
With narration by the legendary David Attenborough, music by Hans Zimmer, and backed by BBC Natural History and Jon Favreau, you know you’re in for suspenseful education! Kids can also explore the science behind the stories available at the show page.
Take note: It does depict predators hunting prey, dinosaurs being eaten, and dinosaurs mating (from the neck up).
Genre: Computer-generated photorealistic nature documentary
3. Tiny World
Have you ever wondered what it would be like inside the burrow of a harvest mouse or a beehive? Tiny World will bring you into the world of nearly 200 species of bugs, birds, reptiles, and small animals through fantastic footage. Shot at different locations around the world, this docuseries brings you up close to little known animals such as the tenrec (which has a homing system on its back) and mouse lemurs.
My kids, who love learning about animals, giggled at the fantastical animals that were featured – satanic leaf-tailed geckos, ogre-faced spiders, and the aye-aye lemur, which has a wicked-looking witch’s nail. Humble harvest mice, giraffe weevils, and other tiny animals were also showcased, making you wonder how they filmed this series in such detail.
There are currently 12 episodes, which are aptly narrated by ‘Ant-Man’ Paul Rudd.
Genre: Nature documentary
Animated Series
4. The Snoopy Show
Fans of this versatile beagle and his cute bird sidekick will delight in introducing Snoopy to their kids in this Apple Original series. In Season 1, the origins of many of his iconic scenes are explored – from the Flying Ace, to how he met Woodstock. You’ll see hapless Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the familiar Peanuts gang. I appreciated that the Charles M Schulz’ signature line drawing style is preserved, as well as the understated jazzy tunes. Kids loved the happy dancing and wild dream scenes. Need more? You can also watch Snoopy in Space on the same service.
Genre: Animation
5. Harriet the Spy
Live life as an intrepid eleven-year-old spy in New York City, witnessing everyday victories. Based on the classic book written and illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh, this animated series captures the essence of Manhattan while amplifying all the small issues kids feel into big, big deals. My 10-year-old gave it two thumbs up for its philosophy of ‘rules are made to be broken’.
Genre: Animation
(Shhh! Bonus for parents)
Kids asleep? You can enjoy the surreal Severance, epic Pachinko and sci-fi adventure Foundation during your ‘me time’.
Happy weekend, #makchicmumsquad!
[Photos courtesy of Apple TV+]
Apple TV+ streaming service is available on apps, browsers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for RM19.90 per month with a seven-day free trial. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.
