SkimIt
Network: Sprout
Genre: Kids' Animation
TV Rating: NR
Other Choices: The Berenstain Bears, Angelina Ballerina, Curious George
Available On: Online
Common Sense Says: Book character's adventures celebrate imagination.
Common Sense Rates It:
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that Wibbly Pig is an animated series for preschoolers that centers on the imaginative adventures of a young pig and his circle of friends. The characters embody many qualities that young kids will relate to, such as curiosity, fear, excitement, and creativity, and positive social lessons are woven into each story. This series, which is inspired by the characters in a collection of board books of the same name, caters to kids and can transition into imaginative play or reading time with your own favorite preschooler.
- Families can talk about the characters' adventures. What inspires their imaginative journeys? What tools or props do they use in their make-believe? What discoveries do they make?
- Kids: What are your favorite scenes or characters to play in make-believe? What can your imagination let you do that you can't do in real life?
- Parents can use this opportunity to check out some books that feature some of kids' other favorite TV personalities like Olivia and Arthur. What differences do you notice between the TV series and the books?
What's the story?
A young pig and his friends set off on make-believe adventures in WIBBLY PIG, an animated series inspired by Mark Inkpen's books. Each episode follows Wibbly Pig (voiced by Liam Tully) as he creates a scene from his imagination and uses everyday objects like blankets, boxes, and furniture to fashion his mode of transportation for exploring his surroundings. With his friends at his side, Wibbly meets new people and experiences new things, all the while learning about being a good friend and solving problems.
Is it any good?
This cute little pig of board book fame makes for a delightful TV character, and his adventures reflect the simple nature of preschoolers' love of make-believe. Wibbly's dreams aren't the stuff of complicated storylines and intricate characters; they're inspired by what he knows of the world and what he imagines might be true. What does outer space look like? How high could I fly with balloons? What would it feel like to sit on the moon? Nothing is out of reach when Wibbly's imagination leads the way.Wibbly Pig is a gentle, slow-paced series that caters to preschoolers' natural curiosity and sense of wonder, and it works in some quality messages about relating to others and being a good friend as well. Need another reason to like it? The animation style stays true to the books' illustrations, making it easy to transition from the TV format to some quality reading time with your little ones.
The Good Stuff
Messages: The story shows youngsters embracing adventure, being inspired by curiosity, overcoming fears, and reconciling differences. Their expressions and questions reflect those of preschoolers, so young kids can relate to what's going on and learn from the characters' experiences.
Educational Value: The series has worthy social messages for preschoolers, who see the characters relating well to each other, solving problems together, and experiencing new things.
Role Models: Wibbly Pig and his friends are creative and imaginative, and they use what they have around them (boxes, blankets, furniture, etc.) to inspire their pretend play. As they do so, they learn about how the world works and what it means to be a friend.
What to watch out for
Violence & scariness: Not an issue
Sexy stuff: Not an issue
Language: Not an issue
Consumerism: The show is inspired by a collection of books by Mick Inkpen, and it's accompanied by a product line of toys and games for kids.
Drinking, drugs & smoking: Not an issue
