Television Review: Shelldon
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the characters in this
underwater-set series are a quirky group of aquatic creatures
with extreme personalities, including a few who are chronically
grouchy/rude and at least one who picks on and intimidates his
peers. Although the main characters deal with issues that kids
will easily relate to (wishing to be the team MVP and coping
with a bully, for instance), and the solutions always send
messages about self-image, friendship, and respect, ultimately
much of the show's positive content is lost amid the oddities
of the characters themselves.
SHELLDON chronicles the aquatic adventures of a young Yoka Star Shell named Shelldon and his best friends, Herman and Connie. The trio’s undersea exploits throughout their hometown of Shell Land offer plenty of opportunity for fun and games, but there’s always a lesson to be learned in their escapades as well.
Youthful sea creatures and brightly colored visuals aside, this ocean-set show is no Finding Nemo. The cast is a mish-mash of strange, exaggerated characters with over-the-top personalities, a few of whom are loud, angry, and rude. While the show does attempt to infuse the stories with kid-friendly messages about self-confidence and respect for diversity, the characters’ personas are at times so distracting that their words and actions miss the mark.
What’s more, Shelldon struggles to net a clear-cut set of viewers. The characters' highly imaginative nature gears it more for little kids than older ones, but some of the marginal content (name-calling like “dweeb” and clashes with bullies, for instance) aren’t age-appropriate for the youngest viewers.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
