Television Review: The Backyardigans
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, since young children love
repetition, this show might be fun for them. But for viewers
older than about 5 or 6, the show's simplicity may not be quite
as inspiring. The Backyardigans use their imaginations to
create adventures, but there's not much interaction with the
audience to encourage viewers to do the same.
Families can talk about and imagine their own adventures. Where
would kids like to go if they could travel anywhere in the
world? Who would they meet there, and what would they do?
THE BACKYARDIGANS are a group of animated animal friends (and one pink alien) who reside in a suburban neighborhood and have imaginary adventures in the backyard. As the characters begin their play, the scene changes from the bucolic suburbs to whatever environment they're imagining. The stories are simple -- in one, for example, the animal friends, in the guise of Mounties and Ski Patrol members, explored the snowy wastes looking for people to protect; in another, as a group of secret agents, they snuck into a museum to restore the "mystery bone" to its rightful owner.
Although there's nothing wrong with that premise -- particularly when it comes to encouraging the use of imagination -- the series isn't as exciting as some other shows for preschoolers. The computer animation can feel a bit flat, and the stories progress very slowly, with lots of repetition (fun for kids, not as much for adults). The show also includes a lot of music, since the adventurers sing about their undertakings, which errs on the repetitive side (but again, it's fun for kids). Young children will enjoy these adventures, but older kids and parents aren't likely to be as enthralled.
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