Black Led Cartoons For Today's Kid's

 One thing I quickly learned since becoming a parent in 2020, was that you soon get sucked into the shows your kid watches. If it's not the theme song randomly popping in your head, or the toy's you end up buying. Or actually realizing that it actually is a good show, you also make sure that your kid's see people that look like them on TV.

Representation matters there is absolutely no doubt about it, unfortunately avenues to include more representation are currently under attack by folks who don't love themselves so they hate everyone else. We must keep representation and what it mean's for kid's alive, so with that here modern cartoons featuring Black led characters for today's kid's to check out.

Craig Of The Creek

Craig Of The Creek was a standout favorite on the fall from grace cable channel that is the Cartoon network. Debuting in 2018, the show features the main character craig and his band of friends as they play at a nearby creek, using their vast imaginations to make the creek their own little world and navigating life in the process. The show just ended it's final season last month and went out with much fanfare.

Reruns still air on Cartoon network, and it is available on streaming services such Max and Hulu.

Motown Magic

This Netflix original is a favorite in my house and a genius idea in my opinion. Using the legendary music from Motown records and inspiration from cartoons such as The Magic School Bus. The series also debuting in 2018, follows a young boy Ben who stumbles upon a paintbrush that is magical in nature. It allows him to bring colorful art to life and through the power of Motown learn some lessons each episode.

While still available on Netflix, it only lasted two season's which is a shame because while several Motown favorites were played, there is a vault of classics that were never touched.

Doc Mcstuffins

The Doc is Here! Doc McStuffins the cartoon is well over 10 years old, debuting in 2012 yet kid's of today still love it. Dottie "Doc" McStuffins aspires to be a doctor like her mother, and with the power of his magic stethoscope and toys she brings to life she is able to start working towards that goal. Fixing toys from dolls to stuff animals healing them from their ailments. And as customary for most kid show's she learns important life lessons in every episode. 

The cartoon was a Disney Channel hit during it's original run which ended in 2020. I'm sure one of the Disney networks still air reruns, but it's available to watch on Disney plus and Hulu.

Ada Twist, Scientist

Another Netflix original Ada Twist, Scientist is a show in a similiar vain as Doc McStuffins. Debuting in 2021 the series follows the highly intelligent 9 year old Ada, full of imagination she has a book of scientific inventions and her own "magical' lab she can conduct experiments in. She also has three friends who are equally as smart by her side to assist in her science hijinks. 

The series focuses on the STEM field and imagination amongst kids. Encouraging them to persevere and not give up when something goes wrong the first time. There have been four season's of the show with the last one airing in 2023, it has not officially been cancelled by Netflix so hopefully more episodes are on the way. 

Lyla In The Loop

A PBS kid's production, Lyla In The Loop debuted last year on the network. It features a 7 year old girl named Lyla and her sidekick pet Stu, although no one really knows what kind of animal Stu is. Along with her family, Lyla and Stu navigate the life of a 7 year old in the city. Using critical thinking skills and her imagination, she innocently get's into mischief while also brainstorming her way out. Becoming a problem solver for those around her. Season 1 recently ended, so let's hope that season 2 is not far behind.

Karma's World

Another Netflix show that debuted in 2021, this one receives a lot of airtime in my house. Karma's World follows middle schooler Karma Grant who learns she has a skill of making good music. She also learns all the good music can bring to the world, while simultaneously learning about herself and gaining confidence. One of her song's Proud Of My Hair is quite infectious, you hear it and will be singing it to yourself for some days. While the show hasn't had any new episodes since 2022, hopefully new ones are being developed, in the meantime there is plenty of Karma's merchandise available in stores (trust me I know).

My Dad The Bounty Hunter

Netflix is really leading the pack here with cartoons featuring Black led characters. For kid's who love a good sci-fi adventure, this one is for them. My Dad The Bounty Hunter features brother and sister Sean and Lisa, while they are half earthlings they think their father is a typical boring dad. Until they accidentally catch a ride to one of his missions and find out he is a well known Bounty Hunter chasing down criminals of all species within the galaxy. It has some comedy and kid appropriate action scenes, as well as showing a loving Black family.

It debuted in 2023 and has 2 seasons before being cancelled by the streaming service. Which is a shame but there are still 19 episodes you can watch on repeat over and over again. 

Ariel

Based off the 2023 version of Ariel from Disney's Little Mermaid starring Hailey Bailey. This cartoon debuted on Disney Jr. last summer, and follows the misadventures of Ariel alongside her pals Sebastian and Flounder. Learning about the undersea life outside of her kingdom, and life lessons on how to treat other's and herself. It truly is just an updated version of the story for a new generation and hasn't changed much about the lore.

However if kid's today enjoyed the original Little Mermaid and the live-action remake, they will enjoy this one. While it has not been officially renewed by disney, I'm sure it will soon. 

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Documentaries Wish List

 I recently stumbled on a documentary on Hulu about the golden years of Nickelodeon called The Orange Years. Watching how Nickelodeon was formed and classic shows such as All That, Guts, Secret World of Alex Mack, Doug, and Salute Your Shorts came to be. Made me remember just how awesome and big of a deal Nickelodeon was during the 90s.

After watching the documentary, I started thinking about other topics I wouldn't mind seeing documentaries about. I love a good documentary so here's my top 5 wish list.

5. Cartoon Network

Depending on who you talk to Cartoon Network may have the edge over Nickelodeon, in which one was the top kids channel of the 90's. Debuting in the mid-90s Cartoon Network utilized the Warner Bros and Hanna Barbera library owned by Ted Turner to build it's network. It introduced kids of the 90s to older cartoons from the 70's like Jonny Quest and The Jackson five cartoon, it also introduced us to Space Ghost with his coast to coast series.

It wasn't until the network started developing it's own cartoons it really took off. Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and Courage The Cowardly Dog made the network. It would be interesting to hear from the power players of that era about the network as a whole and the respective shows that put it on the map.  

4. Sega Channel

The Sega Channel was so ahead of its time. A monthly subscription service through certain cable providers, there was a cartridge to insert into the Sega Genesis console. That cartridge afforded subscribers access to video games and the game library rotated every month. Sound familiar? 

The Sega Channel debuted in 1994 long before Cable TV On Demand features and streaming services. One of my closest friends had it when we were kids, man he was the coolest kid around and at the time rich in our eyes. I would love a in depth documentary on how the Sega Channel was born and why it didn't catch on like it should have. Was it cost for consumers? Was it the infrastructure? or was it just Sega was losing popularity in the console wars? Questions that need answers.

3. BET

Cable network BET was founded January 25, 1980 a full year before MTV hit the airwaves. Starting out in the new wave of Cable TV as a two hour program block on another feed, it eventually became it's own full-fledge 24 hour network in 1983. Over time giving the culture programs such as Video Soul with Donnie Simpson, Rap City, Teen Summit, Planet Groove, 106 and Park, and BET Uncut (some wild videos including Tip Drill played on Uncut). The network also gave several comedians of the 90's exposure with the hilarious Comic View.

BET was sold to Viacom in 2001 for $3 Billion, it'd be interesting and educational to hear how Robert Johnsons vision came about. The growth of BET through the years to include substations and even BET restaurants. It'd also be interesting to hear some of the resistance BET faced for many years when it often tried to change programming methods and move away from playing music videos all day.

2. ABC TGIF

During the early to mid 90's especially you were likely doing one of three things on Friday nights going out for a good time, going to Blockbuster to pick up a movie, or sitting in front of the TV for two hours of ABC's TGIF TV block. It was must watch TV and a cultural phenomenon which even included it's own jingle to kick the night off. TGIF gave us Family Matters, Full House, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step. It also gave us some eh type shows and duds like Baby Talk, Clueless, You Wish, Teen Angel, Two Of A Kind, and Aliens In The Family. 

I'll admit many of those shows have not aged well, but it was a wonderful moment in time. 90's nostalgia is still going strong it's time someone tells the story of how TGIF came together, reached massive heights and came crashing down as staples ended or moved to other networks (CBS stole a few shows and tried to emulate the success towards the end of the 90's). Somebody, anybody make this happen. 

1. New Jack Swing

If you know me you know I love the New Jack Swing era of music, I always felt like I was born 10 years too late and was actually suppose to be an young adult living life during the height of the era in the early 90's. Anyway it's about time this genre of music which was an fusion of hip hop and r&b to get it's well deserved recognition and it's story be told.

New Jack Swing was founded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle in the late 80's and soon other producers such as Babyface and L.A. Reid and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis utilized this sound. Soon entire labels like Uptown and Laface were built on the New Jack Swing sound. Legendary artist Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, TLC, Boyz II Men, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Guy and so so many more built their careers off of this genre. From it's beginnings to the influence it still holds on music today, it's time the New Jack Swing story gets told. 

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