Parents' Guide to

Babar

By Deirdre Sheppard, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Classic books make classy series for preschoolers.

TV ION , NBC , qubo Kids' Animation 1989
Babar Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Babar TV Show: Scene #1
  • Babar TV Show: Scene #2
  • Babar TV Show: Scene #3
  • Babar TV Show: Scene #4

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Vincenzo
Vincenzo Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
March 26, 2020
age 7+

First episode has gun violence

Excellent show! Note that in season 1, episode 1, Babar's mother is shown to be shot and killed by a hunter. This peril continues for much of the episode. Overall there are very positive messages, but my 5 yr old cried at that part!
Jonathan S.
Jonathan S. Adult
February 6, 2020
age 4+

A childhood favourite that I would really recommend!

Don't listen to the SJW nonsense you're seeing in the parent's reviews, this show is a timeless classic, with endearing characters, character development, beautiful music, hilarity, etc. This is a gem that is not to be ignored. Those parts involving the hunter, in the beginning, is very close to the original books by Jean De Brunhoff. Of course, dark moments like those would be a thing, and I'd say the creative crew did the best possible job you can find in a children's cartoon such as this, that can still be enjoyed by adults alike with it the clever use of vocabulary (We'd have Pompadour to thank for that). I would most certainly share this show with my future children as well as not only having fun with the funny moments in the show, but also have meaningful discussions with them regarding what they would learn from it.
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What's the Story?

BABAR chronicles the adventures of author Jean de Brunhoff's young elephant king and his royal family. Although he lives in a magnificent palace, Babar (voiced by Gordon Pinsent) is always eager to make a friend, regardless of their economic and social status. Babar shares his days with his wife, Queen Celeste (Dawn Greenhalgh), his children, and friends like the Old Lady (Elizabeth Hanna) and Cornelius (Chris Wiggins). He likes nothing better than reminiscing about his childhood days and recalling adventures like making friends from the circus.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Many shows adapted from books tend to move at a slow pace, but this one provides enough adventure and silliness to keep even the most active preschooler engaged. As an extra plus, the music is beautifully orchestrated.

Babar exemplifies the lesson that all of us are the same on the inside. These elephants hold their trunks high, but they also know that money doesn't conquer all. Many kids' shows depict well-off characters as villainous and/or gluttonous -- Babar shows kids that wealth doesn't necessarily equate to greed. Babar fans should definitely check out De Brunhoff's books as well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about basic concepts having to do with money and class in Babar. What does it mean to be rich? What does it mean to be poor? How can you tell that Babar is rich?

  • Families can also discuss the plot specifics of each episode. How did Babar decide to do what he did? Who helped him? Who tried to stop him? Why?

  • How do the characters on Babar demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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