Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poignant reflection on life as a kid with hearing loss.
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El Deafo
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
El Deafo is an animated TV adaptation of Cece Bell's award-winning graphic novel of the same name. Cece (voiced by Lexi Finigan) narrates her experience of growing up with profound hearing loss due to a childhood illness. After a scary hospital stay as a young kid, she's diagnosed with hearing loss and fitted with a hearing aid. When it's time for kindergarten, she goes to a school where all her classmates also have hearing loss. She learns how to lip read and is comforted to find out there are other kids just like her. Eventually Cece starts at a different school where she's the only hard-of-hearing kid, and she's petrified to be "different." Her worst fears are confirmed when she's watching TV and someone taunts a deaf character by calling him "deaf-o." She claims this insult as her own and adopts the moniker "El Deafo" as her superhero alter ego. Whenever things get tough, she escapes to a daydream in which she conquers all as El Deafo. As she grows up, she makes her first best friend, develops a crush, and goes through other coming-of-age rituals. Along the way, Cece reflects on the superpowers and challenges that her hearing has brought to her life.
Is It Any Good?
This beautiful three-part miniseries doesn't easily draw comparisons to other kids' TV shows, in a good way. It has a slow, contemplative pace, and feels more like an animated diary than anything else. Deaf actor Lexi Finigan narrates main character Cece's real-life experiences. Her quiet performance draws the viewer into Cece's innermost thoughts. The show powerfully uses audio effects to help hearing viewers understand what Cece's world sounds like with hearing loss. Both these effects and Cece's narration combined will help kid viewers really feel Cece's joys and struggles. This powerful empathy may change how viewers treat kids in real life who are "different" from them. The series doesn't shy away from depicting the obstacles Cece faces due to her hearing loss, but it also regularly shows Cece in joyful moments. Cece's disability is a part of her story, but it's not the only part. El Deafo is a masterful piece of storytelling that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cece's experience losing her hearing in El Deafo. Was there anything that surprised you about what it was like for her? How did her childhood feel similar to or different from your experience?
Cece is really worried about her classmates seeing her as different or weird. What's something you can do to help a classmate feel that they belong?
If you aren't someone who has experienced hearing loss, the sound in El Deafo might be the closest thing you can hear to help you understand what the world sounds like for those who have. Hearing the world through Cece's ears might help you feel empathy, or the ability to feel Cece's feelings of confusion and frustration as if they're happening to you. Why do you think it may be beneficial to feel empathy and be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 7, 2022
- Cast: Lexi Finigan
- Network: Apple TV+
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Superheroes , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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