Girl's magical travels teach about other cultures.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Positive Role Models
a lot
Franny's motivation for going on her magical journeys is always to help the customers who come into her grandfather's shop and she is intrepid and bold in her quest to do good. Her positive, supportive, and playful relationship with her grandfather is lovely to watch; and Grandpa Fantootsie's presence bookends each of her adventures, bringing the young viewer back down to earth comfortingly.
Educational Value
a lot
Great vocabulary building elements as well as introductions to different global locations and cultures. Lots of pro-social lessons too, about treating others with respect, being helpful, kind, and honest.
Positive Messages
some
The show incorporates people of various races and abilities, and cultural and physical differences are treated respectfully.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Franny's Feet exposes viewers to racial and cultural differences around the world and even thoughtfully touches on disabilities. Helping others is a central theme, and Franny and her new friends talk openly about their feelings. The show combines vocabulary development and global learning with age-appropriate storytelling.
Many years ago an assistant of mine recommended me to show an episode to my class to teach them "Social Skills", and I did just that. Before the Theme Song even finished a student already began crying because the characters looked "Scary Scary". The actual episode was much worse. The little girl, Franny, lived alone in a tiny wooden house with an Old Man who made shoes and made her try them on which sent her on an Adventure somewhere. We didn't get far with the episode though, as soon the other students began Screaming or Covering their eyes and told me to turn it off, and I did. This show has several major issues. First off the main character has an unhealthy obsession with shoes and feet. Second, and this is the Elephant in the room, The animation and art style is too Nasty and Grotesque, like it looks more like something in an Adult Program. Even Ren & Stimpy was tamer than this. Don't waste your time with this Garbage, as it only exists to Scare Children.
I am a proud father of 4 boys. And 1 of my boys was crying and still is. A other 1 of my boys was crying and still is. My 3rd boy was crying and still is and the last son was crying and still is.
What's the Story?
In FRANNY'S FEET, 5-year-old Franny Fantootsie (voiced by Phoebe McAuley) slips on customers' shoes in her grandfather's repair shop and finds herself far from home on new adventures with new friends. Franny's destinations are determined by the types of shoes she dons: When a customer brings in his vacation sandals to be fixed, Franny ends up in Jamaica, dancing to the music of steel drums. Moccasins transport her to a powwow where she learns about the Native American culture. And a pair of zoris takes her to a Japanese tea ceremony. Franny often finds ways to help the new friends she meets solve problems, and the show even incorporates people with disabilities and draws thoughtful attention to them.
This show offers kids wonderful storytelling and encourages cultural awareness, emotional expression, recycling, and experiencing new things. As Franny would say, Franny's Feet is a "fran-tastic" choice for kid TV.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the places Franny visits in Franny's Feet. How are the people different from Franny? What does Franny find she has in common with them? Where have you encountered people who looked or spoke differently from you?
Parents can also talk about sharing feelings with friends. What kinds of things make your friends sad? How do you help them feel better?
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.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
