Parents' Guide to

Shaun the Sheep

TV Disney Channel Kids' Animation 2007
Shaun the Sheep Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Emily Ashby By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Fun critter mischief from Wallace and Gromit crew.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Shaun the Sheep TV Show: Scene #1
  • Shaun the Sheep TV Show: Scene #2
  • Shaun the Sheep TV Show: Scene #3
  • Shaun the Sheep TV Show: Scene #4

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 22 parent reviews

Adurf
Adurf Parent of 3-year-old
April 28, 2019
age 5+

Not for sensitive 3 year olds

I liked “Wallace and Gromit” and such as a kid. I hadn’t seen this one yet, but thought I’d try it with my 3 year old on a sick/stuck in bed day. A bigger part than I expected was spent in the “animal jail”. We made it until the animal control bad guy tested his electrocution stun gun thing and fried a stuffed animal. Then the tears came and she asked for it to be turned off because it was too scary. I think a 5 year old would be just fine and understand more of what is going on. (There is no talking, so they have to understand what is going on and ask a lot of questions.) A less sensitive 4 year old would probably be fine. But with my daughter who doesn’t like scariness and violence, I’ll probably wait until she’s 5 to see if she wants to try again.
No scary stuff
No scary stuff Parent of 3-year-old
October 25, 2018
age 4+

Great movie, not for very young

My 3.5 year old loved this movie but was frightened when the dog catcher gets angry/aggressive towards end. Would be perfect for all ages except for "mean dog catcher"
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From the creator of beloved claymation characters Wallace and Gromit comes SHAUN THE SHEEP -- a short-form animated series about a curious young sheep who delights in adventure and enjoys leading his flock into all sorts of mischief. When The Farmer's around, Shaun gives the man no reason to doubt that Shaun is just another follower of the herd. But the minute the unsuspecting man's back is turned, the resourceful young sheep is off in pursuit of fun. Often it's up to faithful sheepdog Bitzer to wrangle the flock -- and help Shaun clean up their mess -- before his owner discovers all isn't as it seems.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (27 ):

This mini gem of a series will delight viewers of all ages, and its simplicity makes it a good option for sharing with even young kids. Shaun made his debut as the unfortunate victim of Wallace's Knit-o-matic machine in the 1995 short film A Close Shave, and his immediate popularity with fans prompted this series of shorts from creator Nick Park. The great news is that these abbreviated tales lose no ground due to their brevity -- each five-minute episode is packed with the same clever humor and endearing characters that fans have come to expect from Park's work.

While the series doesn't really offer any pointedly positive messages, parents can rest assured: Because Shaun the Sheep makes no attempt to represent reality (Shaun walks upright, and Bitzer wears a hat and a wristwatch), kids will easily see the exaggerated humor in Shaun's mildly naughty behavior and won't be influenced to follow suit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it takes to be a leader. Who are some of the leaders you know? What makes them good at what they do? Who is a leader in Shaun the Sheep?

  • What qualities are important in being an effective leader? Have you ever been put in a position to lead? How did you feel about that responsibility?

  • Families who've seen the Wallace and Gromit shorts/movies can also discuss what this series has in common with them and how it's different.

TV Details

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