A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
-
Educational Value
none
The show intends to entertain rather than to educate.
-
Positive Messages
very little
Kids see the characters' friendly actions toward one another and the good-natured fun they have together. In some episodes, the Shopkins parody different TV genres (reality shows, documentaries, mysteries, etc.) in funny ways.
-
Positive Role Models
very little
On the whole the Shopkins are friendly, inclusive, and curious, which leads to many adventures in the store aisles.
-
Products & Purchases
some
These 90-second featurettes star animated versions of popular Shopkins toys.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Shopkins is a short-form series of 90-second episodes starring the inch-tall characters from the Shopkins collection of toys. The stories are clever and impressively efficient, given the show's time restrictions, and they have fun with their setting inside the grocery store where the characters live. Some parody reality TV, games shows, and other entertainment genres, and each one mixes up the featured cast, exposing viewers to most of the characters they will see on toy shelves. While the stories are harmless and more than a little cute, they excel even more at creating interest in the Shopkins product line.
What's the Story?
SHOPKINS is a series of animated shorts starring anthropomorphic grocery store items who live in a supermarket in Shopville. Each 90-second episode shows an assortment of the characters involved in a singular task inside the store, like climbing a freezer shelf or pondering what mysteries lie beyond the automatic doors. Though the characters are numerous, central figures include Apple Blossom, Strawberry Kiss, Kooky Cookie, and Lippy Lips.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of the Shopkins characters. Kids: Are you drawn to Shopkins toys? Does their miniature size make them more appealing or less? Why is it fun to see inanimate objects with human traits?
Kids: Do you have other favorite shows with accompanying toys? Does this kind of relationship influence what you're drawn to in the store?
Who are some of your kids' favorite TV characters? Are they based in fantasy, or are their realistic aspects to their stories? Are any good role models? If so, why?