Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 9+
Quirky, heartwarming series has cross-generational appeal.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
very little
A few characters cause mild harm, like the marshmallows who bite Oscar's hand, but none of the injuries are serious. Several of the camp residents are oversized monsters who are friendly.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Some plotlines involve characters' crushes on each other and the concept of feeling like a third wheel.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Characters are multidimensional and in touch with their very real emotions. Oscar feels nervous, unsettled in new places/situations, voices his concerns without fear of rejection. Hedgehog's personality blossoms when she is free to follow her heart, interests. Each is empathetic and the other's emotional rock, and their friendship is devoid of romantic pressures. Strong themes of embracing new experiences, self-expression, overcoming ups and downs of growing up.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Oscar and Hedgehog are devoted friends who never fail each other. They share their feelings honestly, come to each other's rescue when needed. One camp counselor sometimes puts her desire to use her magical powers above her peers' need for safety and casts spells that cause mayhem for a while.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Summer Camp Island is an animated series about the animal residents of a magical summer camp. Expect plenty of quirky characters and silly adventures, with inanimate objects like clothing, trees, furniture, and even food items talking and interacting with the campers (it's not as cheesy as you might think). There's also a real emotional maturity to the content, and the main characters' friendship is a sweet example of the value of strong relationships. Expect some storylines that involve romantic interests and crushes (this is a summer camp for teens, after all) and mild stereotyping in some of the characters' personalities (jocks, social outsiders, etc.). More memorable, though, is the show's intuitive presentation of relatable characters whose daily experiences spur emotional responses and the need for companionship.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Summer Camp Island
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (9)
- Kids say (16)
age 6+
Based on 9 parent reviews
Marie C. Adult
July 13, 2024
age 9+
Introduces topics not for younger children
In the first episode, it shows the group of kids playing spin the bottle. Later in the episode, the main character tries to run away from the summer camp. I think this show should be for 9 +
celaphone Parent of 14-year-old
July 2, 2022
age 8+
The most important thing is it shows that friendship can be between different gender without it being romantic. As such, it has a very important message to be shown. Shows generally try and force romance on core characters but here they are really good friends without romance. About 2-6 episode have talked about crushes. Mostly from the older camp counselors. While Hedgehogs crush on Max was dealt in 1 episode and Oscar reacted positively and excitedly to that event. Keeping the best friend arc strong.
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See all 9 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In SUMMER CAMP ISLAND, a young elephant named Oscar (voiced by Elliott Smith) and his best friend, Hedgehog (Oona Laurence), arrive at their first sleepaway camp to discover the island is nothing like what they expected. Timid Oscar looked forward to traditional camp activities like making potholders for his friends, so it's a shock to find his counselors are witches, there are monsters next door, and his favorite pajamas can talk in this weird and occasionally wonderful place that challenges both newcomers to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unexpected.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (16):
Oscar and Hedgehog aren't the only ones who will be pleasantly surprised by this unusual camp experience. The premise of a show in which anthropomorphic animals, monsters, and talking objects like trees and menacing marshmallows are the norm sounds corny at first, but Summer Camp Island exceeds expectations at every turn. There's a peaceful, almost serene quality to the series that negates any need for the kind of superficial laughs and physical humor more prevalent in kids' programming. Instead, this creative, imaginative story explores unusual subjects like Oscar's emotional vulnerability and his and Hedgehog's enduring friendship.
With the likes of Adventure Time on her resume, creator Julia Pott clearly has a knack for the kind of oddball storytelling that strikes a chord with viewers. Summer Camp Island is a truly heartwarming series disguised as the kind of offbeat cartoon that kids and parents will enjoy equally. Because of the story's magical setting, the unexpected is routine, and it's impossible to predict what will happen next. This gives the show a welcome freshness that, coupled with the endearing characters and gentle visual style, yields a worthy contender for families' attention.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Summer Camp Island compares to reality. Which of Oscar's and Hedgehog's experiences at camp are rooted in fantasy? Does Oscar's desire for a "normal" camp experience change as time goes on? How does he adapt to the many differences?
This series involves characters and situations that traditionally are scary (witches, monsters, objects that think and talk), but it does so in nonthreatening ways. How does that sense of irony contribute to the show's humor? Do you find any of the content scary? Do you like a few scares in what you watch?
Oscar and Hedgehog have very different personalities, but that doesn't stop them from being great friends. What character strengths do you see in them? Would you say that Oscar is courageous? How is his quiet determination to adapt inspiring? Which characters demonstrate compassion and empathy?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 13, 2018
- Cast: Elliott Smith, Oona Laurence, Ramone Hamilton
- Network: Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Empathy
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: September 4, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
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Summer Camp Island
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