Is Iwájú safe for kids? Is Iwájú OK for kids? Read the Iwájú Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Disney+ animated television series Iwájú 2024 in collaboration with the Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali, starring Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola. No spoilers! #Iwaju May contain commissioned links.
Iwájú Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide to Disney+ Series
What does a futuristic African comic book and Disney+ have in common? Apparently a new animated show for kids.
In a first of it’s kind collaboration Walt Disney Animation has teamed up with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali for a unique and one-of-a-kind type of television series for kids, Iwájú. Featuring the combination of comic book vibes and one girl’s coming of age story set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria – it sounds like a new spin on an exciting diverse television mini series. But is this new collab a successful merging of ideas? Or a disastrous culture clash?
In this Iwájú Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full TV-PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Iwájú parents guide to the new Disney+ original series. A no-spoiler parent review of Iwájú 2024, can Disney+ deliver a new Black Panther inspired animated series geared towards younger kids?
The Visuals
Visually, Iwájú plays out like a live animated comic book. Using art and visuals representative of African/Nigeria culture (think bright colors and patterns similar to Marvel’s Black Panther), combined with action and fighting sequences similar to anime – this Kugali infused Disney+ animated television series is a new and unique twist on the one-note Bluey show for kids.
Honestly, I absolutely love this unique collaboration. After a successful Black Panther franchise – it’s a perfect step for kids into that world. With bright and colorful visuals (Disney inspired) infused into a futuristic African world (Kugali inspired) – the audience gets a sneak peek into the diverse culture, language, and people of Lagos, Nigeria.
Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, there are a few scenes with bright flashing and/or strobing lights of note. Using highly fluorescent animation similar to Avatar or The Super Mario Bros. Movie – to represent light/lightning like superpowers and futuristic type weapons. Episodes 1 3 and 6 have the most notable scenes that may be triggering for some.
The Story
Iwájú is a first-of-its-kind animated Disney+ series collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African comic book entertainment company, Kugali. Directed by Olufikayo Ziki Adeola (along with Kugali filmmakers Hamid Ibrahim as production designer and Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku as cultural consultant) and produced by Christina Chen (“Encanto“), Jennifer Lee (“Frozen“), and Byron Howard (“Zootopia“), Iwájú stars the voice cast of Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola, along with Dayo Okeniyi (“The Hunger Games” franchise) as Tunde, Femi Branch (“Késárí the King“) as Bode, Siji Soetan as Kole and Weruche Opia (BBC’s “I May Destroy You“) as robotic lizard Otin.
This series shows a window into the world of futuristic Africa in way that’s exciting and interesting for little kids in a cute coming-of-age story of a little girl Tola. Highlighting different worlds and even worlds within worlds (i.e. the Nigerian class system – rich and poor), bartering, and other cultural influences like heavy focus on language, dialects, and accents spoken throughout, futuristic technology advances and using clever relatable characters – Iwájú gives audiences exploration into a rich and diverse culture of Nigeria in a new and unique way.
Focusing in on a couple of key kid characters while filling in the imagination adventure and anime-style comic book action in every episode, Iwájú allows kids to critically think and problem solve while learning life lessons about friendship, family, and trust.
Iwájú TV-PG Rating Explained
Is Iwájú safe for kids? A new Disney+ series rated TV-PG? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Iwájú rated TV-PG? In this Iwájú Review | Safe for Kids?, this all-new futuristic Nigerian inspired 2024 Disney+ animated television series from Walt Disney Animation and Kugali is rated TV-PG for “violence and thematic elements.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Iwájú is kid friendly. Is Iwájú too scary for kids? Is Iwájú OK for kids? Let’s breakdown that TV-PG age rating in this Iwájú parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. Iwájú does contain lots of violence and fantasy violence throughout each episode – including fist fighting and use of futuristic weapons that may be intense to watch. While some of the fighting is not realistic (example – a robot and a human fighting), the human to human fighting including boxing matches could be concerning and is more realistic even though animated. Episode 4 features an adult fist fighting a child for a brief couple of scenes – could also be triggering. There is mild blood and cuts on a man’s face in Episode 5. No other blood or gore of note.
Mild to moderate peril and suspense also occurs sporadically through different episodes as well, including comic book-like cliffhangers at the end of every episode (except the finale).
Child kidnapping and being held for ransom is also a major theme throughout the new Disney+ animated television series, Iwájú. This could be triggering and possibly a terrifying concept for younger kids – instilling fear.
Adult Themes. Overall, adult themes are light within the new Disney+ animated show. Iwájú does have visual and verbal references to card gambling between adults and children – for money. This is used for humor and a “life lesson.” No illicit drugs, smoking, or alcohol usage in Iwájú. There is a medical inhaler used in a couple of the episodes by a character – “mostly” for asthma/lung medicine purposes (one usage for audience laughs).
There is no sexual content or innuendo in Iwájú, thank goodness. I didn’t need any of that as a part of this Disney+ TV series. However, there is one phrase referring to possible marriage tension as a character states to a woman “good thing you sack your husband” that may be triggering for some.
Language. Iwájú thankfully keeps it “mostly” clean in the language department as well. While I’ll admit that some of the interpretation may be “lost in translation” as the show dialect changes from English (sometimes with heavy accents) to Pidgin (kind of a slang/slurring together of different languages into words like “howzit”) to Yoruba languages (one of the many languages spoken in Nigeria) throughout each episode. There are NO foul language phrases or swear words in Iwájú.
However, milder bad language phrases and insults in Iwájú include: “daft,” “foolish,” and “oh my g-d.”
I will also note that there is a “teeth sucking” sound that is visualized in every episode. While I believe that this is mostly used culturally in Nigeria (sometimes used as a sign of exasperation and/or frustration), when the teeth sucking is used along with eye rolls/defiant looks, it may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect.
Iwájú Age Rating for Kids
With only a runtime of 17 – 23 minutes per episode, this Iwájú 2024 film runs a like a very short television series – almost like a live comic book per episode (I’m sure this is a heavy Kugali influence). With fun animation, futuristic elements, engaging characters, and action in every episode – kids would naturally be drawn to a new twist on an animated TV series.
With possibly intense fantasy violence and mild peril however, this series is a few steps above Bluey. Please note that the TV-PG age rating could heavily influence your parental consent and the Disney+ controls on a child’s profile.
The new Disney+ 2024 animated series has 6-episodes for Season 1. There is NO discussion yet on if there will be a Season 2.
Iwájú 2024 is most like an animated Marvel Black Panther television series with hints of The Jetsons (remember that classic show?).
This all-new futuristic Nigerian inspired 2024 Disney+ animated television series from Walt Disney Animation and Kugali is rated TV-PG for “violence and thematic elements” by the MPAA.
No, there are no one end credit scenes in Iwájú.
Based on my Iwájú parents guide and mom review above, I would not recommend Iwájú to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old.
With strong language and multiple scenes depicting violence/suspense, Iwájú plays out like an animated comic book – filled with fantasy/futuristic violence peril and next level above more kid friendly shows like Bluey. I advise parents to prescreen the film for fantasy violence.
Considering the full TV-PG age rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Iwájú to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old. This Iwájú TV-PG rating is pretty light overall but themes of fantasy violence (including adult to child violence) and child kidnapping may be triggering for little kids.
The Overall
Is Iwájú a diverse disaster collaboration for Disney? Heck, no!
Thankfully Iwájú is NOT the culture clash on Disney+ but an exciting engaging and Black Panther inspired TV series that younger kids will appreciate and love. Introducing Pan-African culture, language, and themes to enhance a futuristic fantasy world with a dash of Disney magic – Kugali and Disney nail it. Humor, action, adventure, and superpowers while also giving real-world insight and life lesson application – these Iwájú characters don’t play when it comes to delivering a television series worth a watch.
Playing out like a page-turner of a gripping graphic novel – Iwájú introduces a new world of imagination outside of the cultural norm. And I for one hope there’s an immediate green light for a season 2.
Follow Disney+ on social media:
- Website: https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/show/iwaju
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlus/
- Twitter (“X”): https://twitter.com/disneyplus
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyplus
- #Iwájú
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Iwájú, the all-new 2024 Disney animated TV series from Walt Disney Animation and Kugali streams exclusively on Disney+ starting Wednesday February 28, 2024. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen the new Disney Plus animated series Iwájú 2024 in exchange for this Iwájú Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Disney. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie review and television review updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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