Currently, we as a nation are facing a frightening time, which has forced us to practice social distancing and stick close to home. Staying home is especially hard if you have young kids to worry about. Thanks to such streaming services such as Disney+ Netflix, Hulu parents have the option of a variety of entertainment. Parents may also be looking for programming that not only entertains but also teaches at the same time.
The following are some shows that can be binged on the various streaming services or YouTube. These shows may provide both kids the needed distraction need to take their mind off the real world for a while.
10 Marvel’s Super Hero Squad - Disney +
The Super Hero Squad Show was the animated series by Marvel Animation, which aired from 2009 to 2011. The series, based on the toy line from Hasbro, starred Avengers Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, The Hulk, Red Falcon, and other heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe. This show, while intended for young kids, also offers a variety of easter eggs for Marvel fans of all ages. In the two seasons available on Disney+, the heroes find themselves in comedic situations as they race against Doctor Doom and his cadre of baddies to recover shards of the Infinity Sword. The second season takes the adventures in the Marvel Cosmic realm as the Silver Surfer causes trouble for the heroes and villains alike after gaining control of both the Infinity Gauntlet and Sword. Kids will love the story, and adults will enjoy catching the little nods to Marvel’s history.
9 Justice League Action (Hulu and DCKid’s YouTube Channel)
Justice League Action was the latest version of DC’s Justice League cartoon, which originally aired on Nickelodeon. While the series only lasted one season, there are 52 full episodes (the first 26 available on Hulu) and 22 shorts (available on the DCKids YouTube channel).
The episodes are reminiscent of its predecessor, Batman the Brave and the Bold, as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman team up with the various heroes in the DCU. The series has something for everyone, from kids to adults as the ongoing story is loosely based on Pre-Flashpoint stories, which all connect. Along with the many heroes, the series features well-known villains such as Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom to Klarion the Witch Boy.
8 Lego Marvel Superhero Stories (Netflix and YouTube)
While not an actual “series,” Marvel and Lego teamed and made kid-friendly versions of the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe movies such as Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man. These 22-minute shows combine the magic of the Lego Movie style animation, which first ran as five-part webisodes. Spider-Man: Maximum Overdrive finds Loki causing trouble for Spider-Man and some of the other heroes as he boosts the powers of various villains to cause trouble and mayhem. The Avengers spins off of the second Avengers movie The Age of Ultron as a party at Stark Tower is interrupted by the whole fleet of Ultron drones. This time around, Falcon, Ant-Man, and Vision get involved, along with more than one Spider-person.
7 Teen Titans Go! (Hulu)
Teen Titans GO! is perhaps the most successful cartoon franchise, having found the winning formula that mixes humor with superhero action, which makes it popular with kids and adults alike. Each episode is about eleven minutes long, but are smartly written and packed with both broad and meta styled jokes, and often include original musical numbers. If those weren’t enough reasons to watch, ridiculous plot points such as debating burgers vs. burritos, or Robin nagging the others about daily chores are what make the show a favorite. In short, Teen Titans Go! is pure fun, and the laughs will last for hours as there are just over 100 episodes on Hulu.
6 DC Superhero Girls (Netflix and YouTube)
Comic books have long been predominately geared toward a male audience when it comes to both characters and precisely who can be a hero. Recently, both of the major publishers have made significant steps towards expanding their audiences and readership by targeting young girls with the animated series DC Superhero Girls. The series follows the adventures of the teenage heroines such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Bumblebee, Batgirl, Zatanna, and Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz) who attend Metropolis High School. While some of the characters are presented with new personalities; however, the overall essence remains intact, as the story dictates. Like other DC animated shows, there are many easter eggs and references that older viewers will probably catch if they pay close enough attention to any of the 32 episodes available through Netflix.
5 Marvel Rising (Disney+)
The Marvel Rising franchise launched in 2018 as a series of comic books and as a series of shorts, titled Marvel Rising: Initiation. The first full-length feature Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors was followed by the two specials (Chasing Ghosts and Heart of Iron), alongside the self-titled comic book miniseries.
The series stars heroes such as Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Patriot, and Spider-Ghost (Gwen Stacy) and rounds out the diverse character roster of races with female characters playing leading roles. Like DC Superhero Girls, Marvel Rising is a great attempt to expand the overall reach of the comic book medium.
4 Marvel Superhero Adventures (Disney+)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures was the franchise by Marvel Entertainment geared toward the preschool demographic. Each episode is an 11-minute story where Spider-Man talks to the audience about a time that he learned a particular lesson from one of the other heroes in the Marvel Universe.
The scene then shifts to a more cartoony style of animation as ‘little Spidey” is faced with a situation where he and another hero and two must learn how to work together to solve the problem. This series has the web-slinger teaming with Iron Man, the Hulk, and other members of the Avengers to take on such threats as Hobgoblin, Ultron, and more. While geared toward the younger crowd, this series has many inside references that grown-ups will notice right away.
3 Amethyst Princess Of Gem World (Amazon Prime)
Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld, which initially aired as a series of shorts on Cartoon Network’s DC Nation block, has been turned into a series that is available on Amazon Prime and DC Nation’s YouTube page. The series stars a young girl named Amy who is transported into her own video game and finds herself in Gemworld and must save it from an evil villain. The series has a great '80s feel to it with a modern twist to this relatively unknown character. This series can be a great entry point for this character who has been spotlighted recently with her own miniseries and as a member of the new Young Justice team.
2 Spider-Man (Disney+)
There are many options for Spider-Man shows on Disney+, and this series, which is the most kid-friendly, is the 2017 series. This series is a straight forward series that begins with Peter’s trip to OsCorp, where he is bitten by the radioactive spider and then must navigate the ins and outs of coming to terms with his new powers. Joining Peter in the series are well-known characters like Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales, and his best friend Harry Osborn as they have to deal with the likes of the Jackal, Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Rhino, and numerous other villains. There is also a great six episodes of shorts where Peter uses the scientific method to learn about his new powers.
1 Hulk And The Agents Of SMASH.
What is better than one Hulk? How about five! Hulk and the Agents of SMASH spotlights Hulk and his gamma-irradiated buddies as they tackle the threats that are too big for the other heroes. The premise of the series is Hulk’s buddy; Rick Jones is following the adventures of the Team Hulk as he makes a web-series to help change public opinion of the Hulk. Hulk is joined by his cousin She-Hulk, Red Hulk (General Thunderbolt Ross), Skaar, and A-Bomb. The two-season available on Disney+ is more for an older audience but still a fun ride.