Boonie Cubs * A Bear-Y Cute Film With Fun Animation, An Enjoyable Story, Adorable Characters And Important Lessons
Wednesday, December 4th, 2024
The childhood adventures of the famous Boonie Bear brothers Briar and Bramble, along with their friends; Vick, Tiki, Herbert, Warren, Violet, Luna Loo, and all the rest. At Pine Tree Kindergarten, under the guidance of the wise owl Miss Olivia and the outdoorsy Coach Mack, the cubs learn valuable life lessons and have a ton of fun along the way.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Junior R. comments, “If you love cartoons about cute animals that go on wild adventures, then Boonie Cubs might be the perfect show for you. I found myself engaged, intrigued, and happy during each episode… The animation is vibrant and detailed, creating a work that feels alive and magical. The forest isn’t just the backdrop for the show; it feels like its own character…” Tiana S. adds, “Boonie Cubs is a bear-y cute film for younger audiences! It has fun animation, an enjoyable storyline, and adorable characters. Viewers will definitely be tuned in while watching and get to learn important lessons at a young age.” IvyJoy C. wraps it up with, “Vick and all of the animals, including four bears, two monkeys, a squirrel, a badger, a mole and an owl, are incredibly voiced by just four actors – Siobhan Lumsden, Joseph S. Lambert, Gene Hobes and Nichalia Schwartz – who uniquely bring each character to life. The graphics are so vibrant – it looks as though they are high definition photos that are turned into animation.”
Boonie Cubs
By Junior R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
If you love cartoons about cute animals that go on wild adventures, then Boonie Cubs might be the perfect show for you. I found myself engaged, intrigued, and happy during each episode.
Boonie Cubs is a TV series about two bear cub brothers, Briar (Nichalia Schwartz) and Bramble (Joseph S. Lambert), who live in the forest and have all kinds of expeditions with their friends Vick, Babu, Tiki, Coach Mack, and several others. Together, Briar and Bramble are hilarious! Briar is the smarter, adventurous, and more responsible brother, while Bramble relies on his brother for help, and is more laid-back and loves to eat. The forest friends all attend Pine Tree Kindergarten and the wise owl, Miss Olivia teaches them math. They also learn valuable lessons along the way while having fun in the forest.
There are four seasons of Boonie Cubs. Each episode is around 25 minutes long, so it can easily hold the attention of younger audiences. The animation is vibrant and detailed, creating a work that feels alive and magical. The forest isn’t just the backdrop for the show; it feels like its own character, full of surprises and beauty. Even the bark on the trees has such a strong texture. The detail in the character’s faces really gives them each their own special personality. My personal favorite character is the squirrel, Warren, with his emerald green bright eyes. Boonie Cubs provides interesting facts about animals and nature. My favorite fun fact is how fireflies glow. Did you know they need oxygen to light their light? The more oxygen they have, the brighter their light is. I commend the director, Leon Ding, for balancing humor, adventure, and heartfelt lessons in this show, creating a series that entertains while teaching kids about teamwork, kindness, and protecting the environment.
What stands out most about Boonie Cubs is how it combines humor, adventure, and meaningful life lessons all in one series. Together the friends at Pine Tree Kindergarten learn about emotions, nature, courage, friendship, and other important social skills. The dynamic between the characters also sets the series apart. The sibling relationship between Briar and Bramble is relatable for kids with brothers or sisters. They argue and tease each other, but they always come through for one another when it matters most.
I give Boonie Cubs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. Boonie Cubs is available now on Peacock and other streaming outlets! Go check it out.
Boonie Cubs
By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14
Boonie Cubs is a bear-y cute film for younger audiences! It has fun animation, an enjoyable storyline, and adorable characters. Viewers will definitely be tuned in while watching and get to learn important lessons at a young age.
Boonie Cubs is a show for elementary school kids that follows Briar (Nichalia Schwartz) and Bramble (Siobhan Lumsden) on their journeys throughout their forest along with their friends such as Vick. They all go on small adventures and learn lessons along the way.
In Season 1, Episode 1, Briar steals Vick’s ax which causes a small feud between the two as Vick tries to get it back. After a while, Briar is then taught the lesson of not taking things from others. Later on in the episode, Briar doesn’t have anyone to play a game with because everyone else wants to play with Vick’s car. But then Briar is again advised and told to maybe join them! It’s a cute episode of life lessons and handling situations.
The main characters are Briar and Brimble as well as Vick, Miss Olivia (Nichalia Schwartz), and the other forest friends! I think that this is such an interesting series considering it’s a Chinese animated series that is dubbed in English for a US audience. While you can tell that it was originally recorded in a different language, the voice actors’ performances are very good and succeed in making the show appealing. I’m not the audience for this show; it is definitely a show for younger viewers because of how the story develops. It’s not too much of an entertainment show, as it’s honestly made to inform little kids of situations and the life lessons to be learned from them. But of course, it will keep little kids entertained and watching.
There are many messages to get from this show. Season 1, Episode 1 in particular focuses on lessons such as not taking what’s not yours without permission, going in with others instead of pulling them away, and even stepping out of your comfort zone. This is definitely a cute show for parents to put on when they want some free time from their little ones.
I give Boonie Cubs 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 2 to 8. You can stream Boonie Bears on Peacock now!
Boonie Cubs
By IvyJoy C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
The animated series, Boonie Cubs is fun, full of great lessons, and is very pleasing to watch. I really like it and can’t wait to see more episodes.
The show’s first episode is divided into two fun stories. The first story introduces us to a boy named Vick who chases a thieving bear, Briar, through the forest. Briar has stolen Vick’s ax and he wants it back. Vick finds himself in Briar’s world, which is a magical forest with talking animals. After getting his ax back, Vick and his new friends play together and learn lessons. The second story focuses on Bramble bear who is starting his first day of kindergarten and is very scared. His teacher and his new friends include him in fun and games, and soon Bramble is at ease.
Vick and all of the animals, including four bears, two monkeys, a squirrel, a badger, a mole and an owl, are incredibly voiced by just four actors – Siobhan Lumsden, Joseph S. Lambert, Gene Hobes and Nichalia Schwartz – who uniquely bring each character to life. The graphics are so vibrant – it looks as though they are high definition photos that are turned into animation. The snow-capped mountains and the moss growing on the sides of the trees are very realistic, so are the leaves and grass which sway as if they are real. My favorite part of the first story is when Vick meets Ms. Owl. He is afraid of her but after she comforts him with a sweet song, he knows that she is a friend. In the second story, I really like that the classmates include Bramble in their games and it makes him less fearful.
The show has many lessons including: be willing to make new friends and have new experiences; stealing is wrong; it’s good to compromise; try to be brave.
I give Boonie Cubs 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. You can watch it on Peacock and other streaming outlets now.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/931944310/f95a2bc3a6
Based on the best-selling children’s books by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), this show follows an adventurous 10-year-old girl named Max who embarks on a quest with her newfound friends to save the Kingdom of Byjovia from ominous forces. Throughout the series, Max leads the rest of the Midknights on challenging quests filled with all-new original songs. After King Gastley steals the throne and forces an unjust rule on the Kingdom of Byjovia, Max must come to the rescue to overthrow the power-hungry foe. With her friends and Uncle Budrick by her side, Max’s courageous spirit won’t back down no matter how difficult the quest gets.
This hilarious and action-packed animated series is an absolute blast for viewers of all ages! Max & The Midknights brings medieval adventure to life. I love how the show combines humor, excitement, and a heartfelt message in a way that captivates both kids and adults. The high-quality animation and clever storytelling make this a must-watch.
The voice acting is top-notch, with a cast that brings the characters to life in a truly dynamic way — including Blu del Barrio as Max, Melissa Villaseñor as Millie, Zeno Robinson as Simon and Caleb Yen as Kevyn. Max is voiced with a perfect mix of sass and sincerity, making her a standout lead character. The 3D animation is stunning, especially during the action sequences, which are full of sword fights, magical duels, and explosive moments.
The world of Max & The Midknights is colorful, immersive, and full of detail, making each scene feel like a mini-movie. One of my favorite parts is the series’ use of humor. The show is genuinely funny, with plenty of clever jokes that will make both kids and adults laugh. Max’s imagination also plays a huge role in the series, adding another layer of fun as she dreams up wild and creative solutions to the challenges she and her friends face. The combination of humor, heart, and action makes it an exciting adventure from start to finish.
The message of Max & The Midknights is about pursuing your true passions, no matter what others may say. Max is determined to become a knight, despite those around her doubting her abilities because she’s a girl. The show encourages kids to follow their dreams and not let anyone tell them they can’t achieve their goals.
In Agatha All Along, the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road.




A nerf-herder discovers an artifact that twists the Star Wars universe, swapping the roles of heroes and villains. He embarks on an adventure to restore order and emerge as the savior who reassembles the fractured galaxy.



Me is a science fiction series that consistently gave me goosebumps. It grabbed my attention from the very first scene. The plot is very engaging and I was thrilled to binge-watch all of the episodes. Be prepared for some mind-bending television!
Me had my heart racing. All of the characters struggle with growing-up and figuring out who they truly want to be in this world. It is a relatable story with many twists and turns. The super power special effects are very realistic – from hands bubbling into new shades to swapping of ears. Furthermore, there is a storm that blows through the fictional town of Boatright that made me concerned for the fate of the characters. It has supernatural attributes twisted into a tornado-like beast. All of these are executed flawlessly.
I really enjoyed watching the new TV series, Me because it offers a take that I could relate to on tween and teenage years and the ups and downs of discovering who you are.
Another feature of the show that caught my attention are the special effects, especially during the storm. The combination of the sight, sound, the actors’ reactions, and especially the angle from which it is shot makes it feel three-dimensional, as though you are standing inside the tornado. Special effects are also used to show the special abilities of some of the other characters, such as levitation and the ability to shoot ice on command. Superhero fans will enjoy this aspect of the show, plus it contains fast-paced battle scenes, acts of magic, and an interesting subplot following the secret society of PEOPLE behind Ben’s abilities.