For parents of preschoolers out there, its time to check out "Hello Ninja" on Netflix. Season two dropped on April 24, and news arrived this week that the series has been renewed for a third season, so if your kids are addicted, don't worry, there's more where that came from. Plus, it's based on a book, by N.D. Wilson, so your wee ones can have a true transmedia experience of the ninja adventures of Wesley and Georgie (and their cat Pretzel).
You could do worse than just typing "ninja" into the Netflix search engine and seeing what turns up. There's the 2018 "Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu" animated series, the 1997 live-action "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series, the 2003 series "Power Rangers: Ninja Storm," and a heck of a lot of Shaw Brothers kung-fu movies from the '70s and '80s, perfect for your tweens and teens. Turn them onto the genre with the highly entertaining "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" _ it's for the children.
If last weekend's release of "Scoob!" has your kids in the mood for more Scooby Snacks, the 2012 animated Scooby series "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" is also on Netflix (two seasons with 26 episodes each). Or take it all the way back to the '70s with the original Scooby series, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!," which is available on Boomerang, a streaming service dedicated entirely to new and classic cartoons and animated series (think "Looney Tunes," "Tom & Jerry," "Yogi Bear" and more). A Boomerang subscription and sugary cereal seems like a great way to bring back that Saturday morning cartoons tradition throughout the summer (this is available for both children and those who are kids at heart).
And if "Scoob!" awoke a desire for more vintage Hanna-Barbera, the lovable villains Dastardly and Muttley can be seen on the classic Hanna-Barbera series "Wacky Races." The 17-episode first season is available for $10 on Amazon, half the price of the new "Scoob!"
"Scoob!" director Tony Cervone is a longtime Warner Bros. animation vet, having worked on "Looney Tunes" and "Scooby-Doo," as well as serving as the director of animation on the 1996 film, "Space Jam," starring Michael Jordan. Available to rent on Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu and Google Play, the Looney Tunes/NBA mash-up is a perfect pairing for any parents who recently watched "The Last Dance." This 10-part docuseries on ESPN chronicles Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' 1998 run to their sixth NBA title. All 10 episodes are available on ESPN or for free on the ESPN website or app.
