Television series

Kickin' It

Name: Kickin' It
Genre: Comedy, Action, Children
Released: 2011
Cast: Jason Earles, Leo Howard, Olivia Holt, Mateo Arias, Alex Jones

Comedy
Light-hearted

Kickin' It follows a group of misfits who bond over martial arts at a karate dojo, blending slapstick comedy with genuinely fun action sequences. It's the kind of show that doesn't take itself seriously but respects its audience enough to deliver real stakes alongside the jokes. Perfect for kids who love action but need laughs, and adults who remember when Disney Channel actually nailed this formula.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a broad, cheerful underdog comedy where a ragtag dojo's bickering and bad-luck schemes come with real heart, and you do not mind the jokes landing on pure physical goofiness.

Skip it if your taste runs dry or sophisticated, since the humour is loud, broad and pitched at young viewers, with martial arts played for gags rather than stakes.

What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes, eighty-five of them over four seasons, so it asks little per sitting but patience for repeated set-ups and a bright, bouncy register.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Cobra Kai2018

The definitive Karate Kid continuation that actually earns its nostalgia. Smart, funny, surprisingly emotional, and packed with excellent fight choreography that makes martial arts feel genuinely cool again.

But It's more serious and melodramatic than Kickin' It, with real darkness underneath. Also heavily serialized—you can't just drop in and out of episodes.

The Karate Kid1984

The template for every scrappy underdog martial arts story ever made. Rewarding to see where the blueprint came from, and it's just a really satisfying film about earned discipline and self-respect.

But The pacing is slow by modern standards, and some of the '80s sentimentality won't land if you're used to quicker comedy.

Kim Possible2002

Same Disney energy: a teen hero juggling school and danger, sharp writing, genuine character work underneath the comedy, and consistent creative ambition. The action sequences hold up surprisingly well.

But It's a different kind of action—espionage instead of martial arts—so the physical appeal won't be identical. Might feel dated if you hate early-2000s animation style.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Kickin' It

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Righteous Gemstones2019

Same DNA of a charming mentor figure guiding misfits through absurd situations while also grounding everything in real loyalty and growth.

Danny McBride's series about a charismatic martial arts champion turned preacher. Brutal, hilarious action sequences mixed with genuine humanity and the kind of ensemble chemistry Kickin' It nailed. Proof the formula works at any age.

But It's aggressively profane and dark in ways that would never land on Disney XD. Some episodes are deliberately uncomfortable. Totally different register.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie1995

The spiritual ancestor of the formula: teens with real friendships, goofy humor, legitimately cool action sequences, and a dojo mentor figure. Pure fun made by people who understood what kids actually wanted to watch.

But The acting is wooden even by 1990s standards, and the special effects look cartoonishly cheap. Some episodes drag badly.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie poster

Samurai Jack2001

Action animation at its absolute best: stunning fight choreography, minimal dialogue when it counts, gorgeous visual storytelling, and a deadpan hero who somehow becomes deeply sympathetic. Proof that kids' action can be art.

But The tone is more serious and melancholic than comedic. Later seasons got experimental in ways that don't always work. No real ensemble cast like Kickin' It.

Danny Phantom2004

Another Disney gem that combined comedy, action, and genuine character development. Smart writing, likable ensemble, creative use of the supernatural premise, and it respects both kids and their intelligence.

But The animation budget shows its age. Some episodes prioritize romance subplots over the action you're here for.

Avatar: The Last Airbender2005

The gold standard of animated action series: intricate fight choreography, serialized storytelling that builds beautifully, humor that lands without undercutting stakes, and actual character growth across seasons.

But It's a major commitment at 61 episodes. The early seasons are slower and rougher than later ones. More serious mythology than Kickin' It's lighter tone.

Andi Mack2017

Modern Disney XD understood exactly what made Kickin' It work—likable teens, genuine friendships, heart underneath comedy, action when it matters, and writers who trusted their audience.

But It's a different genre (dramedy, not action-comedy) so you're not getting the fight sequences. Some plotlines drag over multiple episodes.

The Owl House2020

Proof that Disney still knows how to build an ensemble cast and balance humor with real emotional weight. Excellent action design, character work that deepens every season, and genuine surprises in where the story goes.

But It's darker and more serialized than Kickin' It. The animation takes a few episodes to settle. Heavy LGBTQ+ themes won't appeal if that's not your thing.