Television series
Molly of Denali
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Molly of Denali is a gorgeously animated PBS Kids series about a girl running a trading post in fictional Alaska with her dog and two friends. It's adventurous and genuine, built on actual Alaskan geography and Indigenous consultation. Warm without being saccharine, it respects its audience's curiosity about how people live in wild places.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you want a preschool-friendly show that takes its time with Alaskan village life, where curiosity and getting things done with friends matter more than gags or cliffhangers.
Skip it if you are watching alone and hoping for something that will hold your attention; at fifteen minutes a episode with gentle pacing and a young audience in mind, it can feel slight for grown-up viewers.
What it asks of you: Each episode runs about fifteen minutes and moves at an unhurried, even clip, with simple problems solved step by step and no real villains or frantic energy to keep you on edge.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Bluey2018
Brilliantly animated Australian series about family and play that finds genuine stakes in small moments. Every episode expands what children's TV can be—clever, moving, funny to adults and kids alike.
But If you need constant action and bright colours triggering dopamine hits, this prioritises slowness and conversation instead.
Puffin Rock2015
Irish animation about a puffin and his friend exploring their island home. Warmly narrated, ecologically minded, full of small discoveries. The kind of show that makes kids want to go outside.
But Deliberately paced and understated. It doesn't punch; it whispers.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts2020
Post-apocalyptic adventure animated in bold, gorgeous colour. Genuinely funny, genuinely weird, and fundamentally optimistic about friendship and community. Rare to see this much joy in a show about a broken world.
But The art style is hyper-stylised. If you prefer naturalism, the cartoonishness might distract you.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Molly of Denali
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Nanook of the North1922
Both centre Indigenous and Northern life with respect rather than othering, and both find adventure in subsistence and survival rather than action for its own sake.
Silent documentary-fiction hybrid about an Inuit family's life in the Arctic. A century old, visually stunning, and genuinely curious about how people survive in extreme places—the spiritual ancestor of Molly's worldview.
But It's silent, slow, and its colonial perspective is complicated. Modern viewers will notice assumptions that need unpacking.
More like this (6)
Craig of the Creek2018
Cartoon about kids being kids in and around a creek—exploring, building, negotiating territory. It captures something true about childhood freedom and community that most shows sanitise away.
But There's no villain and very little plot momentum. It's episodic and meandering by design, which bores some viewers instantly.
Gravity Falls2012
Mystery-adventure about two kids uncovering supernatural secrets in a strange town. Brilliantly plotted with genuine mystery, comedy that works on multiple levels, and a mystery that actually pays off.
But It gets genuinely dark and occasionally scary. Not suitable for very young viewers, and some parents find the tone inconsistent.
Over the Garden Wall2014
Miniseries following two brothers lost in a mysterious forest. Autumn-dark, folklore-rich, unexpectedly literary. It's a complete story in five episodes—rare craftsmanship in children's television.
But It's melancholic and occasionally creepy. If you need relentlessly cheerful, this will feel heavy.
Amphibia2019
Girl transported to a frog world must navigate friendship, self-doubt, and genuine danger. Smart voice acting, character development that matters, humour that doesn't talk down to kids.
But Starts slow while establishing the world. Some patience required before it becomes truly gripping.
The Owl House2020
Witch-academy adventure with real emotional weight, diverse characters, and storytelling that grows across seasons. Funny and heartfelt in equal measure, unafraid of genuine stakes.
But The first episode is rough. Pacing is sometimes clunky, and it demands investment before the payoff lands.
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner2002
Both trust their audience to find beauty in Northern geography and Indigenous perspectives without exoticising them. Both are fundamentally about community and practical knowledge.
Inuit-language film about conflict and survival in the Canadian Arctic, shot on location with largely non-professional actors. Visually extraordinary, narratively hypnotic, rooted in actual Inuit storytelling tradition.
But Three hours long, deliberately paced, and linguistically immersive. It's a commitment that rewards patience but demands it first.
People
Cast
Recommended by
Reservation Dogs, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Alma's Way, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum