Television series
PJ Masks
PJ Masks is a children's action-adventure show about three kids who transform into superheroes at night to stop villains and solve mysteries. It's colourful, fast-paced, and designed for the preschool-to-early-elementary crowd—think bright animation, simple conflict, and a reset button every episode. Perfect for kids who like action without stakes.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you want bright, bouncy night-time capers where a problem gets solved in neat, rhythmic steps, with vehicles, gadgets and a cheerful sense of teamwork.
Skip it if the formula repeats episode after episode and the storytelling is deliberately simple, so anyone wanting character depth or real suspense will find it thin.
What it asks of you: Each episode is a brisk, short run of quick cuts and bright colour, so it needs little more than your attention and a willingness to let its cheerful rhythm carry you.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Miraculous: Les aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir2015
Same energy: kids with secret superhero identities fighting crime after dark, with transformation sequences, team dynamics, and week-to-week adventures. But it's animated with more polish and adds romantic subplot layers that older kids enjoy.
But The romance subplot can feel stretched across seasons, and some episodes lean heavily on filler. The pacing occasionally drags compared to PJ Masks' snappy 28-minute format.
The Owl House2020
Adventure-comedy about kids finding confidence and friendship through secret missions in a magical world. Same fundamental joy of teamwork and growing into responsibility, but with genuine character development and humour that works for adults too.
But Darker themes emerge as it progresses—death, trauma, prejudice—which moves well past PJ Masks' comfort zone. If you want pure lightness, this gets complicated.
Craig of the Creek2018
Kids solving problems and having adventures in their neighbourhood after school. Wholesome, genuinely funny, and captures that specific energy of childhood exploration and friendship without needing costumes or superpowers.
But It's slice-of-life rather than action-driven, so there's less dramatic tension. No real villains to defeat, just everyday obstacles. It's gentler than PJ Masks by design.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from PJ Masks
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Moonlight2016
Both explore the duality of identity—who you are in secret versus who you are in public. Both understand that transformation is the point, not the costume.
Three vignettes following a Black boy growing up, each set at a different life stage. Quiet, poetic, and about discovering who you are beneath what the world expects. Shot in gorgeous blues and greens—a meditation on identity, vulnerability, and becoming.
But Almost entirely silent and contemplative. No plot in the traditional sense, no action, no resolution. If you're used to narrative drive and dialogue, this requires a completely different kind of attention.
More like this (6)
Bluey2018
Preschool adventure and problem-solving that feels natural rather than formulaic. Each episode uses imagination and teamwork to navigate situations. Gorgeous animation and genuine warmth that delights kids and their parents equally.
But It's not about superhero action or battling villains at all. If you specifically want conflict and night-time adventure, this is too wholesome and everyday-focused.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018
A girl discovers she has superpowers and joins a team fighting an evil empire at night. Combines team dynamics, costume transformations, and action sequences with character arcs and genuine emotional weight that grows richer across seasons.
But Aimed at older kids and teens, so it tackles heavy themes—war, betrayal, identity. The first season is slower than later ones. Not ideal if you want something as breezy as PJ Masks.
Puffin Rock2015
Nature-focused adventures with a core group of friends exploring their island home. Narrated by Chris O'Dowd with genuine charm. Teaches problem-solving and curiosity through gentle storytelling rather than superhero spectacle.
But Very slow-paced and educational—it's designed to calm kids down before bed. Zero action sequences or conflict. If you want excitement and quick victories, this will feel boring.
Gravity Falls2012
Two kids uncover supernatural mysteries in a strange town during summer. Combines adventure, genuine humour, and secrets that actually pay off across seasons. Smart writing that respects its audience's intelligence and rewards close watching.
But Substantially darker and more complex than PJ Masks—genuinely creepy moments and real danger. Aimed at slightly older kids, so some references and themes will sail past younger viewers.
Amphibia2019
A girl trapped in a frog-filled world learns friendship and courage through adventure. Action-packed with genuine character growth, emotional beats, and consistent world-building. Funny for kids and adults, with real stakes that develop over time.
But Gets serialised and plot-heavy in later seasons, requiring consistent viewing. Early episodes are lighter, but committing to the full arc is necessary to appreciate it properly.
Infinity Train2019
Both are episodic adventure series aimed at kids where the structure resets weekly, but Infinity Train uses that format to explore actual existential dread rather than simple good-versus-evil. It's the same DNA twisted sideways into surrealism.
A girl boards a mysterious train divided into cars, each one a surreal puzzle-world she must navigate. Gorgeous, weird, and darkly imaginative. Each episode is a complete story but together they build something genuinely unsettling and profound about growing up.
But Visually strange and thematically strange—not designed to comfort. Gets existentially bleak in places. Some cars are genuinely disturbing. It's animated but absolutely not for comfort viewing.
