Television series

Trash Truck

Name: Trash Truck
Genre: Children
Released: 2020

Action
Light-hearted
Dip in and out

Trash Truck is a gentle Netflix animated series about a six-year-old boy and his unlikely best friend: a sentient garbage truck. Each fourteen-minute episode transforms mundane moments into magical adventures. It's genuinely tender stuff—no violence, no screaming, no lessons hammered home. Perfect for young children who need calm, or parents who are exhausted.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love preschool-gentle stories where a small boy's wild imagination runs the show, and a goofy sidekick with plenty of honks and snorts is all the charm you need.

Skip it if you want anything with real stakes or a plot that builds; each short episode is a self-contained bit of silly play that stays light and repetitive from start to finish.

What it asks of you: Very little: about fourteen minutes an episode, quick and bouncy, with no need to follow a story across episodes or pay close attention to anything.

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

If you liked this

Bluey2018

A masterclass in how to make preschool television that adults actually want to watch. Imaginative, funny, genuinely moving, and the relationship between Bluey and Bingo mirrors what Trash Truck does with Hank and his truck.

But It's hugely popular and you may have already seen it, or feel resistant to anything this hyped. Fair, but it earns the praise.

Craig of the Creek2018

Adventure and wonder found in ordinary places—a creek, a neighborhood, a friendship. Same spirit as Trash Truck: childhood as genuine exploration, not performance. Beautifully drawn and genuinely inventive.

But Aimed at slightly older kids, so the humor and stakes might feel a step up from what you're looking for right now.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood2012

Genuinely wise about the emotional life of small children. Never talks down, never condescends. The songs actually stick and the lessons emerge from stories, not lectures. Rock-solid for the preschool set.

But If your child is past three or four, they may have outgrown it. Also, yes, the songs will loop in your head for weeks.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Trash Truck

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Over the Garden Wall2014

Both use a journey with a companion as their core—but Over the Garden Wall asks: what if that journey were toward something terrible? It's the shadow side of the same story structure, showing why Hank and his truck's adventures matter.

A miniseries that feels like a Brothers Grimm tale animated. Two brothers journey through a mysterious forest with genuine menace underneath the beauty. Every frame is composed like a painting. Devastating and unforgettable.

But Genuinely frightening for young children—it has darkness and real stakes. Also only nine episodes total, and it ends, which some kids find unsatisfying. This is not Trash Truck's lightness; it's the opposite pole.

Octonauts2010

Adventure, real marine biology, and genuine affection between characters. Hank and his truck's spirit of exploring the world together translates beautifully here—just underwater, and with eight-legged creatures involved.

But More plot-driven and action-oriented than Trash Truck. If you want something quieter, this edges toward busier.

Elinor Wonders Why2020

A curious girl and her friends investigate the natural world with genuine scientific thinking. Warm, exploratory, and doesn't pretend nature documentaries can't be emotionally engaging for kids.

But The animation is serviceable but not beautiful, and some kids find the educational bent a bit textbook-y compared to pure storytelling.

Puffin Rock2015

Chris O'Dowd narrates a series about two puffins exploring an Irish island. Gorgeously illustrated, genuinely sweet, and has real attention to the small kindnesses between friends. That's Trash Truck's heart exactly.

But The pace is very gentle—some children need more forward momentum. Also, finding it has gotten harder as it moved off Netflix.

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts2020

A girl journeying through a post-apocalyptic world with her found family. Imaginative, colorful, surprisingly sophisticated for all ages. The sense of discovery and companionship echoes Trash Truck's core appeal.

But Aimed at slightly older kids (8+), so it has darker moments and more complex plotting. Might be several years ahead of your audience.

The Toys That Made Us2017

Trash Truck itself is a toy-like object brought to life through imagination. This series explores that exact alchemy—how a simple object becomes a companion, a story, a reason to keep creating.

A documentary series examining beloved toys and the creative minds behind them. Each episode is a small story about imagination becoming real. For parents who want context; for kids fascinated by how things come to exist.

But It's documentary, not narrative—no characters, no plot. Requires sustained attention in a different mode. Not animated. Your kid might find it adult and boring, or they might be fascinated.