Ever heard of a little show called WordGirl from 2007? The series began as shorts in 2006, became a full show in 2007, lasted until 2015, and ultimately got 8 seasons and a full-fledged movie.
Educational shows when watched as an adult often get a bad rep because they’re meant primarily for children. Have you ever wanted to watch something not specifically made for your age range and gotten the tired old response, “uhhh, why are you watching _______? What are you a diaperbaby??” (No? Only me? Well nevermind then..)
WordGirl may appear to be simply another children’s cartoon at first, but underneath its vibrant animation and straightforward plot, it’s a program that adults can actually enjoy and value. Even as an adult, there are many reasons to watch WordGirl, whether you enjoy smart humor, clever writing, or simply long for good cartoons. The voice cast is another reason that I’ve personally found the show so enjoyable.
For Rick and Morty fans, Chris Parnell voices the narrator. (So if you ever wanted to see a kids’ superhero show where Jerry narrates then WordGirl is right up your alley). Speaking of the voice cast.. just look at this ensemble: Dannah Feinglass-Phirman, Tom Kenny (yes, Spongebob), Maria Bamford, Cree Summer, Patton Oswalt, Fred Stoller, H. Jon Benjamin (yes the Bob’s Burgers guy and Coach McGuirk from Home Movies), Larry Murphy, James Adomian, Grey DeLisle (Daphne from Scooby-Doo and too many other things to list), Jeffrey Tambor (Uh.. this didn’t age well), and John C. McGinley just to name a few.
The witty, sharp humor of WordGirl is one of its best qualities. There are plenty of jokes, wordplay, and satire in the show that are suitable to adults as well as kids. The comedy is frequently subtle, poking fun of cliches, toying with language, and adding references that older viewers would comprehend. If you liked all the fourth wall breaks of shows like Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain then you’d love this. The show is absolutely full of them.
WordGirl has an astonishingly diverse and intriguing cast, in contrast to many children’s programs that rely on flat characters just to teach the child something like the alphabet or numbers. While villains like Dr. Two-Brains and The Butcher are humorously eccentric and at times more charming than nefarious, WordGirl‘s alter ego, Becky Botsford, is a refreshingly intellectual and independent protagonist.
Regardless of age, the show is entertaining to watch due to all the characters’ interactions. It also helps that the writing team is filled with notable people who’ve written for shows like The Simpsons, Clone High, even The Muppets, to then go on to write for future shows like Amphibia. These people being Jack Ferraiolo, Tom Martin, Ryan Raddatz to name a few.
It continues to be important to increase our vocabulary and value language even as adults. New words are the cornerstone of WordGirl‘s episodes, yet they are discussed in a fun, organic manner that avoids feeling forced or excessively pedantic. The show’s lighthearted approach to language can be quite amusing for word enthusiasts, authors, and anyone else who loves linguistics.
WordGirl provides a comforting return to the world of educational TV for those who grew up watching PBS Kids or similar shows. It’s a fantastic way to relax with something amusing. but lighter, devoid of the cynicism or unnecessarily intricate storytelling that occasionally defines adult media.
Even if you’re the parent having to sit there and watch it with your children, you no longer have to dread sitting through edutainment as an adult.
The belief that animation is only for kids is outdated. Shows like Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, or even Bluey, which strike a mix amongst humor, entertainment, and deeper subject matter, are already popular among adults. WordGirl belongs to the same category; although it is targeted toward kids, its characters, humor, and storytelling appeal to people of all ages.
Adults can enjoy WordGirl without any limitations, and there are plenty of reasons to give it a watch Even if you’re well past your childhood, WordGirl is still worth watching if you’ve been looking for an entertaining and compelling show to chill with or simply enjoy creative writing and humor. Thus, you do not, in fact, have to be a diaperbaby to enjoy educational cartoons.
(Oh and uh.. did you know WordGirl totally referenced Invincible’s Fight between Omniman and Invincible? No I’m not joking
WordGirl can be currently streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
This is an editorial piece. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of, and should not be attributed to, Niche Gamer as an organization.
