Review Date: April 9, 2025
Note: 9/10 is for the current season: The second half of Season 2.
Top Wing
Platform: Nickelodeon / Nick Jr. / Treehouse TV
Aired: November 6, 2017 - July 2, 2020
Genre: Preschool, Adventure, Comedy
Target Audience: Ages 2-6
Overview: Welcome to Big Swirl Island
Top Wing is a Canadian preschool animated series that takes flight on Big Swirl Island, where four young bird cadets-Swift, Brody, Penny, and Rod-train at Top Wing Academy to earn their wings. With the guidance of mentors Speedy and Bea, the cadets use specialized vehicles and teamwork to rescue friends, help their community, and learn life lessons along the way.
The show balances action, friendship, and humor while showcasing problem-solving, confidence-building, and character development.
Main Cadets: Feathered Friends with Flair:
Swift (Blue Jay)
Role: Team leader, expert flyer
Signature color: Orange
Vehicles: Flash Wing (jet), Zip-Flash (jet/helicopter hybrid)
Catchphrase: "Slick!"
Main Pose: Flying (also: hands-on-hips)
Rod (Rooster)
Role: Land rescuer, comic relief
Signature color: Red
Vehicles: Road Wing (roadster), Rooster Booster (motorcycle)
Catchphrases: "I'm a rooster, not a chicken!", "Let's cock-a-doodle-do-this!"
Main Pose: Arms crossed, confident smile
Note: Early episodes show Rod defending his identity when villain Baddy McBat teases him.
Brody (Puffin)
Role: Water rescuer, laid-back and cool
Signature color: Green
Vehicles: Splash Wing (boat), Splash Diver (boat/sub hybrid)
Catchphrases: "Akaw!", "Primo!"
Main Pose: Arms out (also: hands-on-hips)
Penny (Penguin)
Role: Underwater rescuer, playful and cute
Signature color: Pink
Vehicles: Aqua Wing (submarine), Aqua Runner (sub/land hybrid)
Catchphrases: "Cool!", "So Cool!" (both of her catchphrases are kind of exaggerated, because she is a penguin, and penguins live in cold environments)
Main Pose: Jumping pose with arms and legs out (also: hands-on-hips)
Note: Only female cadet.
Mentors
Speedy: Funny bird mentor; he flies the HQ Command Flier.
Bea: Smart and grounded female mentor and mechanic; she also co-pilots the HQ Command Flier.
Supporting Characters
Chirp & Cheep: Adorable baby chicks often tagging along.
Rhonda the Rhino: Runs the island's chill-out spot, The Lemon Shack.
Junior Cadets: Including Timmy Turtle, Tina Treegoat, Wally Beaver, and Anyu PolarBear-young trainees looking up to Team Top Wing.
Villains & Rivals
Baddy McBat & Betty McBat
Baddy is the mischievous main villain who forms the group Baddy and The Bad Wings-the evil counterpart to Team Top Wing.
Betty is his reluctant sidekick and voice of reason.
Rocco & Chomps
A gator/croc duo with a swampy hideout and a passion for stealing.
The Banana Bandits
Banana-obsessed monkey gang (Angel, Baxter, and Tad). Led by Margo the Monkey in Season 2-yes, she hijacked the HQ Command Flier twice.
Captain Dilly, Matilda & Captain Swabby
Silly pirates with more charm than menace. Great for comedic episodes.
Season-by-Season Breakdown
Season 1 (2017-2018) - 6/10
Pros: Funny, lighthearted episodes with lots of charm and catchphrases. Great character chemistry and unique vehicles (Brody's especially stands out with its gold-and-green design).
Cons: The animation feels plasticky and simplistic. Vehicles look cheap. Humor is strong, but action is minimal.
Highlight Episode: The Banana Bandits - a standout for its comedy.
Season 2, Part 1 (Episodes 1-9) (2019) - 8/10
Pros: Major improvement in animation quality-brighter colors and sharper designs. Introduction of HQ Command Flier brings new team missions and emotional depth (rescuing cadets' family members).
Cons: Less humor compared to Season 1. More family-focused episodes.
Season 2, Part 2 (Episodes 10-26) (2019-2020) - 9/10
Pros: Full series redesign! New outfits, new vehicles, and stunning animation. Rod becomes more adventurous. Penny and Brody mature, showing real character growth. Swift stays the same. Action-packed storylines are exciting and dynamic.
Cons: Slightly reduced humor in favor of action. Some new characters (like lifeguard Davey Hasselhawg) feel unnecessary or underwhelming.
Visual Evolution: From Meh to Marvelous
One of the most impressive elements of Top Wing is its transformation. The animation goes from cheap-looking in Season 1 to vibrant, polished, and dynamic by Season 2's end. The shift in visual quality reflects the cadets' personal growth and the show's increased ambition.
PAW Patrol Comparisons:
Swift (Leader) = PAW Patrol Chase
Rod (Comic relief) = PAW Patrol Marshall
Penny (Female team member) = PAW Patrol Skye
Brody (Water rescues) = PAW Patrol Zuma
Speedy (Mentor) = PAW Patrol Ryder
Bea (Mechanic) = PAW Patrol Rocky
Cheep & Chirp (for fun/humor) = PAW Patrol Rubble
The comparison shows that Top Wing takes inspiration from PAW Patrol but carves its own identity through aerial, aquatic, and land-based teamwork with a bird-centric twist.
Final Verdict
Top Wing started off rocky but soared to new heights by its finale. It's a great pick for preschoolers who love action, teamwork, and rescue adventures, with some fun catchphrases and comedic beats along the way.
Season 1: 6/10
Season 2, Part 1 (Episodes 1-9): 8/10
Season 2, Part 2 (Episodes 10-26): 9/10
Perfect for kids who love flying, funny animal characters, and high-stakes teamwork. Parents may find the earlier episodes less engaging, but stick around-this series levels up in both quality and heart.
