Handy Manny

This show is great for kids. It's unique and has great lessons for kids to learn. It's not like Bob the Builder nor should it be compared to it. This is totally different and effects a completely different age group and possibly generation. The mix of English to Spanish is good because it's not trying to teach kids Spanish but keeps them understanding that some kids might talk in broken English. Therefore it teaches them tolerance. Lately I believe that kids shows have been striking out for age groups 5 to 10 but this is a great one and the producers did a fantastic job on this one. I love to sit and watch it myself with my niece. She learns about fears, expectations, and that you can do and be anything you want. This show is great for both boys and girls. It's worth the watch and it's worth the time to set your kids in front the the television (which normally I would not condone). I love that the voice of Manny is a former "That 70's Show" Character. Way to go "Fez". How wonderful for you to break the mold of mainstream TV stars and break into children's television. You have earned my respect as an actor. Back to the show though, this show was worth the wait to see and continues to surprise me with the great episodes they put out. This show has earned my respect as a children's show. The voices and the people behind the show are wonderful creators and deserve so much credit.

I remember when this show first premiered on Playhouse Disney (now called Disney Junior) in 2006. At the time, and also a little bit now, I found it to be one of the most charming cartoons ever. A lot of people have compared it to Bob the Builder and have said that this is a rip off. Not only do I disagree with that statement, but I personally think that this is better than Bob the Builder. Handy Manny teaches preschoolers how to be honest, you should include others, everyone is different, and to ask for help if you really need it. Bob the Builder taught friendship and teamwork. Well, that's all fine and good but the lessons Handy Manny teaches seem much more fleshed out. On top of that, the characters of Handy Manny are much more three dimensional than the characters of Bob the Builder. Their personality traits are present and some of them start out a certain way and then go through a story arc that changes them. Bob the Builder was boring compared to the colorful and three dimensional world of Handy Manny.

Manny is a repairman with a toolbox full of talking tools, all of which are cleverly named: for example, the measuring tape is Stretch, the hammer is Pat. Together Manny and his tools take on a variety of jobs, which always require thinking through possible ways of getting them done. In one episode, they're trying to help a lady get a new oven into her house, but it's too big for the door, so they have to try to find some other way to get it into the house.

Manny is a Latino, and speaks a mixture of English and Spanish, as do some of the other characters on the show; only one of his tools has a Latino accent -- Felipe, the phillips screwdriver. When other characters greet them, they typically say, "Hola, Manny. Hello, Tools."

My 4-year-old daughter loves this show. She enjoys learning what the different tools are and what they do.

I say the show is okay, but the popularity had dropped since 2006. To me this show is not that bad, but It could of been better...

Handy Manny is definitely a cute show, and one that isn't too annoying for parents to watch along with their kids. (Although the parallels to Bob the Builder are obvious). My kids - 6, 4 and 2 - love it. Manny and the tools each have their own personalities and work together to solve problems and help their neighbors. And the projects are ones that kids can relate to - fixing a slat on a baby crib, fixing a latch on a bunny cage. The songs (which are repeated in every episode) are catchy and my older kids have been singing them repeatedly. One issue I have with with Manny is that, since he only has a limited number of tools, he sometimes uses them incorrectly - such as using pliers instead of a wrench to remove a bolt or using a flat blade screwdriver instead of a wood chisel to make a channel in a piece of wood (although he did wear safety goggles which was good). I've tried to explain to my kids that while it's great Manny does cool stuff and helps his neighbors, using the wrong tool for the wrong job can be dangerous. If wish Disney would give him a few extra tools or limit his jobs to the ones he can do with the tools he has. That said, it still has many good points and kids will love this show.