Charlie and Lola

This cartoon really is a little gem. My 2 year old son and 5 (and three quarter) year old daughter both really enjoy it. I find this very funny too, which is not the usual case for kids' cartoons. Lola's speech, e.g. excessive use of the word "completely", or Blossom trying to wangle the word "actual" into every sentence, ring very true. So does their 180 degree change of stance once they understand situations better; we experienced the "I Do Not Ever, Never Want My Wobbly Tooth to Fall Out" recently, and even our 5 year old saw the similarity and laughed about it. The surreal, imagination scenes like flying on a bird's back, are always well done and hold our 2 year old's attention, which is not easy.

I'm always slightly wary when a show is described as "good clean family fun" because that usually translates as "incredibly boring for adults", but in this case it really doesn't. Highly recommended for all ages.

"Charlie and Lola" is a lovely, sweet show, done with respect for its young audience. Far too many shows seem to come from creators who think "Hey, they're just kids, we don't have to make it good!"

My daughter is 8, a bit above the age-level at which the show is aimed, but she loves it and I tape it for her every day. I love it too!

I second Chris451's comment that it's wonderful to have real children doing the voices--Lola's best friend Lotta's giggle is particularly delicious!

If you haven't read them, find the books (not widely available in the US, but not impossible to find)--the show is quite true to them, but both are charming. "I Am Not Sleepy and Will Not Go to Bed" is particularly nice for a bedtime stories.

The Cast:

Charlie: Jethro Lundie-Brown, Lola: Maisie Cowell, Lotta: Morgan Gayle, Marv: Ryan Harris

This is a GREAT show! The animation is strange, but delightful. I think it promotes a great relationship between a brother and a sister. Whilst some of the situations Charlie and Lola find themselves in seem somewhat mundane (i.e. going to a birthday party, playing in the snow for the first time, etc.), I experienced a similar daily relationship with my younger sister when we were children. It is good clean fun for young children. It is drawn very simplistically with a "crayonesque" type of animation, but the real draw is the voice talent behind the characters and the creative dialogue. Though she is not part of the intended audience, our 6-month-old daughter loves the bright colours used in the animation. Many of today's kids' shows are tainted with PG humour that goes over their heads. This show is just good clean fun. Kids are safe to watch this one without parents worrying about them picking up on any vulgarities or rude behaviors displayed in other animated series that are presently on TV. I wish there was more attention given to it here on IMDb.

I think this show is adorable.

I was just about finishing childhood when it was first being shown but a few years later I did fall for its simple charm.

It maintains the same collage-based animation style reminiscent of the original books, making it not as kitsch or garish as a lot of animated shows (I like this style, don't misunderstand me, but it can be excruciating to watch them with people).

The easy going but well paced stories nicely fill that 11 minutes before bed since they're not very challenging or emotive and aren't too sanctimonious with their message.

Lola herself is adorable: her playful and naive personality is really the centre of the show. She feels and speaks like a child yet is still articulate enough to not be an infuriating or boring character.

Her relationship with Charlie is also quite wonderful; without being heavy handed or unrealistic, they've presented a sororal bond (is there a gender neutral term for "fraternal"?) that has a genuine substance. They're not co-dependant, they have friends their own age but it's rather lovely to see siblings of disparate ages that aren't in permanent antagonism without it feeling like parental propaganda.

Of course every episode has a moral, but rather than being given a heavy handed lesson, I felt that I was just experiencing the conflicts that a child faces. It is narrated by Charlie, but rather than being redundant and soul crushing (like Peppa Pig) it fits in with the tonality of the series.

I'm not even kidding, sometimes when I have watched Teeth, of Human Centipede First Sequence, after it's finished I think to myself "Well that was cool. But I can't go to bed after that".

This show serves as a nice sorbet to cleanse the pallet from heavier stuff.

I want a Lola of my very own! It makes me wish I'd had a little sister. I don't know if kids will like this but once in a while, I do.

I have been buying the Charlie and Lola books for my children since they first appeared.

Now I'm thrilled to see that they've been brought to the screen with every bit as much imagination, visual flair and originality as the books.

Everything from the theme tune to the children's voices is spot on perfect.

I have bought a DVD for my 3 year old, but my 7 and 9 year olds will happily forgo Tracy Beaker to watch it, and I'll quite happily sit through the odd episode too! Well done to the team who made it.