DR. SEUSS’S THE SNEETCHES
Something Different Can Be Wonderful Too
What You Need To Know
DR. SEUSS’S THE SNEETCHES is an animated fantasy musical streaming on Netflix about two girls overcoming their cultural differences. Stella is a free-thinking young girl who lives on an island. One day, she develops a secret friendship with a girl from the opposite tribe. However, the feud between both groups of Sneetches runs deep. Can our heroines mend generations of separateness?
THE SNEETCHES is based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. The special follows the Sneetches, a race of yellow-furred creatures who once lived in harmony. In the distant past, the species split into two groups over petty differences and has held a grudge since. Bella Stella is an engineer and belongs to the land-dwelling Star-Bellies. Her secret friend is Pearl, an inventor who lives with the sea-faring Moon-Bellies.
In terms of production value, THE SNEETCHES is colorful and inviting. The art direction religiously adheres to the topsy-turvy vision of Dr. Seuss. The sets are bright, the character design is decent, and the animation quality is generally good. The voice acting is cheerful and full of youthful energy. This special might lack ambition, but it is pleasing to look at. The same can be said of its moral outlook, with some light caution.
In terms of worldview, THE SNEETCHES has a strong Christian outlook with a strong bias towards friendship, creative problem-solving skills, and overcoming prejudice. Stella, the protagonist, is a free thinker who questions the assumptions of her Star-Belly elders. Stella is bright and curious and becomes best friends with someone from the opposite tribe. Moreover, both lead heroines are engineers who invent gadgets. They put their skills together to save their loved ones from a tsunami. There is no mention of God or Jesus. But the characters convince their tribes to drop their feud and live in harmony once more.
The only objectionable element in THE SNEETCHES is cartoon violence. The characters drive high-speed boats, jump around and fly a kite in the middle of a raging tsunami. There is no blood or gore, but there is some slapstick violence between the heroine’s animal sidekicks. Otherwise, THE SNEETCHES meets the same child-friendly standard as other Suess adaptations. The special is uplifting but also contains politically correct notions that challenge traditionalism and encourages children to question authority. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for young children.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
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Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
A strong moral outlook that condones friendship and condemns prejudice, the heroine befriends someone from the opposite tribe, she exhibits kindness and curiosity towards others, the characters convince their warring tribes to drop their prejudices, they establish a new egalitarian way of living with their species, the heroines work together in the field of inventing and engineering, and the heroine questions the broken traditions of her elders; It contains politically correct notions challenging traditionalism and encourages questioning authority
Foul Language
No foul language
Violence
Light cartoon violence throughout, a pet monkey gets into spats with a pet crab, a girl recklessly pilots a boat (but does not capsize anyone), two girls fly a kite in the middle of an ocean storm, a tsunami hits an island (but everyone survives), and two tribes of Sneetches threaten to protest one another (but no violence breaks out)
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug abuse
Miscellaneous Immorality
A Moon-Belly boy threatens to expose his sister’s Star-Belly friendship to the Moon-Belly elders.
