Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is exactly what you’d expect: a chaotic, nostalgic, and deeply weird return to the park that refuses to grow up. If you were worried the revival would try to be "prestige TV" or pivot to a younger, softer audience, you can breathe—Mordecai and Rigby are still the same slackers they were a decade ago, and the stakes still escalate from "doing the laundry" to "fighting a multi-dimensional god" in under eleven minutes.
TL;DR: Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is a pitch-perfect continuation of the original series, featuring the same surreal humor and 80s-inspired aesthetic. It’s ideal for middle schoolers and teens who enjoy the "weird-core" vibes of Adventure Time or The Amazing World of Gumball. Expect mild cartoon violence, "soda-induced" benders, and zero life lessons—just pure, high-energy entertainment.
The genius of J.G. Quintel’s formula hasn't aged a day. Every episode of Regular Show follows a specific, reliable trajectory: Mordecai and Rigby are given a mundane task by Benson (their high-strung gumball machine boss), they try to slack off or use a "shortcut" (usually a cursed artifact found at a garage sale), and by the seven-minute mark, the fabric of reality is tearing apart.
The Lost Tapes leans into this harder than ever. Because these episodes are framed as "lost" stories from the original run, they don't feel the need to move the plot forward or evolve the characters. They just exist to be funny and strange. For a kid, it’s a masterclass in imaginative escalation. For you, it’s a show that actually rewards your attention with clever 80s and 90s pop culture riffs that will go entirely over your 10-year-old’s head.
Parents often get tripped up by the "Regular Show" vibe because it feels like it should be on Adult Swim, but it’s technically for kids. It lives in that sweet spot of "PG" that feels slightly dangerous.
Here’s the reality: the show uses "soda" as a stand-in for beer and "hot wings" as a stand-in for... well, also probably beer or maybe just a heavy night out. When the characters get a "sugar rush" or a "soda headache," they’re acting out the tropes of a classic hangover or a wild party. It’s a wink-and-a-nod to the adults in the room, but it’s completely clean for the kids. It’s the kind of writing that doesn't condescend to its audience, which is exactly why it has such a massive cult following.
If your family is looking for more shows that hit this specific "weird but okay for elementary school" note, check out our best shows for kids list.
While the animation style remains that hand-drawn, slightly grainy aesthetic we love, the pacing in The Lost Tapes feels a bit more modern. The jokes come faster, and the references are a bit more varied.
The Soundtrack Still Slaps
One of the best things about the original was the licensed music—think Pat Benatar or Queen. The Lost Tapes doubles down on this. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to music that isn't just whatever is trending on TikTok right now. If the synth-heavy score gets them interested in more electronic or retro sounds, you might want to point them toward our best podcasts for kids list for some music-history deep dives.
The Return of the Supporting Cast
Skips (voiced by the legendary Mark Hamill) is back with his gravelly wisdom, Muscle Man is still making "My Mom!" jokes that are so bad they’re good, and High Five Ghost is... still there. The chemistry between the park staff is the heart of the show. It’s a workplace comedy where the workplace happens to be a magnet for intergalactic demons.
In a world of "educational" programming and high-stakes serialized dramas, Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is a relief. It’s "junk food" for the brain in the best way possible. It validates the feeling that chores are boring and that hanging out with your best friend is the most important thing in the world.
For middle schoolers specifically, the show mirrors their own burgeoning independence and the desire to be "cool" while still being essentially a kid who likes video games and pizza. It’s relatable, even when they’re fighting a giant bearded head from space.
The main "friction point" here isn't the content—it's the volume. Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is loud. There is a lot of yelling, a lot of synthesized explosions, and a lot of high-pitched "WOOOOOOOOOO!"ing. It’s not a "before bed" show. It’s an "after school, burn off some energy" show.
If you’re worried about the slacker attitude rubbing off, use it as a conversation starter. Mordecai and Rigby always end up having to fix the mess they made. The shortcut always costs more than the hard work would have. You don't have to lecture them on it—the show does the work for you by making the "shortcut" result in a literal apocalypse every Tuesday.
- The "Shortcut" Tax: "Why did Mordecai and Rigby try to skip out on work this time? Did it actually save them any time in the end?"
- 80s Archetypes: "That villain looks exactly like a character from an old movie I saw. Do you want to see where they got the idea?"
- Friendship Dynamics: "Rigby is kind of a jerk to Mordecai sometimes, but they always have each other's backs. What makes them good friends despite the bickering?"
Q: Is Regular Show: The Lost Tapes okay for a 7 or 8-year-old? Yes, generally. While the humor is geared toward older kids, there’s nothing inherently "adult" about it other than the vibe. If they can handle the surrealism of SpongeBob SquarePants, they can handle this. Just be prepared for them to start saying "Hmph, Hmph!" at you when they don't want to do chores.
Q: Are there any content warnings for the new episodes? It’s standard Cartoon Network fare. Expect cartoon violence (explosions, laser beams, being kicked through walls), some very mild language (words like "sucks" or "jerk"), and those "soda benders" mentioned earlier. It’s PG, and it stays firmly in that lane.
Q: Do we need to have watched the original series to get it? Not at all. The "Lost Tapes" format means these are standalone stories. Knowing that Skips is immortal or that Benson is a hot-head helps, but the show explains itself pretty quickly through character action.
Q: Is it better than the original run? It’s "more" of the original run. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, which is its greatest strength. If your kid loved the first eight seasons, they will love this. If they didn't like the original, there’s nothing here that will change their mind.
Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is a win for intentional parents because it’s high-quality, creative animation that doesn't try to sell your kid anything or preach to them. It’s just fun. If you need a break from the heavy stuff, grab some wings (the non-magical kind) and watch an episode with them.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for more 80s-inspired adventures.
- If your kid loves the art style, look into how to get started with animation apps.
- Explore our digital guide for middle schoolers for more age-appropriate recs.
- Ask our chatbot for a personalized watchlist
