3Below: Tales of Arcadia – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

3Below: Tales of Arcadia

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2018

78%

WISE Score

Alien royals crash-land in suburbia and try to blend in—sci-fi fun from Guillermo del Toro's Arcadia universe.

3Below: Tales of Arcadia

show

TV-Y7, 2018

78%

WISE Score

Alien royals crash-land in suburbia and try to blend in—sci-fi fun from Guillermo del Toro's Arcadia universe.

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Screenwise Verdict

3Below is solid middle-grade sci-fi that does exactly what it sets out to do: entertain kids with alien hijinks while sneaking in themes about belonging and empathy. It's the second installment in del Toro's Tales of Arcadia trilogy, and while it doesn't quite reach the heights of Trollhunters, it's far from filler.

The premise—two alien royals hiding in plain sight at a California high school—gives you classic fish-out-of-water comedy with enough heart to keep it from being purely silly. The animation quality is strong, the voice acting is good, and the storylines move at a decent clip.

The main limitation: without much detailed information available, it's harder to assess specific episodes or arcs, but the IMDb 7.6 and age 7+ rating suggest it's reliably family-friendly without being boring. If your kid is into animated sci-fi adventure and you're tired of low-effort Netflix content, this is a safe bet that won't make you want to leave the room.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-14. The Common Sense Media age 7+ is spot-on—younger elementary kids can handle the action, while middle schoolers will appreciate the humor and more complex storylines. Teens might watch if they're already invested in the Arcadia universe, but it skews younger than Trollhunters.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Part of Guillermo del Toro's Tales of Arcadia trilogy, known for positive themes of friendship, family, and cooperation. The series follows alien royals hiding on Earth, emphasizing teamwork and cultural understanding. Common Sense Media age 7+ rating suggests age-appropriate emotional content with manageable conflict. The show models loyalty and working together across differences, with balanced pacing typical of Netflix animated series.

Imaginative

Strong sci-fi premise blending alien technology with suburban life creates engaging world-building. Part of interconnected Arcadia universe encourages broader narrative exploration. The fish-out-of-water concept (aliens adapting to Earth) invites curiosity about perspective-taking and cultural differences. Del Toro's involvement typically signals creative storytelling and visual imagination, though specific details are limited.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7+, indicating manageable action/peril for elementary-aged kids. Kids mode available on Netflix provides parental controls. As an animated series in the Tales of Arcadia franchise (which includes Trollhunters), expect fantasy action and some mild peril, but nothing gratuitous. No red flags for inappropriate content, though some sci-fi action sequences may be intense for younger/sensitive viewers. IMDb 7.6 suggests generally family-friendly reception.

Enriching

Explores themes of displacement, adaptation, and finding home in unfamiliar places—relevant for discussing empathy and cultural understanding. The alien-perspective narrative encourages thinking about how outsiders experience our world. Part of larger Arcadia storyline rewards sustained engagement and narrative comprehension. Provides entertainment value with some meaningful themes, though primarily focused on adventure rather than deep learning opportunities.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Creative fish-out-of-water premise: watching aliens navigate high school and human customs is genuinely entertaining
Part of the interconnected Tales of Arcadia trilogy, so if your kid loved Trollhunters, this expands that universe
Strong themes of loyalty, family, and finding your place when everything's unfamiliar
Quality animation and storytelling you'd expect from a del Toro production—not just filler content

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What to Watch For

Sci-fi action sequences with alien battles and technology—nothing graphic, but some peril and intensity
If your kid hasn't seen Trollhunters, they'll miss some crossover references (though it works as standalone)
The series is complete, so you're committing to 26 episodes if they get hooked on the Arcadia universe

Conversation Starters

"If you had to hide on another planet, what would be the hardest thing about fitting in?"
"The aliens think some of our Earth customs are weird—what human things do you think ARE actually kind of strange when you think about it?"
"How do Aja and Krel's friendship with the humans help them survive? What makes a good friend when everything's unfamiliar?"
"What would you miss most about Earth if you were stranded somewhere else?"

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