WISE Score
Dorothy gets a 2024 musical makeover that’s actually sweet, safe, and surprisingly catchy for the preschool set.
This is top-tier preschool programming. It’s colorful, musical, and lacks the frantic, over-stimulating energy of lower-tier YouTube content. If you need 22 minutes of peace while you make dinner, this is a guilt-free choice.
It’s a 'modern' Oz that prioritizes social-emotional growth over peril. While it won't replace the classic story for older kids, it serves as a fantastic, safe introduction to fantasy worlds for the youngest viewers in the house.
Perfect for the 2-6 crowd. If they're old enough to lose a tooth, they'll likely find this a bit too 'baby-ish,' but for toddlers and preschoolers, it's the sweet spot.
It’s built on a foundation of kindness and cooperation. The tone is consistently gentle, modeling healthy friendships without the 'mean girl' tropes or unnecessary conflict found in older kids' media.
While it follows a standard preschool 'quest' formula, the reimagining of Oz as a vibrant, musical sandbox is genuinely creative and encourages kids to think about fantasy worlds in a fresh way.
Rated TV-Y and specifically designed for the preschool set. There are no 'scary' Oz elements like the 1939 film's flying monkeys; everything is bright, safe, and predictable in a good way.
Strong focus on social-emotional learning (SEL). It hits the marks on problem-solving and self-confidence, plus the musical elements offer a nice introduction to narrative through song.
If you grew up with the 1939 Wizard of Oz, you probably remember the trauma of the Wicked Witch and those nightmare-fuel flying monkeys. Dee & Friends in Oz (2024) is the complete opposite of that experience. Produced by the heavy hitters at 9 Story Media Group, this show is designed from the ground up to be a safe, welcoming space for preschoolers.
The show centers on Dee, a regular kid who finds a key that transports her to a reimagined Oz. Instead of a linear quest to go home, it's more about exploring the world, meeting new friends, and solving magical problems through song and collaboration. The animation is crisp and bright, and the musical numbers are actually catchy—not just the repetitive earworms that usually plague this genre.
In a media landscape filled with high-octane, short-form junk, Dee & Friends feels intentional. It’s the kind of show that actually models how to be a friend. It’s comparable to something like Doc McStuffins or Vampirina in terms of its emotional intelligence.
If your kid is already into Bluey but you need something a bit more 'adventure' focused, this is a solid pivot. It’s not quite the masterpiece that Bluey is, but it’s miles ahead of the generic, recycled content often found on streaming platforms. It’s predictable, kind, and—most importantly—it won't leave your kid acting like a caffeinated squirrel after the credits roll.
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