Hello there! We've been watching cartoons with my son, and I'm not sure if it's good or bad, but he's learning a lot from them. Fixies is one of the first cartoons we started watching, and I think it's because I find it really interesting myself. The characters have already grown on us, and our house is full of Fixies in different formats. But what's been happening lately is something that's not sitting well with me...
The storyline.
The cartoon tells the story of small human-like creatures called Fixies who live in appliances and keep an eye on their maintenance.
Fixies is based on a book by Eduard Uspensky called 'The Warranty Men'. I even remember something similar from my childhood.
Of course, the existence of Fixies is a secret, but then 10-year-old Dim Dimitych stumbles upon the Fixies and has no choice but to keep the secret. They become friends, and Dim Dimitych swears to keep the secret.
Dim Dimitych is a pretty smart kid who's into all sorts of things and does well in school. He's a well-behaved son, and all in all, he's a great kid.
Dim Dimitych meets the Fixies, consisting of his brother and sister, Simka and Nolik.
Simka is the older sister - she's smart, level-headed, and knows a lot of things. Although she's still a kid, she can fix a lot of things and always helps out in a tight spot.
Nolik is still very young and a bit mischievous. He's always getting into trouble, but Simka always saves him from those situations.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I love how the characters live in a TV set with their parents, Dim and Masha, and the rest of their family. It's like a little world inside the TV.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>The parents are always working, but it's clear they love their kids and each other. It's sweet to see.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>They even have a grandfather, Dedushka, who's also a teacher at the Fixies School.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>The whole point of the show is to explain how things work to kids. And it's not just about complicated electronics - they also teach simple things in a fun way. Like how a wheel works or a chair.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>Each episode has a fun fact section that teaches kids something new. It's like a little bonus feature.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>And then there are the other characters - Simka, Nolik, Dim's parents, and the accountant, Gena Evgenyevich. I love how they all have their own personalities and quirks.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I've been spending quality time with my partner and our kids, and I've got to say, they're a pretty amazing family. They love each other, they love their son, and they're just happy together.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>Our little girl is the first fashionista in the family, and she's absolutely obsessed with herself.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>The kid's a total brainiac and a bookworm, and he's always got a clever solution to any problem that comes up.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>And then there's Fae, the class clown who's always up to something mischievous.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>And let's not forget Shpudya, the sweetest and most adorable girl in the class.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>Oh, and then there's the family dog, Kusachka - she's a total goofball and always on the go, chasing after these little figurines.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>As of now, there are 160 episodes, each around 6-7 minutes long, and they all focus on a specific topic.
I love that the cartoon has so many catchy songs - I find myself humming them all day. It's great that kids can easily remember them too.
Most of the singing is done by Dim Demych, whose voice is just perfect.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I'm also a fan of the voice acting - the Fixies' voices are a bit processed, but it suits their robotic nature.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I've always been a fan of this show, probably because it's not just for kids. I thought it was suitable from a young age, but I was wrong.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I enjoy the Fixies' behavior, the educational inserts, and the creative solutions they come up with. My kid enjoyed it too, but then things started to get interesting...
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>He's almost three, and he's like a sponge - he absorbs everything. One time, he started putting his feet on the table, and when I scolded him, he said, 'But Dim Demych does it, and it's okay.' I didn't know what to say...
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I started explaining that Dim Demych's mom probably didn't catch him, and that he's an adult, but he just kept saying, 'But Dim Demych did it.' It's like he's started mimicking the show.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>The Fixies themselves use some not-so-kid-friendly language - they tell each other things like 'you're stupid,' which is not great for kids' ears. Why do they need that in a kids' show, anyway?
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>Despite that, the show is educational and teaches kids about complex things in simple terms. It also promotes values like friendship, family, and love for animals, all in a good and fun way.
<\/a> <\/div><\/div>I guess I just realized my kid is growing up...
I'd recommend this show, but with caution. It's better suited for kids aged 6-7, who can understand what's not suitable behavior. As a developer, I'd probably avoid including those moments altogether.