Phineas and Ferb, a cartoon that first aired on Disney Channel in 2007 (almost twenty years ago!), is now back with more episodes. The decision to continue the series comes after a more than 10-year break in production, and shortly after Nickelodeon's Fairly OddParents received a sequel. I was in high school and early college when Phineas and Ferb first aired, but my younger brother would watch the show so much that I ended up learning the catchy theme song and watching a few episodes!
The theme of Phineas and Ferb is perfect for a kid feeling bored in the summer—or any time of year. Phineas, his sister Candace, and their step-brother, Ferb, bite off more than they can chew when planning their summer break fun. They narrow down their days of summer to a science. They know there are 104 days in which they must come up with activities to drive away their vacation boredom, but they do so in very unconventional ways. The boys build a jukebox, a giant roller coaster, shape-shifting nanobots, and their very own live-streamed video game, to name a few. Not only do these inventions keep the boys entertained, but they often cause some form of mass chaos, too.
Candace’s inclination is to be the bossy and responsible older sister, but she frequently gets pulled into her brothers’ shenanigans. While attempting to ‘bust’ her brothers by catching them in their mischief, Candace also ends up in mischief of her own. Dr. Doofenshmirtz also makes a comeback in the series revival as the main villain, or possibly anti-hero of the show. He is a mad scientist who wants to conquer the surrounding cities and get revenge on enemies from his past. Tune in to see how Phineas and Ferb get entangled in Doof’s naughty schemes throughout the season.
Phineas and Ferb revival parents guide: Explaining the TV-G rating
Sex and nudity: With a TV-G rating, you’re not going to see any nudity or sex, nor will you have to worry about innuendos or references. Since Candace is a teenager and her brothers aren’t too far behind, you may see some potential love interests or teenage crushes (similar to previous seasons), but you won’t have to worry about watching this show before your kids see it.
Language: Again, thanks to the TV-G rating, the only surprising language that you might come across in this cartoon is “Ferb Latin”, which Phineas and Ferb created in season 3. Interested in learning? There is an entire song dedicated to the rules of the language.
Violence and Gore: With the presence of Dr. Doofenschmirtz’s character, there is a villainous element to the show, with plots to destroy things and/or people, and to take over in general. In episode 1 of season 5, Phineas’s mom gets turned into a cloud who tries to take over the town. If you’ve watched any other seasons of the show, you know that Phineas, Ferb, Perry the Platypus, and even Candace always find a way to return things to normal. We can expect the same to happen in the new season as well. So, while there may be some imaginative scenes, there is nothing that would be too frightening for a young child to watch.
Phineas and Ferb season 5 is safe for all age groups to watch this summer
Kids who watched previous seasons will really enjoy this revival, but they don’t really have to know the backstory to watch season five. The animation is quite similar to the original episodes, and many of the cast members are the same, making it a nostalgic comeback for older kids.
With a mixture of STEM and sci-fi sprinkled into the typical cartoon mayhem, your child is sure to get some ideas to keep them from getting too bored this summer. As a previous fan, I was a little disappointed in the change in theme songs, but I think the writers wanted to make sure this season had its own unique stamp. Overall, this show is parent-approved!
The first ten episodes of Phineas and Ferb, season 5 are available for streaming now on Disney+.