Under fire from parents, CoComelon turns to UCLA to prove its videos arent crack for kids

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Beneath azure skies and fluffy white clouds, three giggling toddlers and their mothers arrive at a candy-colored water park in the town of CoComelon.It’s the opening of “Fast Little Fishy Splash Water Park Adventure,” a three-minute episode of “CoComelon,” the popular children’s cartoon series that is perhaps as controversial as it is appealing to young children.Moonbug Entertainment, the studio behind “CoComelon,” says the episode, which debuted on YouTube in May, is the result of a years-long collaboration with a UCLA think tank.In an unconventional move for a privately held entertainment company, the studio released its child development guidelines on its website Tuesday.

Moonbug’s head of communications Bao Nguyen said the company began to incorporate findings from the research into its creative process in late 2025.“It’s a great example of what we’ve been trying to do,” said Rich Hickey, Moonbug’s chief creative officer, referring to the episode.

“Inclusive storytelling and learning through play — they’re all evident within that episode.” Hollywood Inc.The brightly colored “CoComelon” cartoons have become must-watch videos for babies and toddlers.

But they’ve also raised questions about what kids should be viewing.Nina and Cody, ecstatic about visiting their neighborhood splash pad, run through fountains and hop in kiddie pools, but protagonist JJ is a bit more skeptical.With support from his friends and his mother, who offers him goggles and a pair of orange arm floaties, JJ decides to face his fears.He joins his friends under a tipping bucket, and — spoiler alert — realizes that he actually enjoys playing in water.

(“I just love to swim, swim, swim,” he sings.)The guidelines, called the “Moonbug Learning Principles Framework,” are informed by academic research and advise that Moonbug shows should help young view...