Netflix’s Kid Cosmic

Netflix’s Kid Cosmic

In Feb 2, 2021 Netflix released a new entry to join the ranks of their roster of original animated shows. Netflix’s Kid Cosmic follows a young boy named Kid who discovers five stones that can grant unique powers. Kid Cosmic is the latest creation of cartoon legend Craig McCracken, creator of the Powerpuff Girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, and Wander Over Yonder. The show is based on a comic strip that Craig had made, and the show retains that classic comic strip art style. Having grown up with comics like Calvin and Hobbes that greatly pleased me. Check out the trailer.

Netflix's Kid Cosmic
Property of Netflix

Summary 

The show is about Kid discovering five stones that come from a space ship that crash landed on Earth. Kid immediately assumes that they have power, which he’s correct, and goes telling everyone that he’s going to become a superhero. He ends up forming a team and gives everyone a ring. The team consists of Kid who can fly, Jo who can make portals, Rosa who can become giant, Papa G who can multiply, and Tuna Sandwich, a cat that can see the future. As the series progresses Kid struggles with being and feeling like a real hero while he faces alien invaders who desire the stones.

The Characters

The main characters are likeable and the story structure was alright. However, I did have a problem with Kid. In the beginning he is obsessed with being a hero. He wasn’t very likeable in most of the show but that was to set up the growth that he would go through. There were times when he was selfish and annoying, but I never hated him for it. Without spoiling too much, Kid goes through the series worrying about being a hero and how things never go his way. At the end he understands that he doesn’t have to be the leader or even a great hero. Although I didn’t love him, Kid was not an irritating protagonist and I’m sure that this growth was needed seeing as the show is planned to have 2 more seasons. Unfortunately, Kid is the only character that was developed in the show. Jo gets a bit of setup early on with the desire to travel but it’s not explored much. Her character is defined as the responsible one who watches over Kid, more so really than his actual guardian. His guardian, Papa G, doesn’t get much focus. He is an open minded individual who really cares for Kid. Rosa, the little 4 year old, doesn’t get much attention and Tuna Sandwich the cat gets roughly an episode to show case his bond with Kid. The characters aren’t flat and I do love Rosa, she’s adorable, but the season does focus mostly on Kid. You can argue that there is a focus on some characters and that it is spaced out, but they feel more like learning moments than actual development.

The Art Style

As mentioned above the show has a nice comic art style. The style resembles a combination of different comics that you might see on the Sunday newspaper. The style isn’t jarring and a good portion of the combination is seen from the aliens to distinguish what is from earth and what isn’t. The characters from earth are rather simplistic but the backgrounds can be quite detailed. Another aspect I love is how fluid the show is in art direction. It’s not inconsistent but rather it isn’t afraid to change things up to express their location and mood.

The References

There are a lot of references that people can draw from this show. The first and most obvious are the power rings. Very likely a reference to Captain Planet and the five power rings that summon him. One aspect of the five rings does change near the end of the season, but the fact that they start at five very likely references Captain Planet. Kid’s comics look just like classic Marvel comics and so are the panels in them. Later in the season we are introduced to a team called the Earth Force Enforcement Force, a team of armoured heroes from different countries from around the world. The heroes are red, blue, green, yellow, and pink. The team are clearly a reference to the power rangers and many of their actions are clear references to them.

Netflix’s Kid Cosmic Review Conclusion

The show is great with a lot of entertaining and funny moments and I definitely encourage people to check it out. It’s not a masterpiece but is definitely getting a rewatch or two from me. I look forward to the next season titled Kid Cosmic and the Intergalactic Truckstop.

 

 

Interested in something entertaining in Toronto? Check out some Social Distanced options.

 

Great Pop Songs for Young Singers

What song should I sing? It’s the age-old question.

Young singers are always looking for great pop songs to sing in lessons. We are shown pop stars like Adele, Lady Gaga, or Justin Bieber, and kids are drawn to their “cool” factor. As a voice teacher, I’ve often struggled with the song requests from my students. Many of the songs that are most popular are wildly inappropriate for young singers to work on! It’s so difficult to find pop songs that they love to sing, and that are appropriate for their maturity and vocal development. After 10 years of working with young singers, I’ve developed a list of my go-to favourites that also seem to be frequent hits with my students. Here is a list of 5 great pop songs for young singers, and a karaoke to practice with (in no particular order):

 

Song 1: Better Place, Rachel Platten

This is a great pop song for young singers, especially beginners. There are lots of approachable patterns, so learning isn’t too difficult. There are also some good rhythm challenges to promote good counting! The words are so lovely, and give students lots of places for good word painting. You’ll see in the official music video that this song is directed to relationships of all types, so this is a great pick for those looking to steer away from romantic themes. 

If you like Better Place, you might also love Rachel Platten’s other girl-power hit, Fight Song. A bit higher and beltier, but great for young singers with strong stage presence!

Here’s Better Place (original):

Here’s Better Place (karaoke with lyrics): 

Song 2: Rainbow, Kacey Musgraves

A really lovely pop ballad with a heartfelt message. Subject matter leans a bit on the sad side, but offers an uplifting final message of “it’ll all be alright”. The chorus is so lovely, and gets young singers using that mid/high mixed voice. I love Kacey Musgrave for young singers – she doesn’t overblow her sound on the top, and allows it to float beautifully and easily. When students inevitably listen to her original recording, I think she sets a great example in this song of how we’d want our young singers to approach things! 

Here’s Rainbow (original):

Here’s Rainbow (karaoke with lyrics): 

Song 3: You’ve Got A Friend, Carole King

Definitely the hardest song on the list musically, You’ve Got a Friend is a great stretch piece for a young student in need of a musical challenge. This song might be most appropriate for a student who is 12-13 years old (but I have had this work for both younger and older students!). Some interesting key changes and rhythmic patterns keep students on their toes, but all within totally appropriate subject matter and vocal style. There are also some great (but relatively short and approachable) riffs throughout, which many students love to challenge themselves with. 

Here’s You’ve Got a Friend (original): 

Here’s You’ve Got A Friend (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

Song 4: Count On Me, Bruno Mars

Count on Me is a fantastic pop song for young singers –  it makes my list for students under 10 as well. I’ve used this song for young boys and girls alike – it works perfectly for anyone! Totally appropriate words, and really accessible vocal melodies. The middle section with the high “oo’s” is a great challenge section for young voices to access higher notes with healthy technique. This is always at the top of my recommendation list for any young, beginner vocalists. 

Here’s Count On Me (original): 

Here’s Count on Me (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

Song 5: One Call Away, Charlie Puth

Another great pop song that is equally suitable for young boys or girls, One Call Away is a great song choice for any young singer. The words are approachable and understandable to anyone of any age, and do not have to be interpreted as romantic in any way. There’s some great range to the song, so it’s great for developing more of your voice, with some great scale passages to practice accuracy and tuning. I’ve taught this song more times than I can count, and it’s a studio favourite for sure! 

Here’s One Call Away (original): 

Here’s One Call Away (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

If you enjoyed these songs, you should definitely check out more from these artists! A big part of choosing repertoire as a young singer is finding artists who speak to you and your style, and raiding their discography for favourites! Other artists that my young students have enjoyed are Shawn Mendes, early Taylor Swift, and some Ed Sheeran. There are many great pop songs for young singers! Just be sure to read the words without music to really get a sense of whether or not it will work for your child. 

 

great pop song sung by young singer

 

Here’s another post I like about how to choose the right song for you:

https://myvoicecoach.com/roadmap-to-choosing-the-right-songs-to-sing/

 

Check out Jose’s blog post below:

https://nine.psbdigital.ca/paramount-plus-new-streaming-service/