Study cartoons: 11 Best educational cartoons for kids that also teach good manners

The Center for Cartoon Studies – Master of Fine Arts, Certificates and Summer Workshops The Center for Cartoon Studies

• Previous




• Next

Vermont Flooding

When Hurricane Irene rolled through Vermont in 2011, White River Junction was hit hard. Thankfully, this time around, rivers at WRJ didn’t breach and our little village was spared any serious damage. Unfortunately, flooding in Montpelier, Ludlow and other places in Vermont was severe and those towns have borne the brunt of this storm. Our hearts go out to those communities. Thanks to everyone who has checked in and offered support. 

For those of you joining us for future workshops that come across the state from western points and through the Green Mountains, reach out to us in advance of your trip at [email protected] so we can make certain your path is open. While many of the main arteries should be operational for our next round of in-person workshops, we want to make certain that you have no difficulties. You can also review road closings at the following:
vtrans.maps.arcgis.com

---

Apply Now for The Center for Cartoon Studies MFA and Certificate Program

The Center for
Cartoon Studies (CCS)
Students travel from across the U.S. and around the world to study comics at CCS in a diverse and vibrant community in Vermont.

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree
  w/low Residency Option
• Two-Year and One-Year
  Certificate Program
• Summer Workshops

Click here learn more about our programs.

---

Longstreth’s Weezer Concert Art & Kickstarter for Isle of Elsi

Our Outreach Director Alec Longstreth is back from creating tour art for the band, Weezer. Longstreth created more than 700 illustrations and about 100 animated loops for the band’s Indie Rock Roadtrip tour.

“Weezer is my all-time favorite band, so it was a real honor for me to get to illustrate the tour poster for this summer’s tour,” said Alec. “The band and their management team liked it so much that I was then hired to be the lead artist for all the concert visuals that play behind the band during their performances. It’s been super rewarding seeing so many Weezer fans have a blast at these shows this summer. The tour runs until September 3, so folks might still be able to get tickets!”

(more…)

---

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) has named Arwen Donahue for the 2023 Cornish CCS Residency Fellowship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

White River Junction, Vermont –The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) has selected Arwen Donahue as its sixth annual Cornish-CCS Residency Fellowship for Fall 2023. Arwen will be working on a graphic memoir that explores generational legacies of sexual violence and asks how writing and art can play a role in their transformation. 

(more…)

---

SARAH SHAY MIRK IS THE 2023-2024 The Center for Cartoon Studies Program and Applied Cartooning Fellow

Credit: Jamie Thrower © 2023 Jamie Thrower, all rights reserved.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

White River Junction, Vermont –The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) has named Sarah Shay Mirk its Program and Applied Cartooning Fellow for the 2023-24 academic year. Shay (she/they) is a graphic journalist, editor, and teacher. She is the author of Guantanamo Voices (Abrams, 2020), an illustrated oral history of Guantanamo Bay prison, which Kirkus called “extraordinary… an eye-opening, damning indictment of one of America’s worst trespasses.” She is also a zine-maker and illustrator whose comics have been featured in The Nib, The New Yorker, Bitch, and NPR. Her book on the craft of making nonfiction comics, Drawn from the Margins: The Power of Graphic Journalism (co-written with CCS graduate Eleri Harris ‘14), will debut from Abrams ComicsArts in 2024. 

(more…)

---

Natalie Norris ‘20 Publishes Debut Graphic Memoir, DEAR MINI

Congratulations to Natalie Norris ‘20 for the release of her debut graphic memoir, DEAR MINI, out now via Fantagraphics! DEAR MINI began as Natalie’s thesis project while at CCS. The second and final volume of the graphic memoir will be printed in 2025.

“I first connected with Eric [at Fantagraphics] back in 2019 when I sent him some minicomics for The Center for Cartoon Studies’ Industry Day. He liked my early work so when I finished my thesis I sent him a physical copy to see if it would be something he’d be interested in. And luckily he was!” said Natalie.

(more…)

---

Sasha Velour ‘13 Designed Pride Cover of The New Yorker

Happy Pride! Our very own Sasha Velour ‘13 designed the 6/12/23 New Yorker cover, “The Look of Pride.”

Sasha spoke with The New Yorker’s art editor, Françoise Mouly, about the power of drag: “Queer expression, including drag, is the ultimate proof that a person can decide for themselves how to dress, dance, act, and live . . . and still find success, or a life worth living. Drag shows us that we don’t need to be afraid of who we are . . . and, if anything, we should exaggerate our quirks!”

(more…)

---

2023 Summer Workshops!

Workshops are a great time for cartooning adventures! Brush up on some skills, learn new ones, or discover the world of cartooning for the first time ever. The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) workshops are intense, geared towards supporting skill development, and advancing your work.

For more information and to register for an upcoming workshop, visit: cartoonstudies.org/workshops

---

Two Center for Cartoon Studies Graduates Nominated for Eisner Awards

We are honored and excited to announce that two of our The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) grads and current faculty, Robyn Smith ’17 and Tillie Walden ’16, have been nominated for the prestigious Eisner Award! Both are in the running for “The Best Publication for Teens  (ages 13-17).”

Robyn Smith ’17 for WASH DAY DIARIES (Chronicle Books) with writer Jamila Rowser. Robyn is a 2017 graduate of CCS, was a fellow from 2021-22, and is a member of our faculty. 

(more…)

---

SHARE:

Picmonic® Picture Mnemonics — Medical School, Nursing School and more!

Picmonic® Picture Mnemonics — Medical School, Nursing School and more!

Research proven to increase retention and test scores

Join over 1,740,000 students who use our quick and efficient picture mnemonic study aids to boost performance in school.

It’s worth every penny

See more reviews

How Picmonic Helps You Learn

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Search for a specific topic or category now!

1,740,000Students

100Countries

1,740,000Students

70,000High Yield Facts

Get your life back

Study less, remember more

Better than flashcards, Picmonic is the study tool of choice for learning thousands of the most difficult to remember and most frequently tested topics, board exam prep and more.

Our research-proven methodology incorporates the best study techniques by:

• Transforming forgettable facts into memorable stories and characters
• Covering an extensive library of study aids featuring need-to-know facts
• Providing a comprehensive learn-review-quiz study app system

Ridiculously Effective Approach

Built by medical professionals, Picmonic’s efficient & effective learning system paves your path to success from day one of school through your licensing exams and beyond.

Customize & Create

With powerful customization capabilities, your study resources become even more efficient, targeted,and complete.

Learn More

Comprehensive

Everything you need to know to ace your exams through graduation, boards, certifications, and more.

Learn More

Conquer the Forgetting Curve

Stop wasting precious study time. Exactly what you need to review, when you need to review it.

Learn More

Always up to Date

With our team of experts who constantly audit, curate, and improve content, you can feel confident.

Learn More

Related Facts Made Easy

To succeed in school you have to learn a topic AND how it relates to everything else.

Learn More

Study on the Go

Fits your busy lifestyle. Study whenever, wherever, with mobile apps and printing options.

Learn More

There’s a Picmonic product for you

Medical

Learn More

Nursing

Learn More

Physician Assistant

Learn More

Nurse Practitioner

Learn More

Pharmacist

Learn More

Physical Therapist

Learn More

Occupational Therapist

Learn More

Pre-health

Learn More

Medical Terminology

Learn More

Paramedic

Learn More

Webinars & Presentations

Our experts show you how to remember more in less time.

Schedule a School PresentationWatch a Webinar

Learn anytime, anywhere.

You’re busy. We get that. Use the Picmonic study app to take your learning on-the-go.

Are you ready to experience a better way to learn and

Get Your Life Back!

(No credit card required)

Keep in Touch

11 best cartoons to learn English — Afisha

For kids

«Word World»

Word World

American-Canadian series for teaching kids English. Suitable for the little ones — a magical universe where everything consists of letters. Each episode is a mystery. To solve it, you need to make a word from the letters seen in the cartoon. Perfect for learning the alphabet and the first steps in reading.

Gogo’s Adventures with English

All episodes are united by one story about the adventures of the dragon Gogo. For 24 episodes, you can learn to talk about yourself and your family, count, talk about hobbies and favorite food, learn colors and names of animals.

“A cartoon in which all the main topics for the entry level are worked out in a fun and playful way. Ideal for children aged 5-7.
Natalia Zverbulis, Skysmart

teacher

Muzzy in Gondoland

BBC

The legendary cartoon from which many of us learned English as children. The series about the alien Muzzy, who accidentally got involved in the court intrigues of the kingdom of Gondoland, was created by BBC experts specifically for teaching kids the language. The first series came out in 1986, but they have not lost their relevance at all. Even simple and minimalistic drawing still looks unusual and fresh.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

A popular animated series about the friendship of magical unicorns. The dialogues of Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are relatively slow and use very simple vocabulary. «My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic» is great for practicing listening comprehension skills.

Peppa Pig

Channel 5

Peppa is the most famous pig in the world. The animated series about her is ideal for the little ones, but it can also be a useful tool for adults in the initial stages of learning English. Not only do the pigs in the cartoon use simple words, they also often repeat individual expressions, so it’s easy to hear and understand them.

Schoolchildren

«How to Train Your Dragon»

The story of a young Viking who befriends a dragon is good for beginners — Pre-Intermediate is enough to understand all the dialogue. The characters speak very clearly, but at the same time naturally. So «How to Train Your Dragon» is the perfect choice for those who want to improve their spoken English and imagine how native speakers actually speak.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

DreamWorks Pictures

An appropriate cartoon for anyone who is just starting to watch movies in the original. First, one of the main characters is a dog that doesn’t talk. Secondly, the second character, the inventor Wallace, speaks with a noticeable British accent — and after all, many people want to learn British English. And thirdly, it’s just a funny plasticine cartoon — a rare genre in today’s computer times.

Wreck-It Ralph

Ralph, a computer game character, decides he doesn’t want to be a villain anymore and sets out to seek his fortune in other video games. The cartoon is worth watching not only for the sake of the original plot. It will also come in handy for those who want to expand their vocabulary — Ralph’s vocabulary covers almost all of the 1000 most commonly used words in English. If you understand all the dialogues of this cartoon, you will be able to understand most of the conversations of native speakers. And after watching you will learn to talk about computer games.

Toy Story

Pixar Animation Studios

Toy Story is almost a classic animated film and a rare example of sequels that rival the first series. The language here is simple, and the vocabulary is quite basic, but each toy has its own origin, its own voice and even accent. This helps to learn to listen to different manners of speaking. Plus, Toy Story is a treasure trove of words and phrases related to space, cowboys, dinosaurs, soldiers, fairy tales, and more.

«Lion King»

An old Disney cartoon or a fresh remake — it doesn’t matter, both are good for pumping English. The story that power is responsibility is good for all ages, but in the original it will be appreciated by those who are already approaching the Intermediate level. Don’t forget to translate the lyrics of great songs!

«Finding Nemo»

Pixar Animation Studios

Nemo the clown fish gets into the aquarium and his dad Marlin has to go to the rescue. On the way across the ocean, he will meet a variety of creatures, from the silly fish Dory to the mysterious herrings and travel turtles. So kids can learn common greetings and phrases to ask for directions and ask for help.

15 best educational cartoons in English for children

Learning a language is not always just reading textbooks. One of the best ways to speak a language is to immerse yourself in the culture and environment where it is spoken. If there is no opportunity to go to English-speaking countries, you can use other sources of living English, for example, cartoons.

In this article, we will find out why watching cartoons can be not only interesting, but also a useful pastime, and how English cartoons can help in learning the language.

Watching cartoons as a way to learn a language

It is difficult to learn a foreign language only from texts and exercises. The ability to speak a language is primarily a conversational practice and the ability to perceive speech by ear. One of the best ways to improve your English level is to surround yourself with English words and expressions in your daily life. This can be done, among other things, with the help of original British and American cartoons.

Watching cartoons is useful because it trains the ear and creates an idea of ​​intonation and pronunciation in the language. In addition, translations cannot always convey the original meaning of words or phrases, so many language learners tend to study foreign content in the original.

Children’s cartoons effectively help in learning English also because they present the language in a playful manner. In addition, now it has become much easier to learn the language in alternative ways: all series of cartoons can be found on the Internet and, if necessary, reviewed several times.

15 English cartoons for kids

In this section we will get acquainted with some of the most interesting and useful cartoons in English and see how they can help you learn the language.

1. Hello Happy Rhymes

Cartoon «Hello Happy Rhymes» means «hello, happy rhymes» in English. He is perfect for children who are just starting to get acquainted with the English language . The cartoon consists of 14 episodes, each of which lasts only 3 minutes, and therefore it is easy and interesting to watch.

«Hello Happy Rhymes» is a series of colorful and short cartoons, each with its own simple and memorable story. The peculiarity of the cartoon is that at the end of each story there is a song that repeats the main events of the plot. Thanks to the rhythm and rhyme, English words are remembered much better.

There are many different characters in the cartoon: these are children — for example, Jack and Jill — their parents and animals. The first part of the video is always devoted to the story of events from a third person — the narrator: with him the viewer is immersed in the plot. The cartoon teaches to consistently describe events in the same way as the narrator himself does in each episode.

2. Gogo Loves English

The cartoon «Gogo loves English» consists of 39 episodes and tells the story of the dragon Gogo, who flew to Earth and began to learn English. When viewing, it seems that you are learning English with the main character. In the cartoon, characters often repeat lines and phrases so that the child can remember them better and faster.

The main character is an inquisitive and sociable dragon Gogo. Together with him you have to go on a journey to learn English from the very first phrases. Each episode lasts approximately 5.5 minutes, which is enough to immerse yourself in the plot and not get bored.

The cartoon teaches basic English dialogue and topics such as «greeting», «description of an object» and «telling about yourself». The material in the Gogo dinosaur series will be useful for children with basic English skills.

3. Dora the Explorer

Another useful American animated series in English is Dora the Explorer. This cartoon is well known in Russia under the name «Dasha the Traveler». The protagonist of the series is the girl Dora, who loves to travel. Her friends help her in this: a monkey named Slipper, Backpack and Map.

The peculiarity of the cartoon is that it is interactive and involves the direct participation of the child in the plot and what is happening on the screen. Dora constantly interacts with the audience: asks questions, explains and discusses what is happening in the series. Often, Dora or other characters in the cartoon give the audience tasks, for example, «finish the rhyme» (in Russian, «to complete a rhyme, poem») from the Dora in Troll Land series.

The cartoon consists of 8 seasons, each of which has 19-40 episodes of 23 minutes each. The story about Dora is designed for an audience up to 6 years old and with basic skills in English .

4. Martha Speaks

This is a cartoon whose main character is Martha the dog. Once she ate alphabet soup (Russian for «alphabetic soup») and learned to speak English. Despite the fact that this way of learning is possible only in cartoons, by her example Marta shows how the ability to speak the language “opens doors”, that is, opens up new opportunities. In total, the cartoon consists of 6 seasons and 111 episodes, each episode is divided into 2 stories and lasts about 25 minutes.

«Martha speaks» is already aimed at advanced students : the series touches on more serious topics, such as «bad habits» or «game addiction». Therefore, the cartoon is worth watching for children who have already mastered the basic dialogues and want to improve their skills.

In the cartoon you can find useful idioms: in one of the episodes «Martha speaks» you will hear the phrase «you’ve got a frog in your throat», which in Russian means the inability to speak due to hoarseness. Martha speaks has other features that make the series educational. For example, heroes use synonyms to describe a concept — this helps them remember it better and at the same time expand their vocabulary on the topic.

5. Muzzy

This is a cartoon created by the BBC in the 80s of the last century especially for those who study English as a foreign language. It introduces viewers to the basics of English, so is suitable even for those who are just starting to learn the language. The cartoon consists of 1 season and 20 episodes, their duration is short — from 9 to 15 minutes.

«Muzzy» is a story about a friendly alien, Muzzy, who arrives in the land of Gondoland. Here he finds himself in various unusual situations. For example, he is imprisoned for eating parking meters, and then he has to intervene in a court conflict and help his beloved Bob and Sylvia reunite.

The main feature of the cartoon is the repetition of phrases and words spoken by the characters. The repetitive lines serve the educational purpose of the cartoon very well, as they help you memorize new words faster. In addition, the episodes have special educational inserts that explain the spelling and use of words. For example, in one of these inserts, the viewer learns that «I’m» is an abbreviated form of «I am».

6. Peppa Pig

In Russia, the cartoon is known as «Peppa Pig» — perhaps this is one of the most popular English cartoons among children. A total of 6 seasons have been released about the adventures of Peppa Pig, each of which has approximately 52-54 episodes. Peppa Pig is designed for children who are just starting to get acquainted with English, but will also suit those who already speak English well . Beginners will be able to learn new words and phrases with original British pronunciation, while advanced students will be able to hone their listening skills.

The main characters of the cartoon are Peppa Pig, her younger brother George and their parents. In Peppa Pig, many episodes are devoted to games, from which you can learn their names and features: for example, «marble race». In addition, many everyday situations and traditions are played out in the cartoon, which you need to be able to talk about when learning English.

7. Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom

In Russian, the cartoon is called Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, and it is quite famous among the Russian-speaking audience. The cartoon was released in 3 seasons: 52 episodes in the first and second, only 9 in the third. The episodes are short — they last 10 minutes, so it won’t take much time to learn and practice English while watching. However, for comfortable viewing of the animated series , we recommend that you have basic English skills .

The cartoon introduces viewers not to real situations, but to the magical world of elves and fairies, the main characters of which are the little fairy Holly and the elf Ben. But even magical stories can help children learn English: for example, in the episode «No magic day» the fairies lose their magical abilities and their elves friends have to teach them how to do household chores. For example, get water in the bathroom or comb your hair. Thus, the viewer, together with the fairies, learns to name objects and actions in English.

8. Over the Garden Wall

«Over the Garden Wall» is also a fantasy cartoon and suitable for children over 6 years old. It tells the story of two boys — Wirth and Gregory, who got into a magical forest. The 1st season of the cartoon has been released, which is divided into 10 episodes. Each episode is 11 minutes long, so it won’t take long to watch.

The cartoon contains a lot of colloquial phrases, fluent speech and a rather complicated plot, so It will be difficult for children with an elementary level of English to watch it . For example, in «Over the Garden Wall» you can find such phrases: «to mess with somebody» (in Russian, «mock someone») or «rock fact» (in Russian, «convincing statement»).

9. Phineas and Ferb

Many children know this cartoon called «Phineas and Ferb» in Russian translation. It focuses on the adventures of brothers Phineas and Ferb and their sister Candace’s failed attempts to stop them.

The animated series began to be produced in 2007, and since then there have been 4 seasons, each of which has 26-38 episodes. Episodes last approximately 10-20 minutes — this time is just enough to immerse yourself in the plot and learn a few new words from the witty dialogues of the characters.

«Phineas and Ferb» is suitable for viewing by children with an advanced level of English (pre-intermediate) . There are a lot of colloquial expressions in the speech of the characters, which are difficult to understand with basic English. In addition, the characters speak quite quickly, so a thoughtful viewing will require good listening skills in English.

10. Lassie

Modern American cartoon «Lessie» tells about the incredible friendship between a girl named Zoe and her dog named Lassie. She helps Zoya get out of unpleasant situations and accompanies the girl in all her adventures. Since 2014, 2 seasons have been released: 26 episodes of 22 minutes each. The level of English in the cartoon is suitable for experienced listeners , since the speech of the characters is often fast and requires good listening skills.

It is worth watching the animated series for many reasons. First, «Lessie» is a beautiful story of friendship between a girl and her dog. The main character Zoe Parker teaches viewers to be responsive, active and uphold the main values ​​of life. Secondly, this is a great way to get acquainted with American English and learn new words.

11. Bob the Builder

Another useful cartoon in English with a memorable slogan “Can we fix it? Yes we can!” — Bob the Builder. Its main character is the builder Bob, a kind, sympathetic and dedicated character. Bob has unusual friends and helpers: for example, a concrete mixer named Dizzy and a bulldozer Mac.

A total of 378 episodes of the animated series were released: from 1998 to 2018, 21 seasons of the beloved Bob the Builder were released. The duration of each episode of the cartoon is about 10 minutes, so watching the series is easy and interesting.

The cartoon is useful in that you can find many English idioms here, for example, “as the bird flies” (in Russian “in a straight line, along a straight path”). In addition, thanks to Bob’s pronunciation, children can learn British English. The leitmotif of the entire cartoon was the phrase “Can we fix it? Yes we can!”, which is perfectly remembered from the first episodes and teaches listeners to use the verb can correctly (in Russian “to be able”).

12. WordWorld

This cartoon is quite modern — its first series came out in 2007. In total, the series has 3 seasons and 45 episodes, each with a duration of approximately 12-15 minutes. The name of the cartoon is translated into Russian as «The World of Words», and indeed, what is happening in it is literally surrounded by letters and words. Even the main characters — a dog, a sheep, a bear and a frog — consist of letters corresponding to their name in English. Thanks to the cartoon, the child learns to find letters and make words in English — this will be an excellent training at the first stage of learning the language.

WordWorld episodes are short and simple, designed for children with minimal English skills . Here you will not find complex phrases and dialogues, but you can learn basic English words and expressions in a playful way.

13. Spot the Dog

The main character of the cartoon is an active and friendly puppy named Spot. He is curious and always on the go. This cartoon is suitable for young listeners who will be interested in exploring the world of the English language together with the main character and his friends.

Spot has three friends: Helen the hippo, Steve the monkey, and Tom the crocodile. The animation in Spot’s adventures is reminiscent of illustrations in a children’s book, which is one of the features of this cartoon.

The first part of the series about Spot came out in 1987, it included 13 episodes, each 5 minutes long. In 1993, a continuation of Spot’s adventures appeared: 13 new 5-minute episodes about a puppy that everyone loved. In the 3rd season of the cartoon, the format of the stories changed: in each of the new episodes, a short song sounded.

14. Maisy Mouse

Maisy Mouse tells the story of Maisy Mouse and her friends. The peculiarity of the cartoon is that the main characters — animals, including Maisie the mouse herself — do not speak English. They only make sounds like words, but we learn about what is happening from the narrator, who communicates with animals as with children.

The series first appeared on the screens in 1999, in total 26 episodes were released — each 5 minutes long. Many episodes focus on a subject, place, or action in English, such as «umbrella» or «roller skates». They teach children the correct British pronunciation and help expand their vocabulary.

15. Pocoyo

The Pocoyo boy is also well known to Russian TV viewers — he loves to have fun and play with friends. It is noteworthy that each cartoon character has its own special dance and musical accompaniment, which helps children better remember each of the characters. In total, 2 seasons of the cartoon were released, each of which had 52 episodes. The duration of the episodes is short — 6-7 minutes.

In every episode of Pocoyo, the characters play games or find other interesting things to do. For example, «ice skating» or «hide and seek» in the episode where Pocoyo and his dog friend Lula hide under an umbrella from their friend Pato. The series uses an engaging technique: when the narrator asks the audience a question, and the hero is waiting for an answer. This makes watching the cartoon more lively and interesting. Another feature of the cartoon is in 3D animation and the almost complete absence of scenery.

How to watch English cartoons

Now let’s talk about how to watch cartoons in English and what you should pay attention to. Here are some tips to help you watch:

• Use subtitles . This is especially important at the initial stage, when it is still difficult to divide English speech into words and translate it yourself. It is better to display subtitles immediately in English: this will help you immerse yourself in the language and speed up the process of memorizing new words. Over time, you can try to remove subtitles if you notice that you no longer pay attention to them when watching cartoons.
• See regularly . In learning a language, as in anything, habit is important.