Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

TV Series Review

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?

Daniel Tiger happily sings this song every morning as he wakes up, stretches his striped paws and prepares for another day in his hometown: the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. 

Here, Daniel lives with his sister, Margaret, his father and mother, Dad and Mom Tiger, as well as his unique and cheery friends, including Miss Elaina, Max, O the Owl, Jodi Platypus, Katerina Kittycat and Prince Wednesday. 

This fun group sees each other every day–playing, laughing and learning what it’s like to be a good friend. 

A New Mister Rogers Generation

Back in 1968, Fred Rogers came to PBS as a kindly, cardigan-wearing man who welcomed viewers into his cozy home and began to teach them about the world around them. He used kindness as the foundation for his lessons, all while incorporating puppets, real-world snippets and his famous Land of Make-Believe. 

The last episode of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood aired on Aug. 31, 2001, ending a show that made its mark for teaching preschoolers (and really anyone else who wanted to watch) valuable lessons that were rooted in compassion, common sense and an empathetic teaching style. 

It’s easy to see that Mister Rogers left a legacy. And PBS decided to take a part of his legacy and bring it to life again in the animated world of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. 

This animated show, featuring a 4-year-old tiger, his parents and his friends, aired its first season in 2012 and is currently, in 2023, in its sixth season. 

In Daniel’s Neighborhood of Make-Believe, preschoolers learn a lot of important lessons such as regulating their emotions, sharing, problem solving, loving one another despite differences and learning that there is value in every person. In fact, there are a few characters on the show that teach young viewers about those who may not look like them or process the world as they do. For instance, one character named Max is autistic. Chrissie uses crutches. 

The episodes are divided into two segments, clocking in at 11 minutes each, and the show often showcases a “real-life” segment where kids will learn about interesting, everyday life moments, such as a trip to the grocery store, playing in the high school band or gardening with family. 

While some parents may not like the episodes that show Daniel and his friends having tantrums or being unkind, the point is always to redirect these characters and teach them appropriate responses. 

If you liked Mister Rogers, this animated preschool series is certainly different, but at its heart, kindness still prevails.