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Larva Family

Larva Family season 1

Credits

Cast

Network

Reviewer

Sarah Rasmussen

TV Series Review

What happens when you cross new parents with the goofy antics of Despicable Me’s Minions? Well, in this case, you get Larva Family.

In this animated series with no dialogue, Red and Yellow are just ordinary larvae until a baby caterpillar comes into their lives. Although Red takes a while to warm up to her, both larvae soon become committed parents to baby Magenta.

A Typical Kid’s Show

Anyone who has dabbled in children’s television can probably identify its typical elements: family dynamics, exploring friendships, and a whole lot of slapstick.

Larva Family checks all these boxes … especially the last one.

If you’re familiar with the Korean-based Larva franchise (Red and Yellow first appeared in 2011), you probably know what to expect. For those who don’t, be warned: To say that Larva Family employs a lot of bathroom humor would be an understatement. Each episode has its fair share of regurgitations, oozing mucus, and passing toxic clouds of gas.

The characters also participate in quite a bit of cartoon violence. Although no one ever seems to be fatally wounded, characters regularly throw one another from heights, pelt others with large items, and go on wild goose chases. These dangerous behaviors are played for laughs, often at the expense of others. Red is particularly guilty of pulling mean pranks to get giggles.

Despite the use of these slapstick comedy elements, the show does touch on some valuable concepts. For example, Red and Yellow adopt baby Magenta and watch as she grows up. During this journey, Red, Yellow, and Magenta stick together despite family disputes.

We should note that Red and Yellow are two male characters who parent baby Magenta. The show does not seem to suggest any romantic affection between the two characters. Instead, their relationships mirrors that of The Lion King’s Timon and Pumba raising Simba. Nonetheless, this show technically features a family with two “dads.”

Something tells me Larva Family won’t join the ranks of children’s classics like Sesame Street or Paw Patrol. While it offers some sweet messages, the show’s reliance on bathroom humor and Red and Yellow’s questionable behavior might have some parents seeing red themselves.

Episode Reviews

May 4, 2023 – S1, Ep1: “The Baby/Fart/Magenta”

In the first segment, “The Baby,” we find our main characters, Red and Yellow in peril as Mauve the owl clenches them in her talons.  Through a series high jinks and minor cartoon violence, Red and Yellow escape the jaws (or beak) of death. They find themselves near a berry bush and gleefully gobble the delicious fruits.

But one of these things is not like the other. … Unbeknownst to him, Yellow swallows a baby caterpillar egg. And here, the antics begin.

The next morning, Yellow “gives birth” to a baby caterpillar named Magenta. Yellow and Red work together to tackle this new adventure of childrearing.

The owl chase sequence feels pretty intense for younger viewers. We should also note that “birth” scene with Yellow. Contextually, Yellow consumes a caterpillar egg, and the “birth” aspect is a jocular parody. Nonetheless, Yellow is a male character who, however jokingly, gives birth.

In the second segment, “Fart,” the title tells you everything you need to know. Baby Magenta experiences tummy problems but refuses to … “let it go.” Magenta’s unwillingness to pass gas causes her to blow up like a balloon and fly away. Narrowly escaping peril, Yellow and Red rescue Magenta by teaching her a lesson in passing gas.

Based on the title, you have probably assumed that this segment employs ample bathroom humor. There is one scene where Red indicates, with his tongue, the area where flatulence should come from. (For context, Red doesn’t have hands and uses his tongue for all tasks.) The segment also includes a potentially frightening moment when a big spider eats bugs caught in its web: The viewer can see the bugs’ faces full of fear before their demise.

The third segment, “Magenta,” follows Red, Yellow, and Magenta on a family picnic. As bug families around the park enjoy their day, a mysterious butterfly named Grizzly steals food from the different groups. Magenta defends her family’s food from Grizzly.

At one point, Red and Yellow fight over a piece of food while Magenta cries. Also, Yellow gets a plant stuck in his nose. When he dislodges it, mucus from his nose covers the plant and sprays the other characters.

May 4, 2023 – S1, Ep2: “Buddy/Wild Life/Royal Jelly”

In the segment “Buddy,” Mauve’s baby owl, Tan, falls out of the nest. He becomes fast friends with Magenta, and the two babies play together and wander away from their parents. Distressed, Red, Yellow, and Mauve frantically search for their children.

As the parents search for them, Magenta and Tan giggle as they run and hide from their parents.

Toward the end of the segment, Tan and Magenta find a magnifying glass and use it to burn things. Eventually they create a fire. Nothing violent happens, but Tan and Magenta think the fire-making is funny.

In the second segment, “Wild Life,” Red fights with the rest of his family, storms off and runs into Big Brown, the turtle who is mid-meditation. Red becomes entranced by Big Brown and joins in with his strange practices.

Big Brown seems to parody Eastern religion in the way he meditates, does yoga, and drinks hallucinative liquids.

Big Brown urinates on screen. We don’t see anything critical, but the story implies that the hallucinative liquids have actually been Big Brown’s urine.

In the third segment, “Royal Jelly,” Red disguises Yellow as a bee so they can steal honey. While undercover, a girl bee falls in love with Yellow. Yellow uses her infatuation as an opportunity to acquire the delicious honey.

Both Yellow and the girl bee make kissing motions toward one another. Additionally, Yellow flirts with the girl bee and makes a subtly suggestive movement toward her.

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Sarah Rasmussen

Sarah Rasmussen is the Plugged In intern for Summer 2023.

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