As a parent, I’m always trying to keep an eye out on everything that my 6-year-old is getting into – whether it’s what’s going on in school, what video game he’s currently interested in, what he’s reading.
One of the things I try to keep an eye on as much as school, is what he’s watching on TV, and, thanks to this, I discovered one of the best cartoons I’ve seen in a while. I can’t believe all the laughs I’ve had watching it with him. I am talking about Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb, which debuted back in 2007. My son discovered this one day before I did, and, with it being on Disney Channel, I was a bit more content with letting him watch.
I know how good of a job Disney does with keeping shows appropriate and amusing without crossing any lines that I feel would be not suited for a child. One day last summer Tim asked me to sit down to watch Phineas and Ferb with him, and he said that was also where he had heard this very odd chattering noise that he’d recently been trying to imitate, so we got our lunch and sat down to watch what has become one of my favorite TV shows, even at 26 years of age!
For those who are unfamiliar with the show, the basic set up for each show is that the viewer follows Phineas and his step brother Ferb during their summer vacation, in which each day they try to pull off an over the top project. Meanwhile, their sister Candace tries to get their parents to catch them.
Other major characters that make the show unforgettable include Perry the Platypus (or Agent P as he is sometimes known) and his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz. They always have a side story each episode that adds so much to the show as a whole. There are other side characters as well that add flavor, humor, and character to the show and are just as important in the long run. There are also musical numbers in each episode, some done by the characters in the show, or sometimes it’s music to accompany a certain kind of scene where there is no talking, and this music is very well done.
I think one of the biggest reasons I love this show is that, as my son has grown up, it has been difficult to really get into some of the shows he enjoys. Some of the children’s shows that were good for him to watch, I just couldn’t tolerate, and others I couldn’t connect with. I believe Phineas and Ferb connected with me as it was something I would have watched as a kid. After one episode, I was hooked, and not as a father but as a 26 year old adult. It has really become something I can sit down with my son and enjoy watching together and laugh like I’m a little kid. We’ve even started picking up some of the Perry the Platypus stuff that’s on sale at the Disney Store, and we make it a point to watch the new episodes that debut every Friday on Disney Channel as well as the movies that will be coming out later this year. We have even picked up one of the CDs from the show and you can find it on iTunes.
Do yourself a favor, if you’ve got a kid who loves cartoons, sit down and watch this with them. Even if you don’t, you should still check it out because Phineas and Ferb is one of the better cartoons to come out in a while.
Contributed by: Mark Weaver (NDD#110) Mark is the DDL Disney Channel and Pins Blogger. He is also the creator of Illuminating Epcot.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Ga, Mark grew up visiting WDW for the first time in the mid 90’s and then became a Disney Fanatic in 1999 when he was invited to the Epcot Millennium AP Weekend. Ever since, he’s had a love of Walt Disney World, and particularly Epcot that he has never let go of as he grew up. Now being a father and husband, he has spread his love of Disney to them and introduced them both to Walt Disney World in 2010, and have become a very Disney centered family. Mark and his wife Elizabeth started up IlluminatingEpcot.com to share their love of Epcot and currently updates the website multiple times per week.
I love Phineas and Ferb, we record the new episodes and watch them as a family. I’ve quoted the show and Facebook before too.
We love P&F at our house too and just got the CD from Target this weekend. The song you posted (Backyard Beach) is one of my faves. 🙂 I think P&F will stick around our house for a long while as it entertains my 4 and 6 year olds as well as my husband and I.
Phineas and Ferb are huge in our house as well. I love that it is something the entire family can enjoy together. The other day ,I mentioned a writing activity that I will be doing with my 7 year old using Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz. More Education posts involving Phineas and Ferb will be coming to DDL down the road since they are so popular with kids (and adults).
I love Phineas and Ferb. I watch it more than my kids do. The whole family knows that we’re waiting in line as long as it takes to get pictures with them on our next trip.
We ADORE Phineas and Ferb! We have been counting down the days until we can meet then in DHS in Feb! We are thrilled they are in the parks. But, where’s Perry?
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!