Review: Disney Jr.'s "BeddyByes" Is A Gentle and Relaxing Moment to Breathe In A Cacophony of Overstimulating Preschool Programming

A lot of times in the world of animation, whether it be for adults or a preschool audience, we are met with madcap and frenetic energy that can be overstimulating. Loud, wacky noises, flashing colors, rapid movement. The new Disney Jr. preschool series, BeddyByes, is the exact opposite. In it, we follow best friends Memo and Baba throughout their day on Planet BeddyBye, which is timed out by the Tick Tock Clock. Most of the episode's story happens during Playtime with a peak during Yummy Time - when the characters eat with the Yummies.

This might sound rigidly formulaic, but that's because it is. BeddyByes is a series that was designed to support healthy daily routines and sleeping habits for preschoolers. That's part of why it's so gentle and peaceful. This is a wind-down show. Not an amp-up show. Other fare, like say Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends get kids up and moving, ready for or keeping them going throughout the day with upbeat music and wild action. BeddyByes takes a second and gives viewers a chance to breathe. Each episode also features a moment on Lullaby Lake, which does something I don't think I've ever seen a preschool series do - The camera holds on the characters floating peacefully on the water, sometimes with whales and harmonizing fish that appear, while gentle, almost spa-like music plays. It's not song time, it's not get-up-and-dance-time. It's time to take a moment to relax and take a deep breath.

As part of the goal to promote those routines and sleeping habits, each episode follows the same beats to a tee. Play time, Yummy Time, Lullaby Lake, Story Time, and Goodnight. Peppered throughout are other more subtle regularities that in other series an appearance of which might initiate a call-and-response with cheering or screaming from the target audience. In this instance, it's expected and predictable in the greatest way. When we see the Yummies (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, and their rainbow-eared canine friend), we know that's because it's Yummy Time. And we know next up is the trip to Lullaby Lake, and brushy time (when their teeth are brushed).

That's not to say we don't meet any new friends or go on new adventures, they just all fall into this formula which accomplishes what it sets out to do by keeping it to the routine. Those adventures are then summed up in a storybook style to close out the episode, while Gramma Leeba (Dawn French), who narrates the whole episode, recaps the adventure to put our characters to sleep.

The world of Planet BeddyBye and its residents is designed to look like fuzzy plush toys and almost crafted in nature, giving a warm and welcoming look. The world comes to life with side characters who keep that routine idea in mind, like Fungy and Pungy, the fish who reside in Lullaby Lake. While they don't serve the story per se, they appear and give that bit of familiarity just for that moment. It's all very welcoming and after one go round with an easily digestible 11 minute entry, children and adults will pretty much have everything they need to know about the series.

With the goal of promoting healthy routines in mind, BeddyByes succeeds on every level. The gentle nature of the series is never misconstrued as "boring," instead instilling the series with a unique personality in an onslaught of overstimulation on other programs. I can easily see (or suggest) parent's dropping an episode or two on Disney+ to get kids ready for their own bedtime, but be wary - Lullaby Lake is so peaceful those parents might fall asleep too. I give BeddyByes 4 out of 5 blocks in the Go Go Choo.

BeddyByes is now available on Disney+, Disney Jr., and Disney Jr. On Demand.