On October 6th the second season of Skylanders Academy started streaming on Netflix and the Fandads were given the opportunity to watch the first three episodes before the official launch date. I never knew there was a show based on the video game phenomenon, I just knew of the video games and all the characters for the games.

Luckily, my daughter never got into these games. I know that if she did my wallet would hate me. I mean have you seen the number of Skylander figures that are available for these games? It seems like every time we pass by that section the number of figures has multiplied. Are there that many figures in the actual cartoon? The answer to that question is easy: no.

I have seen the image of Skylanders Academy when my children scroll through the hundreds of shows they can watch on Netflix, but we have never sat down and watched one episode. Well, after watching the first three episodes of season two, my daughter and I have gone back and watched the first season. We did it because we wanted to learn more about the characters and also because it is a pretty fun show to watch. So why should you watch the show? Here are our top three reasons to do so.

Photos provided by Netflix

1. The diversity of the characters
Obviously since this is a cartoon the characters are going to look different, but the great thing about this is that difference is celebrated. You have dragons, elves and trolls and each one is treated with the same amount of respect as the character before them. This is great for children to see in a cartoon and something that they can possibly relate to in everyday life.

2. The lessons are not heavy handed
Every episode teaches your children something different. If it is something as simple as team work or finding your place in the world, the Skylanders will cover it in a way that does not seem forced. The episode where Professor Jet-Pac lays an egg was hilarious and also touching as he decided between raising the creature that hatched from the egg and being a teacher to his students.

3. It’s just a fun show
The great thing about Skylanders Academy is that it is a fun show to watch with your children. My son was captivated by the vibrant colors and colorful characters, while my daughter enjoyed seeing the characters work together and learn valuable life lessons while enjoying the show. It is also great to see all of these characters come to life on the screen and not just have a box of the Skylander toys sitting in your living room. Hopefully by watching the show, you children will not want to buy all of these figures, but that’s a big “hopefully”.

If you are ready to immerse yourself in this fantastic world, why not have your children learn a little more about each character by printing out these coloring sheets for them. Why not pick a favorite for yourself and color it too.

Do you have a child’s birthday coming up in your household? Are your children fans of Skylanders? If the answer is yes, then watch the Skylanders sing your child Happy Birthday with Netflix’s Birthdays On-Demand.

Read a little bit more about the show below and let us know in the comments who your favorite character or episode is.

Skylanders Academy Returns with Season 2 on Netflix October 6 Skylanders Unite! The Skylanders are back in action protecting the realm! In the animated series from Activision Blizzard Studios, SkylandersTMAcademy follows the heroic adventures of Spyro (Justin Long), Eruptor (Jonathan Banks), Stealth Elf (Ashley Tisdale), Jet-Vac (Jonny Rees), Pop Fizz (Bobcat Goldthwait) and their team of young warriors as they travel the vast Skylands universe protecting it from evil-doers.  Created by Eric Rogers (Futurama) and based on the popular Skylanders®videogame franchise, the action-comedy centers on the band of heroes as they train under the watchful eye of Master Eon (Chris Diamantopoulos) learning how to keep peace and protect their homeland from the constant threat of villainous forces. 

Along with a new class of cadets, and newcomers Cynder (Felicia Day) and Sprocket (Grey Griffin), the team returns in an action-packed Skylanders Academy Season 2 that finds our heroes seeking answers from the past.  Spyro begins a search for information about his ancestors in order to harness and understand his special powers. Meanwhile, Kaos’ quest to bring evil rule to the Skylands realms accidentally unleashes a villain more powerful than anything Kaos or the Skylander warriors have ever faced. The Skylanders unite once more for the greatest showdown against evil yet – putting them all to the ultimate test!

The series also features the voice talents of Norm Macdonald as Glumshanks, Catherine O’Hara as Kaossandra, Parker Posey as Dreamcatcher and Susan Sarandon as Golden Queen.