Tween television lives in a sweet spot the streamers have finally figured out — too sophisticated for kids' content, not edgy enough for teen drama. The best shows for ages 8–13 build layered worlds, take their characters' emotions seriously, and reward rewatches. Here are the best TV shows for tweens. Browse our full TV catalog or start with these favorites.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix / Paramount+)
The Nickelodeon original (2005–2008) is arguably the single best animated series ever made for the tween audience. Aang, the last surviving Air Nomad, is tasked with mastering all four elements to defeat the Fire Nation and restore balance to the world. Three seasons, perfect arc, deeply rewatchable. Avoid the live-action Netflix version (2024) — start with the original animated series. Rated TV-Y7.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+, 2023–)
The Disney+ adaptation that Rick Riordan personally guided to make up for the 2010 films. Walker Scobell stars as Percy, with Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth and Aryan Simhadri as Grover. Season 2 (Sea of Monsters) is in development. Best paired with reading the books. Rated TV-PG.
📖 Browse the Percy Jackson book series →
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The Owl House (Disney+, 2020–2023)
Luz, a teenage girl from our world, accidentally gets stuck in the Boiling Isles, a magical realm of witches and demons. Sharp writing, queer representation woven into the fabric of the show, and one of the most loved cult-fandom series of the streaming era. Three seasons. Rated TV-Y7.
Gravity Falls (Disney+, 2012–2016)
Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer with their great-uncle Stan in mysterious Gravity Falls, Oregon. Mystery-of-the-week structure layered over a season-long conspiracy. Rewards rewatchers with hidden codes and visual puzzles. Two seasons, but every episode counts. Rated TV-Y7.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Disney+, 2021–2022)
Adaptation of Trenton Lee Stewart's middle grade book series. Four gifted children infiltrate a sinister boarding school to figure out what its mysterious founder is up to. Captures the spirit of the books better than most adaptations manage. Two seasons. Rated TV-PG.
📖 Browse the MBS book series →
A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix, 2017–2019)
Based on Daniel Handler's (Lemony Snicket's) book series. The Baudelaire orphans are pursued from family to family by the murderous Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Three seasons cover all 13 books, and the writing finds exactly the right register of macabre humor. Rated TV-PG.
Hilda (Netflix, 2018–)
A blue-haired girl moves from her wilderness home to a city full of trolls, elves, and Nordic spirits. Based on Luke Pearson's graphic novels. Gentle, gorgeous, and one of the most distinctively designed shows on Netflix. Three seasons plus a movie. Rated TV-Y7.
Carmen Sandiego (Netflix, 2019–2021)
Reimagined adventure series with Gina Rodriguez voicing the master thief turned hero. Each episode visits a different world capital and weaves in geography and history. Four seasons. Rated TV-Y7.
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The Dragon Prince (Netflix, 2018–)
From a co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this fantasy series captures a lot of the same magic. Two human princes and an elven assassin must return a dragon prince's egg to end a war between humans and the magical world. Five seasons and counting. Rated TV-Y7.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (Netflix, 2016–2018)
From Guillermo del Toro. Jim Lake Jr. discovers a hidden amulet and becomes the first human Trollhunter, bound to protect both troll and human worlds. Three series in the universe — Trollhunters, 3Below, and Wizards — culminating in the film Rise of the Titans. Rated TV-Y7.
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Phineas and Ferb (Disney+, 2007–2015, revived 2025)
Two stepbrothers invent something impossible every summer day, while their pet platypus moonlights as a secret agent. Endlessly inventive, musical, and somehow always fresh. Originally ran for four seasons; revived in 2025 for new episodes on Disney+. Rated TV-G.
Wednesday (Netflix, 2022–) — upper tween only
Worth flagging carefully. Tim Burton's Wednesday Addams series is hugely popular with the 11–13 set but is rated TV-14 and includes on-screen deaths, body horror, and dark themes. Many tweens watch it; many parents wish they hadn't. Use your judgment. Rated TV-14.
How to choose what to put on
If your tween loves: Epic fantasy and worldbuilding → Avatar, The Dragon Prince, The Owl House. Mystery and puzzles → Gravity Falls, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Mysterious Benedict Society. Book-to-screen adaptations → Percy Jackson, MBS, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Hilda. Comedy and invention → Phineas and Ferb. Adventure → Carmen Sandiego, Trollhunters.
The best tween TV is the kind your tween wants to talk about at school the next day. Once you find a show that hits, expect them to want every episode in a single weekend.
📺 Browse our full tween TV catalog, or explore all our reading and viewing guides.