Parents' Guide to

A Real Bug's Life

By Ashley Moulton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Funny nature docuseries has a little insect peril.

TV Disney+ Educational 2024
A Real Bug's Life TV Poster: a spider, ladybug, ant, and other insects are perched on leaves

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • A beetle on a leaf
    1:02
  • A Real Bug's Life TV Show: a super closeup of a winged insect on a branch
  • A Real Bug's Life TV Show: a super closeup of an iridescent green fly hovering next to a flower
  • A Real Bug's Life TV Show: ants crawl on a fruit while a spider lingers in the background
  • A Real Bug's Life TV Show: a super closeup of a white insect with red striped antennae

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Dre K.
Dre K. Parent of 9-year-old
February 3, 2024
age 9+

Nature's tiniest creatures live them all. Get ready on a documentary nature drama series 'A Real Bug's Life' narrated by Awkwafina on National Geographic Productions.

A S.
A S. Adult
January 31, 2024
age 8+

Voice actor

I loved the show I never review on shows, but I specifically wanted to note that the voice actor that you chose for the show was perfect for it and I would really like to see her in the second season if possible, she really live in up the show so much so that I watched all of it at once and wanted more immediately
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Each episode of the nature docuseries A REAL BUG'S LIFE features bugs living in a different habitat. Viewers might see bugs living in a jungle, a suburban backyard, or New York City. Narrator Awkwafina helps bring different insects' daily lives into focus. A jumping spider living in Manhattan has to navigate people, strollers, birds, and mantises just to survive another day. City ants are on the lookout for people's discarded food scraps to feast on, and dumpster-diving cockroaches survive their heads being eaten (gross, but true). A Real Bug's Life focuses on the trials and tribulations of the tiny creepy crawlies living all around us.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

A Real Bug's Life is great fun, and kids into science and animals will love it. By giving the tiny creatures inner lives and stories, Awkwafina's funny narration helps make the amazing world of bugs more relatable to kids. Grown-ups may have a small quibble with the series: some of the scenes are shot on film sets instead of in nature. Some scenes are even hyperrealistic animation trying to be passed off as "real." The movie magic is used in service of trying to get kids (and adults) more engaged in learning about bugs, so the truth-bending is probably forgivable. A Real Bug's Life is entertaining and easy to watch, feeling less like homework and more like any other character-focused show in Disney+'s catalog.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the narrator of the series. Does this sound and feel like other nature documentaries? Why do you think the show producers chose Awkwafina as the narrator?

  • What was the most surprising thing you learned about bugs? Is there anything else you'd like to learn more about?

  • The series makes bugs seem like they have the same thoughts and emotions as humans. Why do you think the show chose to tell bug stories this way?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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