Karma's World (2021–2022) User Reviews

Nuanced and sincere

[BoxwoodExpress · 9/10 · 15 October 2021]

Karma's World is a cartoon created by Ludacris, based on his daughter. There's been a lot of talk about representation in western animation, and somehow, the cartoons for the little ones always succeed more than the others.

Animation: Another beautifully animated show by Brown Bag Films. The special effects when Karma performs songs in her head look great, and the hair textures are realistic. 2/2

Voice acting: The cast is a breath of fresh air as it doesn't recycle the same voice actors from other shows. They sound natural. 2/2

Music: A huge part of the show. Karma wants to be a rapper when she grows up and is often shown free styling, sometimes performing concerts in her head. The great voice acting on the part of Karma's VA helps these raps a lot. 2/2

Writing: For some reason, the show is rated TV-Y on Netflix. In my opinion, it should be TV-Y7 because it's much more realistic and nuanced than other shows for the TV-Y crowd. They talk a lot about growing up, wanting to change your name, and micro aggressions. There's an episode where Karma's nonblack friends make fun of her hair, touch it without her permission etc. We learn that black hair is beautiful and you shouldn't listen to what mean people say. 2/2

Characters: Karma is a very realistic and relatable protagonist. She's not a 100% perfect know it all, but she's not entitled and bratty either. She's perfectly flawed in her own Karma way. And her Family is great too. They aren't abusive or unrealistically perfect. They're just right. And Keys is pretty funny. However, it gets a point deducted because of Karma's classmates. If I'm being honest, they're pretty terrible people. Carrie B makes fun of Karma's name and Switch, ostensibly Karma's best friend, touches her hair without permission. If you ask me, Karma should move to yet another school where she won't have peers that do antiblack micro aggressions, 1/2

overall: 9/10.

Love it for my 5 year old daughters

[tfs-70054 · 10/10 · 23 October 2021]

Love her character: beautiful, positive, kind, imperfect but willing to learn and be better. Talented, smart, brown skinned girl with big hair. Love it.

Representation matters for all children

[rebekahmallett · 10/10 · 1 November 2021]

This is a very entertaining show for all children. (my 6.5 y/o loves it) My daughter is white, but it's important for all children to see a black girl as the main character. It teaches important lessons on many "growing up" issues. And the issues of race and micro-aggressions are important for all children, so that they don't make their black friends feel "different".

It might be intended for black girls to learn to be proud, and stand up for themselves, but it also teaches their friends not to treat their black friends as "different" or "not normal" It's hard for a white parent to teach these things to our children, but a cool, fun show like this makes it easier.

Notorious B.O.R.E.

[a34trgv1 · 4/10 · 8 November 2021]

As ambitious as Karma's World is to be a great cartoon for black girls, the show never so much as grazes even being just okay. From the formulaic writing to the over bearing messages, this show felt more like an exercise to NOT fall asleep while watching it.

Created by rapper/actor Ludacris, Karma's World focuses on our titular heroine as she goes through her daily life living in her neighborhood. Each episode follows a specific pattern that gets old fast. Karma has a problem, she raps about it, she fixes the problem, she raps about it. The episodes follow very basic plot lines such as not worrying about what other people think and friends breaking up very straight forward. Rap numbers are included in each episode and while well delivered, they're not the least bit memorable as they all follow the same beat and the lyrics just recite the themes of the episode. Speaking of themes, they're the worst handled part of the writing. Don't get me wrong, being yourself and being honest are good messages, but they're repeated in each episode, thus making it feel like the characters didn't learn anything. This constant reuse of the same messages feels very over bearing and it can definitely feel like I'm being talked down to. Lastly, the show is just not funny. Save for only 1 joke, most of the humor is just awkward and predictable. If you didn't laugh the first time one of Keys' inventions backfires, you're definitely not gonna laugh the 20th time.

While none of the characters are egregiously bad, they're still rather plain. Karma is a middle school girl who likes to rap but is constantly at odds with her low self-esteem. I should love this character based on that description. In practice though, she's just a basic kid who's self-esteem is too low for my liking. Really? You expect me to buy this 11 year old would have a problem with her unique name or that she's never lost before? She acts less like a middle schooler with low self-esteem and more like a whiny kid who over reacts to every little thing that's thrown at her. Switch and Winston are Karma's best friends who are equally one note. Switch parrots most of what Karma says and Winston is an awkward boy who worries about everything; why does that sound so familiar? (*cough* David from Hilda *cough*) Crash is the least likable character though as he's just a selfish, narcissistic show off who only cares about inflating his own ego. Yeah, he's the antagonist, but he's not the least bit fun to watch. Keys, Karma's brother, only has one thing going for him; his inventions keep backfiring. Karma's parents are barely given enough screen time to fully develop, and whenever they appear, they just recite the episode's message.

The voice acting is fine, but none of the actors give a particularly standout performance. Asiahn Bryant was alright as Karma, making her sound like a real little girl with good rhythm, but she didn't exuberant much personality beyond that. Likewise Aria Capria was fine as Switch, as was Isaia Alvarez Kohn as Winston, Camdon Coley as Keys and Ramone Hamilton as Crash. In fact, all the child actors gave less then stellar performances in contrast to the adults. Ludacris does a good job voicing Karma's Dad, Karan Soni was really solid as Mr. Singal, Jordan Fisher gave a good performance as MC Grillz and Tiffany Haddish was a delightful treat as the voice of Lady K. I blame the adequacy of the child actor's performance on bad vocal direction because I know they're trying their best but I feel as though they were told to just act like the script says these characters would act and not be actual kids.

Visually, the animation looks pretty good for what they were trying to accomplish. The character designs are all unique with different body types, hair styles and clothing. The character animation is pretty good with the characters moving in a believable away, though the lack of gravity and weight is evident whenever they fall or hit something. This is also true for the hair as most of the time it just remains stagnant whenever the characters turn their head, particularly Karma. I get they had a limited budget, but I feel as though that's on the fault of the producers for not coughing up more money and the creators for giving the characters too much hair on their heads. The backgrounds look good and has a nice color palette, but this neighborhood feels kinda empty but not enough people are there. They couldn't even animate the 14 kids Winston was suppose to be captain of in The Hippity and The Hop because that would balloon the poor budget.

Karma's World is the 2nd most boring show with a black lead I've seen after Craig Of The Creek. Despite solid animation and good intentions behind it, the show is held back by weak writing, basic characters, passsble at best voice acting and constant hammering of good messages. I suppose maybe kids will like it more than me, but I suggest watching Hilda again for a great show about a little girl with unique hair.

Good Show

[grieru · 10/10 · 17 October 2021]

I only have watched a few episodes with my children and we love the show. As it is realistic and has so many lessons within the episodes. My son first watched it in school to learn about bullying and he wanted to show it to me. I love that it's teaches him that bullying is wrong, that people can be unique, to love his hair and micro aggressions. We will continue to watch the show.

I wish I never put this much emotion into this abomination

[isabellama-59694 · 1/10 · 8 July 2023]

So I watched this as a joke with my sister but we were not prepared for this insult to the concept of literature so I sufferd for three months by myself roasting and rotting inside watching this so yay you now suffer with me.

So now I have made many jokes about things in certain episodes but there are fundamental issues with this show that I must voice my rage and apathy

The fist being dialogs. Dear LORD do none of the character act like real people. An example: Karma the main lead acts bratty and annoying npc. INFACT all the characters act like this making everyone unlikable. I watched a video about bad dialog and every mistake in in the book is here. From forced comic relief to mustache twirling bad guy talk to just things that no person says. The only good that comes from binging this show is how to identify bad dialog and how to win in roast battles.

Number B all the characters who are in middle school don't act like that. As a middle schooler myself I find it weird that the main lead for a show for preschoolers is in six grade. But does she not act like that. Whenever there is a conflict Karma doesn't act like a sane middle schooler and instead behaves like a child. I get that this if for 5 yr old and not anybody above the the age of 9. But it begs the question HAVE HER I FIRT GRADE At MOST.

With number B/2 The adults act like children that it makes me question why are they old enough to vote

Anyway number pi the plots of these episodes make me question what life like is for sane people in th9s universe. Because the plots get way to ridiculous for a five year old to suspend displblif . And then the the confit magical fixes itself up because the lead of this show is apparently God. And for the three people that payed attention and had question about how messed up these plots are I have to go to spoiler so to number googleplexiia

The animation loot empty. It's a cgi kids show so of couse the animation was made in a sweat shop in Wyoming but they just recycle the same 6 baground chatchers . And the make everything empty so whenever there is a crowd scene it looks like the their survivor of a zombie apocalypse. But I guess I have to to random people somewhere so the amatimatiors can live of of anything that isn't packing peanuts because scenes that make sense to be alone they always Have two random background chatertes ironing somebody fighting with whatever antagonistic not really threshold the ai forgot 12 episodes ago

so moral of the story don't watch this if your not being paid to talk about the diversity in this show because all that matters in the kid show industry is the message and the message here is how not to write a show.

Wow, unique and fun. Super cute.

[burnettnicole · 10/10 · 11 July 2022]

I love that it addresses issues that many kids face but don't know how to deal with. It covers anything from hair styles to bullying to friendships. SO many topics that I never knew what to say when I faced them as a kid. It also promotes friendships, honesty, loyalty and some positive things that are lacking in so many other shows. A positive influence, Great music and a nice approach to family as well. I love this show!

Not for my kids

[chinglishoregon · 1/10 · 28 February 2022]

Karma raps in classroom? There is no way she can do this in real school. She focuses too much time on rapper music instead of learning knowledge and life skills like budgeting.

Cute show

[bexmartin-58176 · 10/10 · 6 May 2022]

It's a kid show that teaches kids to be themselves. Obviously every episode is about how ever someone says affects her personally. Some people are saying she's too sensitive but we all think about what others say...the key is too learn how to not let it get to you. I think this shoe teaches that.

Best show for KIDS on Netflix

[cossaav · 10/10 · 23 November 2021]

This show is so relevant as it addresses so many social issues kids face in a very entertaining way. My kids have watched this twice already. Well done to the creative team!

Incredible, Positive, Inspiring!

[mcfranklin-62461 · 10/10 · 18 December 2021]

Karma's World left me VERY impressed. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the catchy beats and colorful animations from the first episode. As she gets older, I foresee us revisiting this series. Many have commented on how "sensitive" Karma seems to be with the challenges and obstacles that fall in her path, but what middle-school child knows how to fully process, accept, and navigate their feelings? Give some credit. This is a KIDS' show. Overall, the lessons learned and the promoting of self-confidence in this show stand as such an encouraging movement. It is inspiring to see all of the ethinic diversity and a variety of bodies and styles of all kinds. I hope to see more seasons of this work!

NOT the Show for my Kids

[francisco-64590 · 1/10 · 23 October 2021]

That girl (karma) it's so SENSITIVE, Would've Given 0 Stars if i could, But i guess it won't let me.

Wouldn't surprise me if that show gets cancelled, But what ever, Just came to give my review to this show, My kids WILL NOT BE WATCHING THIS AGAIN, I rather them watch The Barbie Series, It's more EDUCATIONAL than this, and ZERO SENSITIVE.....