Netflix’s City of Ghosts is a new kids show that is not what it seems — here are some fun facts I learned from my interview with the creator!
City of Ghosts may not sound like the name of kids show but it is. Push aside all your preconceived notions and allow your little ones to, sort of, dive into the world of the paranormal. This group of children, called The Ghost Club, explore their city of LA hunting for ghosts, while having a documentary made about them.
The style of this show is very unique and my daughters, who are 8 and 9, immediately took to it. The episodes are quick enough to hold a child’s attention the whole time, clocking in about 18 minutes each with credits. My girls became totally immersed in this world, and the fact that they are convinced our house is haunted probably plays a part in that.
As a parent watching the show, I really enjoy seeing how creative and smart kids are, which is something creator Elizabeth Ito wants parents to take away from City of Ghosts. This show is not scary at all, in fact, it is quite the opposite. It is calming and gentle, as it explores different personal stories that all teach kids something — whether it be about culture, home life, etc.
City Of Ghosts Fun Facts
In talking with Elizabeth Ito about her new show City of Ghosts, there were a lot of fun facts that I learned, which made me appreciate this show even more than I already did. My daughters were able to join me in talking to her as well, and they went and re-watched all episodes after speaking with her. Yes, we enjoy the show that much in our house.
- The show is partially inspired by Elizabeth Ito’s life growing up in a multicultural neighborhood in LA.
- Elizabeth was looking for things for her kids to watch that were not hyper dramatic.
- This show is about celebrating how smart kids are and the interesting solutions for things they come up with.
- Elizabeth actually had a ghost encounter when she was 6 years old! She saw a ghost in the bathroom and called for her parents, who told her to go back to bed. The next morning she found out her father had seen the ghost too (and was too scared to get out of bed).
- There are lots of different cultures in the imagery and the places in LA that are depicted.
- Elizabeth created the show to appreciate the stories and cultures of each neighborhood without diving into controversy.
- The overall message of this show is for the parents — she wants to show the importance of listening to kids.
- The message for kids is to help them find their voice.
About City Of Ghosts
Featuring a charming blend of animated characters and live-action settings, City of Ghosts is a documentary-style series about a group of ghost-loving kids in Los Angeles who learn about the rich history of their city through encounters with friendly neighborhood ghosts. In each episode — which is based on and voiced by real residents from different neighborhoods — the members of The Ghost Club help others learn to inhabit the present by communicating with the ghosts of the past.
Elizabeth Ito, Emmy Award-winning director and writer on Adventure Time and creator of the Cartoon Network short Welcome to My Life, will serve as showrunner and executive producer.
City of Ghosts hits Netflix on March 5th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.