Shimmer and Shine Season 1

Shimmer and Shine Season 1 has built a real following on and among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 16 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it in order — the character development is cumulative. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Shimmer and Shine Season 1 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Shimmer and Shine Season 1 treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. The first season takes place in the human world and focuses on a young girl named Leah, who is friends with a pair of twin genies in training named Shimmer and Shine. Leah's genies grant her three wishes every day, but they often mess up. Each episode features Leah working together with her genies to solve the problems they inadvertently cause, all while keeping Shimmer and Shine a secret from her next-door neighbor Zac. Alina Foley and Isabella Crovetti lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2015. Shimmer and Shine Season 1 uses the freedom of animation to tell stories live-action could not attempt. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Shimmer and Shine Season 1 works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Alina Foley's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. If you have been sleeping on it because of the format, the format is not the thing here.