Illustration by Elena Griedel
When you imagine an animated show about puberty, you might think of child-appropriate diagrams, medical language, and educational content. Big Mouth — a new Netflix original about kids going through puberty — is the exact opposite of this expectation. If you like raunchy humor and feeling uncomfortable, Big Mouth is a show for you.
One of the best things about Big Mouth is how it does such an effective job at tapping into the experience of being a seventh grader again. The season tackles experiences like school dances, first kisses, sleepovers, periods, or defining relationships Big Mouth goes one step further here by contrasting these authentic moments from youth with an outlandish, elastic reality. Children may be learning life lessons here, but stuff like the Statue of Liberty giving feminine advice and a masturbation pillow developing feelings for its owner and wanting more than just a “fling” still go down. Not to mention, the Ghost of Duke Ellington and a Hormone Monster are some of the supporting characters of this unique world.
It takes a few episodes to feel the heart of the show as, from the get go, you’re beset on all sides by jarring sexual themes and imagery, but once you’ve got a few chapters under your belt, and the serialized aspects of the season kicks in, the ensemble can be endearing. Kids discovering, misunderstanding, and freaking out by their own bodies is the crux of the show, But once you get to an episode that’s about other things and not just sexual discovery the show feels fuller and more realized.
There is no shortage of animated series out there, but Big Mouth goes for something a little different and succeeds. Furthermore, the series is typically episodic in nature, but doesn’t reinforce this rule. There are plenty of callbacks, interwoven stories, and an arc that grows over the course of the season. Add to the beautiful animation and inspired voice work points to this being a winner. There’s a loving and warm heart underneath all of Big Mouth’s gross humor. The series starts out flat and lazily conceived but once the episodes start diving a little deeper into the kids’ lives, empathy kicks in and the show blossoms into something more than a parade of genitalia. The voice work is strong, the friendships are believable and, for the most part, the lewdness is clever