#NativeNerd review: Spirit Rangers is a magical, beautiful nod to Native culture

Gorgeous animation, vibrant, colorful landscapes and creative approaches to Native teachings and language for children merit Spirit Rangers a well-deserved 10 out of 10

In this review, I really don’t know where to begin with my latest binge-watch of Spirit Rangers, a wonderful children’s series program that was recently released on Netflix.

Parents looking for an insightful, thoughtful series to show their children, nieces or nephews, or teachers wishing to have a series with pertinent and relevant Native American teaching points have a beautiful option open to them.

The series, with its gorgeous animation, vibrant, colorful landscapes and creative approaches to Native teachings and language for children, merit Spirit Rangers a well-deserved 10 out of 10.

Spirit Rangers (L to R) Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta as Kodi Skycedar, Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar and Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar in Spirit Rangers. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2022
Spirit Rangers (L to R) Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta as Kodi Skycedar, Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar and Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar in Spirit Rangers. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2022

A note about my #NativeNerd scoring system

When reviewing movies, I employ the decimal system to a tenth of a point. So instead of 7 stars, I might give a 7.4 out of ten. Some movies aren’t an eight but deserve a little more than a seven.   

Spirit Rangers

10 out of 10 

My quick quote: “A beautiful and insightful nod to Native American culture, Spirit Rangers is not only insightful and fun, but one of the most visually beautiful children’s programs I’ve ever seen.”

Spirit Rangers poster includes a colorful blue bear, a green turtle and a rainbow colored red tailed hawk.
Spirit Rangers series poster. (Netflix)

Synopsis:  Inspired by stories from Native American tribes and the majestic landscapes of national parks of America, Spirit Rangers explores the adventure and beauty of nature through the eyes of Kodi, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, Chumash/Cowlitz siblings who share a secret. This trio of kids are “Spirit Rangers” who help protect the land and spirits of the national park that they call home in California. Taking on new perspectives as a grizzly bear cub, red-tailed hawk and spunky turtle, the Skycedar kids take on every challenge — from helping a lost thunderbird to waking a sleepy sun — with courage and compassion. Created by Santa Ynez Chumash tribal descendant and the first California Native American showrunner Karissa Valencia, the fantasy-adventure preschool series celebrates community, nature and the rich heritage of Native American storytelling.

My review

As previously reported on in Native Viewpoint, in December of 2021, Chumash tribal citizen Karissa Valencia and executive producer Chris Nee announced a collaborative effort to create “Spirit Rangers,” an animated preschool series for youth that premiered on Netflix on October 10th.

See related story:

The Spirit Rangers are coming to Netflix October 10! New images and Native cast revealed!

The series is fabulous. I immediately had a huge smile on my face hearing the adorable and funny voices of the three stars of the show, Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar, Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar and Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta as Kodi Skycedar.

The three stars of the show, Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar, Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar and Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta as Kodi Skycedar.
The three stars of the show, Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar, Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar and Wačíŋyeya Iwáš’aka Yracheta as Kodi Skycedar.(Netflix)

Kodi’s alter-ego is the grizzly bear cub with the powers of strength and a super roar, Summer is a red-tailed hawk with the powers of flight and wind, and Eddy is a turtle with the powers to control bubbles that characters can jump on, float in or even breathe under water.

One of the most impressive things about the show is its unbelievably beautiful visual designs, colors and patterns that reflect the Indigenous tribes of the United States and Canada.

One thing I didn’t expect

One thing I didn’t expect was the tears that began to run down my face, along with a lump in my throat when I started watching Spirit Rangers. I was suddenly surprised to feel a certain amount of grief toward my own childhood. 

This wasn’t a bad thing, it was simply because I had never seen anything so beautiful and so culturally respectful geared towards Indigenous people when I was a child. 

As I watched Eddy, Summer and Kodi talk with other animals, their mother and father and the elder Dee Dee, I thought with an amazing sense of appreciation — that there would be young children who would be watching this and learning something truly special — something that I could never have imagined that I would see.

Spirit Rangers is quite literally one of the most beautiful children’s series that I have ever seen on television

Vincent Schilling

With no argument in my mind, Spirit Rangers is quite literally one of the most beautiful things I have seen on television.

There were many times I literally stopped and gasped at the gorgeous animation and artwork on the buffalo, the spider, the coyote, the lizard, the Spirit Rangers Eddy, Summer and Kodi, the fish, the beavers, the trees, the flowers, the cave art, etc etc. I can’t stop talking enough about how gorgeous this show is, and I’ve never seen anything like it.

In addition to the series’ visual appeal, the show also addresses real issues affecting Native Americans, such as treaty rights, cultural appropriation and mascots and other things an elder might say to a young person. In one episode, the park ranger and elder Dee Dee tells Summer to be patient and slow down. I have to admit, I took Dee Dee’s words to heart. 

The children address the animals in the series by the Native names belonging to the tribe in that animal’s region, a wonderful teaching point for educators and a way to teach anyone watching. There are also numerous nods to different Native practices and beliefs, such as the Haudenosaunee beading techniques and belts, the three sisters (corn, beans and squash) and much more.

The music is also impressive. I do have to give a special shout to Brooke Simpson as Spider for her song, We Are All Connected, in the second half of episode 5, which is titled Sweet Dreams. Simpson, who finished third in the thirteenth season of The Voice, knocked it out of the park.

The cast of actors is a notable one and includes such industry notables as Wes Studi, Tantoo Cardinal, Gary Litefoot Davis, Q’orianka Kilcher and Devery Jacobs, among others.

According to the showrunner Karissa Valencia, the show has an all-Native writer’s room which includes Native comedian and writer Joey Clift. Clift also wrote several of the episodes, a true testament to the ability in the industry of which he is a part.

Spirit Rangers is a true delight. The children of today can benefit from the beautiful gift that is this series.

I am sincerely thankful for its creation. 

Spirit Rangers is produced by Netflix Animation and Laughing Wild in association with SUPERPROD and is executive-produced by Karissa Valencia and Chris Nee. The show was released on Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 10th, 2022.

Visit the Netflix page here netflix.com/spiritrangers