Opinion
25 things that change when you become a parent
by Katja Fischer
Why I love Peppa Pig in spite of it all
18.5.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
A pink piggy won the hearts of my children years ago. And mine along with it. My fondness of Peppa has stood the test of time and has lasted to this day. Just in time for her 20th birthday, here are 20 reasons why I think she’s great.
As a mum of a five- and an eight-year-old daughter, I’ve spent a lot of time with Peppa Pig. In fact, I’ve probably seen every single episode featuring the pink piglet. We’re talking 394 at five minutes each. That’s 1,970 minutes, or roughly 33 hours, of my life sacrificed to a cult cartoon from Great Britain.
Other people, take my husband for example, can’t stand the grunting family of pigs. The in-your-face theme song alone makes his hair stand on end. Not mine, though. Despite the overdose, I still have lots of love for Peppa and her friends. The reasons for this are numerous. Here are 20 for now, to mark her 20th birthday.
1. Muddy puddles are life
There are things you should do more often in life, simply because they’re incredibly liberating. Jumping in muddy puddles, for example. Peppa and her family do it all the time. Daddy Pig was even champion puddle jumper once.
2. Grunting is great
So when’s the last time you had a good grunt? Maybe because something was funny. Or for pure joy. Or for no real reason at all. The only thing that feels even better is grunting and jumping in muddy puddles. In other words, just mucking about. Peppa and her family show us how it’s done.
3. Laughing is amazing
When the show’s characters throw themselves on the floor at the end of almost every episode and roll around snorting with laughter, it does look a bit bizarre. But that’s exactly what makes the series insanely funny.
4. Happy as a pig
No matter what Peppa’s family does, they have fun. This makes them fun to watch. That’s not to say the family of pigs doesn’t occasionally struggle with a problem. In fact, they face them quite regularly. But at the end of every episode, everyone’s laughing again. On the floor.
5. Tears are important
But the show’s not all fun and games. There are tears, too. Oceans of tears, to be precise. The ones that flood the room every time Peppa’s brother George bursts into tears when he can’t find his dinosaur or feels provoked by his sister. It’s both ridiculous and sweet. Just like real-life kiddie tantrums.
6. Peppa’s world
Peppa’s brave. Peppa’s honest. Peppa confidently stands up for herself without being unfair to others. And if she is, she’s willing to learn from her mistakes. But there is one thing she could work on. She could stop talking about «daddy’s big tummy» and making fun of her father’s figure in general. But let’s forgive her for her childish body-shaming. Apart from that, she’s a great role model.
7. Best name games
Peppa Pig has the best friends with the best names: Suzy Sheep, Rebecca Rabbit, Danny Dog and Candy Cat. And then there are Zoe Zebra, Pedro Pony, Gerald Giraffe, Freddy Fox, Emily Elephant and Molly Mole. At last some names the parents watching can remember!
8. Enough with the superheroes
Peppa and her friends don’t chase baddies, nor do they have superpowers or tricky cases to crack. They’re just a bunch of friends who do stuff together. Their adventures include losing a watering can in a swimming pool, having a pyjama party and visiting a chocolate factory together.
9. Like a relaxing picture book
The series doesn’t do fast-paced images or rapid cuts. The language is child-friendly and easy to understand. Words and sentences are often repeated. All of this combined is calming and relaxing. Watching Peppa Pig and her friends and family feels like leafing through a moving picture book on the sofa with your kids.
10. Drawings with kids in mind
What’s more, the illustrations match a child’s imagination. Colourful characters, clear lines, a two-dimensional world. The show looks as if it were drawn by a child. That’s why it puts kids at ease. And it’s really fun. A prime example? Peppa’s family home on the steep hill.
11. The perfect length
Each Peppa episode lasts five minutes, making it the perfect length for young children and their short attention spans. But it also works for older children. If you tell them «Right, you can watch three episodes, but no more than three», that sounds like a lot.
13. Everyone’s equal
Speaking of gender clichés and equality, Mummy and Daddy Pig seem to have a very cooperative marriage. Sometimes he cooks, sometimes she does. More importantly, they negotiate decisions together, often in the presence of their two children. And they spend a lot of time together as a couple. They regularly go out and leave their kids in the care of Granny and Grandpa Pig.
14. Family first
In this show, there’s nothing more than important than family. Peppa spends most of her time with her mum, dad and George. She’s also around her grandparents, too. All family members support each other, argue, make up, laugh and cry together.
17. Bing bing boo, bing bong bing
Haven’t heard teacher Madame Gazelle’s «Bing Bong Song» yet? You haven’t lived. «Bong bing boo, bing bong bing, bing bong bingly bungly boo,» is how it goes. There’s nothing quite like the tunes in Peppa Pig. Not to mention the lyrics.
19. Two polar bear mums
Two years ago, the series introduced new characters and with them their first gay couple. Penny Polar Bear has two mums: «One mum is a doctor and the other mummy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti!» she says. The cartoon series has set the standard, as homosexuality is still an exception in the cartoon genre.
20. Age is just a number
Grandpa Rabbit is the fittest character of the show and gives gymnastics lessons. Madame Gazelle, with her French accent, already taught her pupils’ parents – without ageing one bit. And the youngest, George, is also sometimes also the smartest. In this series, age truly is just a number.
Peppa hasn’t aged either and is forever a four-year-old pig. At least the animated version of her. In real life, she’ll have been around for exactly 20 years on 31 May. My daughters couldn’t care less. In their world, Peppa Pig is «for babies». Peppa’s long since been replaced by two horses called Ostwind and Raven. But I miss Peppa, her family and friends a bit.
Happy Birthday, you wonderful little piggy!
Header image: tmdb.org
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
Opinion
This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
Show all
