Streaming in Canada: What’s On in August for Kids & Families
We’re almost there—one month until we all return to our regularly scheduled school (or daycare) routines. It’s been a swell summer filled with all kinds of activities and outdoor larks with the kids, not to mention running around to make up for the past two lowkey summers of our lives. Now, if you need a bit of a breather or you’re looking forward to some chill family time with popcorn and a new show or movie, we’ve got you covered. Read on to see what’s on in August on Canadian streaming services for children and families.
What’s On in August for Kids & Families
Amber Brown
Streaming Now Apple TV+
Moms everywhere will probably agree there is a serious lack of content aimed at tween girls. Sure, shows like The Baby-Sitters Club helped to fill that void, but those shows are few and far between. Enter Amber Brown, the show based on Paula Danziger’s books of the same name. Carsyn Rose plays the title character: a talented 11-year-old girl who is going through a rough time after her best friend moves away and her parents get divorced. It’s a sweet comedy filled with laughs and positive messages, but the best part is it focuses on those formative years when a girl is a little too old for the kid stuff she used to love, but isn’t quite ready for the older topics discussed in the teen years. Sarah Drew, Darin Brooks, and Michael Yo also star.
Lightyear
August 3 on Disney+
If you and the fam missed this Toy Story prequel when it was in theatres, it’s what’s on in August to see from the comfort of your sectional. This story is about the “real-life” action character Buzz Lightyear that the Toy Story character was based on, which is why Chris Evans replaced Tim Allen as Buzz’s voice. Regardless of how you feel about that decision (and according to the internet there were some pretty big feelings about it), tune in to see how the marooned Space Ranger perseveres against an army of ruthless robots who are trying to steal his fuel source and interrupt his journey back home. Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, and Taika Waititi also star.
Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation
Aug. 5 on Disney+
Star Wars, but make it LEGO. Hey, it’s not like it hasn’t been done before, right? This new special hits Disney+ this month, picking up on the events from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. In it, Rose, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Chewbacca are trying to get some fun in the sun following that fateful battle with the Emperor Palpatine. But what does a vacay look like for this particular group? Something tells us it won’t be the relaxing jaunt they’re hoping for.
Luck
Aug. 5 on Apple TV+
What better way to explain the premise of luck (and we suppose superstition) to kids than with an animated movie full of double-meanings and laughs for the adult viewers as well? Well, grab those dark-furred felines, fill your pots of gold, and stack up your horseshoes because this movie may be the thing your family needs on the weekend. Luck sets up a world in which there has been a millennia-old battle between the organizations of good luck and bad luck that secretly affects human lives. Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg and Simon Pegg are among the adult actors lending their voices to the action.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
Aug. 5 on Netflix
Following the success of the 2018 TV series, the turtles (and the cast voicing them) are back. Only this time they’re in a feature-length animated film for Netflix. When a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning, Leo (Ben Schwartz) rises to lead his brothers in a fight to save the world from an alien invasion.
I Am Groot
Aug. 10 on Disney+
Everyone’s favourite seedling is back for a series of brand new adventures in this bundle of animated shorts. Follow along as Baby Groot (once again voice by Vin Diesel) returns to go on new adventures in the galaxy, all while meeting new and unusual characters that inevitably lead to trouble. All five shorts are expected to drop at once.
Lucy’s School
Aug. 12 on Apple TV+
Apple continues to build up its roster of Peanuts programming with this latest school-themed special, which comes just in time for those parents who are prepping kids to start or return to school in September. When the gang becomes anxious about starting at a new school in the fall, Lucy starts her own school instead. Naturally, teaching isn’t as easy as it sounds. Not only is Lucy’s School a love letter to teachers and an overall appreciation of how much a teacher can impact a kid’s life; it’s also a project that normalizes the fear of change and overcoming said fears while reminding us all of the power of friendship.
A League of Their Own
Aug. 12 on Prime Video
The series fans of Penny Marshall’s 1992 film of the same name have been waiting years for finally drops this month, introducing a new generation of viewers to the real-life story of the All-American Women’s Baseball League. Like the movie on which this is based, the show explores how women finally got their time in the sports spotlight while the men were away during the Second World War. Unlike the film there’s more time to explore some of the other important stories of the time, including the marginalization of Black women who wanted to play. If you have fond memories of the original movie and your family enjoys sports flicks, this is definitely family fare for groups with older children.
Deepa & Anoop
Aug. 15 on Netflix
Need a new preschool series for your kid to be obsessed with before you have Cocomelon, Peppa Pig. and Paw Patrol stuck in your head forever? Check out this incoming series on Netflix when it makes its debut this month. The show follows the adventures of Deepa and her best friend Anoop. Together they solve simple problems with imaginative solutions, sparking kids’ creativity in the process.
Surfside Girls
Aug. 19 Apple TV+
Surfing, friendship, and ghosts thrown in for good measure? Why not. This incoming series is based on Kim Dwinell’s graphic novels of the same name and follows best friends Jade (Miya Cech) and Sam (YaYa Gosselin) as they head off to spend their summer surfing the waves. But when they dive into a mystery about a pirate ship and a cursed treasure, their summer suddenly takes a wild turn.
