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How Do We Cheer Our Friends Up?

In this episode

Story A How Do We Cheer Our Friends Up? Story B How Do Airplanes Stay Up in the Sky?

This episode is one video with 2 short stories. Each story gets its own review and score.

Good

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 2

Stimulating

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How Do We Cheer Our Friends Up?

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This program is stimulating. It actively demands attention and can feel intense. For the recommended age, this may be on the more intense side. The pacing is fast. Images follow each other quickly, leaving little time to pause and take in what is happening. The sound is clearly present and regularly draws attention. The visuals are calm and well-organized.

One clear thread runs the whole way through: the sad Dotlets have lost their colours, and Jessy and Nessie work through the episode to cheer each one up. Events follow a clean order, each friend regains their colour after a different activity, so cause and effect is easy to follow and there is a recognisable beginning, middle, and end. The one caveat is the steady stream of new characters, with seven Dotlets plus Mike, Hazel, and Muriel introduced in quick succession, which packs a fair amount to track into each scene.

Sadness sits at the heart of the episode, but it is handled with real care. The reassurance 'It is okay, everybody feels sad sometimes' names the feeling and normalises it, and every low moment is answered by a friend being comforted and brightening again. Characters stay consistently kind and supportive toward each other, with no mocking or nagging, and the emotional shifts move gently from sad to happy rather than lurching. This makes for a warm, safe emotional experience for young children.

The whole episode is built around a problem the characters actively work to solve: how to cheer up their friends. Nessie and Jessy generate ideas themselves, silly faces, playing, hula hooping, the beach, and check whether each attempt worked before trying the next, so the trial-and-adjust thinking is visible on screen. Initiative comes mostly from the pair, with 'That is a great idea, Nessie!' marking their own suggestions. The solutions lean a little repetitive and simple, one activity per friend, but the loop of try, observe, and adapt is genuinely modelled.

Language stays short, clear, and concrete, with plenty of naming of feelings and activities that fits a young preschooler. Instructions like 'All you have got to do is move those hips' give the words a real function, and the friends model asking each other what helps them feel better. Balanced against this are frequent playful nonsense exclamations ('pickles and peas', 'fiddle-faddle', 'hoopy') and the Dotlets' unintelligible sounds, which lift the fun but add little meaning. The sentences are mostly complete and easy to parse.

The emotional lesson is grounded in recognisable social life: noticing a friend is sad, asking what helps, and trying together until they feel better. Several activities transfer straight to a child's own day, making silly faces, playing, building sandcastles, reading, and giving a hug. Working against real-world connection is a heavy fantasy layer, though: a sea monster, creatures whose colour signals their mood, talking trees, and a sparkly 'happy mist' that must be patted back on. The core feelings ring true, but much of what the child sees cannot be tried offline.

More information

The world is built almost entirely from fantasy creatures, a purple sea monster, talking trees, colourful bouncing Dotlets and other invented figures, with a single human girl, Jessy, as the only real-world person. Because of that, everyday human variety like families, different ages, or a mix of people living together is not something the episode shows. What it does handle well is behaviour: Jessy and her friends share curiosity and problem-solving, everyone is allowed to feel sad, and characters cooperate as equals without falling into fixed patterns. So the picture is warm and non-stereotypical in how people act, but narrow in the range of people it actually puts on screen.

Jesse, a girl in an insect costume, and Nessie, her sea monster best friend, travel through a colourful world helping the Dotlets, small creatures who lose their colour when they feel sad. The everyday feelings and activities are easy for a child to recognise, seesaws, hula hoops, sandcastles and hugs, even though the creatures and the sparkly 'happy mist' are imaginary. There is no villain anywhere; the only problem is how to cheer up sad friends, and the answers come from kindness and play. For a three-year-old the emotional message lands well, though the fantasy creatures and magical touches sit a little beyond the mostly realistic mix this youngest age suits best.

This mixes a live-action girl with soft, felt-textured 3D creatures on a bright seaside set, and the craft holds up well for an adult in the room. The production is polished and the gentle voices keep irritation low, though the story leans on a repeating pattern: each little Dotlet is cheered up one at a time by a new activity. For a watching parent there is little humor aimed upward, so it plays as pleasant, good-looking background rather than something you would follow for its own sake. The look and sound carry it further than the plot does.

Themes

Big feelings

The Dotlets lose their colour because they feel sad, and the pair work to help them feel better.

Friendship

Jessy and Nessie visit friends and help each sad Dotlet, calling each other 'the best friends ever'.

Helping others

The whole quest is about cheering up friends who feel down.

Sadness

Jessy tells a Dotlet 'It is okay, everybody feels sad sometimes'.

Understanding others

The pair ask each friend 'Are you sad about something?' before trying to help.

Curiosity

The recurring 'Curiosity, let's see' song frames each attempt as a question to solve.

Problem solving

Each sad Dotlet is a puzzle the pair solve with a different activity.

Outdoor play

Recurring

They cheer friends up at a playground and a beach with hula hoops and sandcastles.

Activities

Outdoor play

The friends play on seesaws, slides, and swings at the playground.

Problem solving

Each attempt to cheer a friend is treated as a curiosity to solve.

Dancing

Mike shows hula hooping as his way to feel better, and the pair join in.

Beach play

'Building sandcastles!' leads to making a sand Nessie on the beach.

Reading

Hazel and Birch read a book that helps cheer another Dotlet.

Singing and dancing

The intro and closing curiosity songs frame the episode.

Picnic

Muriel offers sandwiches at a picnic on the beach.

Emotions

Sadness

The Dotlets sit grey and slumped because they feel sad.

Joy

Each Dotlet regains bright colour and giggles once cheered.

Empathy

Jessy gently reassures that everybody feels sad sometimes.

Curiosity

The pair sing about their 'curious minds' wanting to find answers.

Determination

'We can do this, Nessie, I promise,' when one friend stays sad.

Love

A 'great big happy hug' is what finally cheers the last Dotlet.

Behaviour

Comforting

The pair reassure and cheer each sad Dotlet until its colour returns.

Problem solving

They test silly faces, playing, and hula hooping to find what helps each friend.

Trial and error

'Darwin was cheered by silly faces, but the others still look sad, let's try something else.'

Asking questions

They ask Mike, Hazel, and Muriel what cheers them up when they feel glum.

Helping

Nessie and Jessy work together to bring each Dotlet's colour back.

Encouraging

'You're doing great,' they tell each other while hula hooping.

Expressing feelings

Characters name being sad, glum, and happier throughout.

Dancing

The curiosity song has the two dancing together to find answers.

Social lessons

Supporting a friend

The pair spend the episode helping each sad friend feel better.

Empathy

They notice the Dotlets' sadness and ask what is wrong before acting.

Friendship

Jessy and Nessie describe themselves as best friends who explore together.

Emotional support

'It is okay, everybody feels sad sometimes,' Jessy tells a friend.

Teamwork

Jessy and Nessie combine ideas and take turns leading each attempt.

Kindness

Mike, Hazel, and Muriel each share advice or a book to help the friends.

Emotional regulation

The episode models naming feelings and finding what helps you feel better.

Sadness

Several friends are shown sad and colourless before being cheered, which younger viewers may feel.

A live-action girl, Jessy, and her sea monster friend, Nessie, discover that the Dotlets have lost their colours because they feel sad. Across a playground and a beach, the pair try silly faces, playing, hula hooping, reading, and building sandcastles to cheer each friend up, asking others like Mike, Hazel, and Muriel for ideas along the way. One by one the Dotlets regain their colour, and the last is helped by a 'happy mist' and a big hug. The episode ends with a song and a question to the viewer about what they are curious about.

Season 1

12 episodes

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Why Is It So Windy Today?

recommended age co-watching from 2

A curious girl named Jessy and her purple sea monster friend Nessie set out to discover why it is so windy today after Nessie's red ribbon blows away. They ask talking trees, racing leaves and a cloud family, then reason that walking into the wind will lead them to its source. They find a giant pink balloon whose sneezing is causing all the wind, and they tie off his loose end with the ribbon to stop it. The wind calms, the balloon feels better, and Nessie ends up with an even nicer purple ribbon.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Where Can We Find Quiet?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessy, a girl who plays ukulele, wants to write a new song for her concert but cannot find anywhere quiet enough to think. With her friend Nessie she searches the town, trying a library, a hilltop, a secret spot and finally a room full of bottled sounds. Along the way they learn that to hear quiet you have to be quiet yourself. Jessy finishes her song and performs it at the concert while her friends cheer.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Can I Help You So You're Not Afraid of Thunder and Lightning?

recommended age co-watching from 2

A girl named Jessy and her best friend Nessie, a purple sea monster, are getting ready for a town race when Nessie becomes frightened by thunder and lightning and keeps running off to hide. Jessy uses her curiosity to try one idea after another, ducking his head, covering his ears, then facing the noise, until they discover the thunder and lightning is really cloud horses racing in the sky. Once Nessie understands what is happening, his fear fades. He joins the race and crosses the finish line first.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Why Is the Moon Out During the Day?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessy, a girl with glasses, and Nessie, a purple monster in pyjamas, disagree about whether it is day or night when Nessie spots the moon in a daytime sky and wants her bedtime story. Curious about why the moon and sun are out together, they call up to the moon, try an observatory telescope, and are lifted into the sky by their friend Hugh G. They discover the moon and sun are best friends playing hide-and-seek, which is why both can appear at once. As the sky finally darkens, Jessy begins Nessie's bedtime story about the moon.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Did My Hair Get Like This?

recommended age co-watching from 2

On park picnic day, Jessy wakes to find her curly hair gone straight and no longer looking like herself. With her best friend Nessy, a purple sea creature, she investigates ways to change it back, trying the playground swings and rolling down a grassy hill. They work out that the tiny Dottie creatures altered her hair while she slept, so Jessy asks them to change it back for the group photo. The episode ends with the friends posing for the park picnic picture and a quiet bedtime.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Can We Make Fog Go Away?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessy, a girl in an orange jacket, and Nessy, a purple sea monster, lose their ball in thick fog during a park football game. Curious about where the fog comes from, they try blowing it away and asking friends for help before following a smell high into the clouds. There they find a giant named Eugene cooling a pot of soup, whose steam is making the fog. After everyone helps cool the soup, the fog lifts, the ball turns up over the goal line, and Nessy learns he scored.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Do We Cheer Our Friends Up?

recommended age co-watching from 2

A live-action girl, Jessy, and her sea monster friend, Nessie, discover that the Dotlets have lost their colours because they feel sad. Across a playground and a beach, the pair try silly faces, playing, hula hooping, reading, and building sandcastles to cheer each friend up, asking others like Mike, Hazel, and Muriel for ideas along the way. One by one the Dotlets regain their colour, and the last is helped by a 'happy mist' and a big hug. The episode ends with a song and a question to the viewer about what they are curious about.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Do Airplanes Stay Up in the Sky?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessy, a girl in an orange jacket, and Nessy, a purple creature, pack for a trip to granny's house and set out to answer how aeroplanes stay up in the sky. They fly kites with friends, ride a Ferris wheel to look for planes and meet Squiggles, who folds paper aeroplanes. Along the way Jessy gives away her extra things so her suitcase will close. The episode ends with a playful answer that planes 'have legs' and the two boarding a plane to granny's.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Where Could Squiggles' Blankie Have Gone?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessie, a girl with glasses, and her best friend Nessie, a purple sea monster, discover that their friend Squiggles has lost her beloved cuddly blankie. They comfort her and set out to help, making a missing poster and testing replacements that are warm, soft and smell of cinnamon before ruling each one out. Their search leads through the town and up to a fluffy farm in the clouds where cuddly toys go to rest. There they find Blanky playing with the other blankets, and Squiggles is reunited with it.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

Where Else Can We Find Echoes?

recommended age co-watching from 2

Nessy, a purple monster, and his friend Jessy spend the morning waiting for Great Granny Grandmonster to arrive by train for Great Grandmonster's Day. To pass the time, Nessy becomes curious about echoes and the two search a train station, a park and a hilltop before following the sound to a hidden valley full of echoes. Along the way they buy presents, gather flowers and help each other with a heavy wagon. The episode ends with the relative arriving to enjoy the valley and the pile of gifts.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Do You Get the Hiccups?

recommended age co-watching from 2

In this episode, Nessie the monster magician keeps getting the hiccups whenever he tries a magic trick, so he and his best friend Jessy set out to learn how you get hiccups and how you get rid of them. They ask friends around their colourful town, including Knock, Muriel the narwhal and the trees Birch and Hazel, and test cures like rolling around, holding your breath and a friendly scare. In the end a shared giggle fest turns out to both cause and cure the hiccups. Nessie finishes his big magic show and everyone celebrates with a hiccup party.

Jessy & Nessy

Jessy & Nessy

How Do You Stop an Itch?

recommended age co-watching from 2

At a seaside 'Tea by the Sea' party, Hula Mike gets an itch he cannot stop, and friends Jessy and Nessy treat it as a curiosity to solve. They try scratching, ignoring and distracting him with drums, bagpipes and magic, then climb up Huge Ian to find the itch itself. The itch turns out to be a character named Lionel who travels the world teaching everyone to dance. The story ends with the friends dancing together and coaxing Huge Ian to join in.

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From this series Jessy & Nessy

By age 3 years

By platform Prime Video

By theme Curiosity Disappointment Friendship Helping others How things work Imagination Music Perseverance Problem solving

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