What to Watch: New Netflix Shows for Families This May

While spring is definitely in the air, May in the Northwest still provides plenty of rainy days to spend curled up with a screen. Netflix has lots of new shows — and old classics — coming up that will entertain everyone. Highlights include the second season of “Octonauts: Above & Beyond,” a new animation from the team behind CoComelon, and a documentary about a freediver from Finland who attempts to break the world record for distance traveled under ice with one breath. Read on for the best shows for kids, plus a few suggestions for the grown-ups.

May 1: “3 Ninjas: Kick Back” — Giving up their baseball championship game, three brothers head to Japan to come to the aid of their grandfather, who is threatened by an ancient enemy bent on revenge.
May 1: “ARPO” (Season 1) — From the team that brought you CoComelon, comes a new series about a super robot named ARPO. After ARPO is kicked out of the military he finds himself facing his most important mission ever — taking care of a baby.
May 1: “Blippi Wonders” (Season 1) — This new animated version of the Blippi series answers questions about how things work. Along with his Catbot, TABBS, Blippi has adventures ranging from time traveling to learn about the history of cars to shrinking and flying into a nose to learn why people sneeze.
May 1: “Corpse Bride”— From the slightly creepy world of Tim Burton, this movie tells the story of a man who accidentally marries a corpse bride. Filmed using puppets and stop-motion animation, it took over 30 animators and puppeteers and 32 cameras to bring this film to life.
May 1: “Transformers: Cyberverse” (Season 3) — The timeless battle of Autobots versus Decepticons rages on in this latest season of Transformers.
May 2: “Octonauts: Above & Beyond” (Season 2) — The Octonauts have jumped out of the sea and are having adventures on land, protecting habitats and animals at risk around the globe. From elephants to pikas, the Octonauts are here to help!
May 3: “Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive” — Looking for a documentary that will make you feel cold and claustrophobic at the same time? Check out the incredible story of Johanna Nordbald, a freediver from Finland, as she attempts to break the world record for distance traveled under ice with one breath. (Yes, you read that right.) Focusing on themes of courage and strong will, this documentary will be great for the whole family.
May 5: “Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go” (Season 1) — This animated series is a reboot of the original Thomas and Friends series. Filled with new music and adventures, your little engineers will love seeing their old friends again.
May 5: “Wild Babies” (Season 1) — In this new nature docu-series (narrated by Helena Bonham Carter), experience the exciting, challenging and always adorable world of baby wild animals. Follow baby monkeys, elephants, penguins and more on their journey to adulthood. What’s not to love?
May 6: “Marmaduke” — A new animated movie brings the loveable comic strip dog, Marmaduke, to life. Does Marmaduke have what it takes to be a dog show champion? Can a renowned dog trainer give him the skills and self control he needs to win? This fun, family film has all the answers and more.
May 12: “MaveriX” (Season 1) — This series from Australia centers around a group of six teenage motocross riders. To prepare for the national race, a 6-week academy for elite riders — called Maverix — is set up in the wilds of Australia. Teenage drama, motorbike jumps and crashes, teamwork and friendship will make this show your tween’s new favorite.
May 15: “PJ Masks” (Season 4) — Gekko, Catboy, and Owlette are back fighting crime under the cover of night. These three 6-year-olds are back for more adventures in this latest season, though my primary question still remains unanswered: When do these kids sleep?
May 19: “The Boss Baby: Back in the Cribs” (Season 1) – Boss Baby is at it again in this new DreamWorks spinoff series. This season is sure to bring adorable babies talking like adults, silly action sequences, and some clever dialogue, making it a fun choice for the whole family.
May 23: “Sea of Love” (Season 1) — The youngest Netflix crowd will enjoy this cute animated series filled with singing sea animals. Your new animal friends — Bruda, Bobbie, Wayu and Puri — go on mini adventures in the ocean which include a splash of magic.
May 25: “Larva Pendant”— Squishy little Red and Yellow larva are back with a new short-film sequel to “Larva Island”. While there is no dialogue, there are plenty of squeaks, burps and screams as our heroes encounter one challenge after another.
May 26: “My Little Pony: Make Your Mark” — The ponies have returned for more adventure in this animated special. The story will center around Sunny Starcout and take place after the events in the latest My Little Pony movie.
May 26: “Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series” (Part 3) — Join Ash and his friends in this new series that promises all the essential Pokémon components: cute Pokémon creatures squeaking and giggling, enthusiastic teenagers having adventures and Team Rocket causing problems as usual.
May 30: “Mighty Little Bheem” — On a trip to the Taj Mahal, Bheem gets distracted trying to return a little girl’s teddy bear. This show has no dialogue, and Bheem is a baby depiction of a 9-year-old character from the popular Indian series, Chhota Bheem.
May 31: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Season 1) and the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Season 1) — The mean green fighting machines are back in action. These two series will give the kids hours of entertainment watching the turtles battle the evil Shredder and his crew. And let’s never forget that the Ninja turtle franchise gave us this amazing creative collaboration.

Top picks for grown-ups:

Feeling nostalgic for the '90s? Netflix has you covered in May with the return of several classics (all coming May 1):

May 1: “Forrest Gump” — Run Forest, run! One of Tom Hank’s most well-known and beloved films tells the epic story of the ups and downs of one man’s life.
May 1: “You’ve Got Mail” — Remember the thrill of those three little words when you opened AOL? In this classic Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks romantic comedy, the characters clash in real life only to connect over anonymous email.
May 1: “A River Runs Through It” — Can’t get enough of Brad Pitt fly fishing? Then look no further. This epic drama centers around the trials and tribulations of a family in Montana. The film won an Oscar for Best Cinematography.
May 1: “When Harry Met Sally” — Okay, technically this was released in 1989 but how could we leave it off this list? Watch Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in one of the most iconic romantic comedies ever made. I’ll have what she’s having.
May 5: “The Pentaverate” — Mike Myers returns to the screen playing multiple roles in this new comedy about a Canadian journalist caught up in a conspiracy.
May 27: “Stranger Things” (Season 4. Volume 1) — Turn up The Clash, put on your tube socks and dust off your Dungeons and Dragons guide. After three long years, Stranger Things is back! Penultimate season 4 finds our heroes of Hawkins, Indiana, split up from Russia to California and facing their biggest challenge ever from the terrifying upside-down. While this show has plenty of younger fans, the high level of tension, jump scares, gore, violence and significant character deaths make it more suitable for teens or mature tweens.

Bonus

This year Netflix is offering Mother's Day cards featuring some of your family's favorite Netflix characters. You can download and print the cards for free. Enjoy!