Ridley Jones
Ridley Jones is an animated preschool musical fantasy television series created and executive produced by Chris Nee for Netflix. The series premiered on July 13, 2021. A second season debuted on a November 2 release. A third season was released on February 15, 2022. A fourth season was released on August 22, 2022. A fifth season was released on March 6, 2023. The series was allegedly cancelled as a reaction to the introduction of a non-binary character.
Plot
The series is set in a world similar to Night at the Museum with key elements shared between the two.The series takes place in a museum where the exhibits and displays come to life via magic. The Jones family, who live inside a treehouse at the center of the building, have been an adventurer and the latest candidate for the position is Ridley, who only recently learned about the exhibits coming to life.
As Ridley continues to earn her role, she gathers a group of other museum display models to help contain the chaos and care for those who need it, everyone is happywithout the outside world learning about the museum's secrets.
Controversy and cancellation
The series generated controversy after the release of the eighth episode of the fifth season, "Happy Herd Day", in which, the main plot of the episode focuses on a bison named Fred, who is meant to lead the stampede of their herd, but has not told their grandmother that they identify as non-binary and use "they/them" pronouns. They worry about how their grandmother will react, but also does not want to lead the stampede as something they are not. In the end, with two minutes to spare, Fred informs their grandmother that they identify as non-binary, use "they/them" pronouns, and no longer go by their birth name Winifred. They are accepted by their grandmother for who they are. This episode angered a large number of people subscribed to the streaming platform, claiming that said episode was "LGBT indoctrination". Netflix responded to user feedback by canceling the series after its fifth and final season.Voice cast
Main
- Iara Nemirovsky as Ridley Jones, a young girl who is an adventurer in the museum who goes on adventures with her museum exhibit friends.
- Iris Menas as Fred, a non-binary bison display model and a friend of Ridley.
- Tyler Shamy as Dante, a parasaurolophus display model in a blue knit cap and a friend of Ridley. Dante speaks in skater lingo and typically carries and rides a skateboard.
- Ashlyn Madden as Ismat, a young mummy and a friend of Ridley. She holds the distinction of being the only group member other than Ridley to have relatives revealed onscreen, those being 2 fathers.
- David Errigo Jr. as Dudley, a dodo bird display model and a friend of Ridley. According to an interview, Errigo based the voice for Dudley on legendary actor and comedian Ed Wynn, albeit without Wynn's trademark lisp.
- Laraine Newman as Peaches, a replica model of Ham, the astrochimp who was the first great ape in space and a friend of Ridley.
- Reggie Watkins as Tibby, a fossil Triceratops who is adopted by Ridley.
Supporting
- Sutton Foster as Sarah Jones, Ridley's mother.
- * Foster also voices Mrs. Sanchez, a large blue whale display model who hangs from the museum's ceiling.
- Chris Nee as Ma
- Bob Bergen as Pa
- * Bergen also voices Mr. Filbert Peabody, the greedy museum curator who cares only about profiting from the museum exhibits and feeling the need to interfere in the business of others. As a result, while the Jones family respects him, they rarely tolerate his behavior and actions.
- Sydney Mikayla as Penelope "Penny" Peabody, Filbert's niece.
Minor
- Sander Argabrite provides the vocal effects of Pedro, a young penguin display model who idolizes Ridley.
- Jane Lynch as Lonny, the museum's well-meaning but clumsy security guard. In Season 5 she now knows about the Jones family's secret.
- Laraine Newman as Luann
- Dave Boat as Nukilik "Nuki", a Woolly Mammoth display model and Sylvia's best friend during her youth. Nukilik was frozen in the arctic exhibit several years before he was rediscovered by Ridley, at which point he reunited with Sylvia.
- Gisela Adisa as Stella
Episodes