Some seem to think Katie and Orbie is a failure as an animation, but they're missing the point. The show was created as an animated storybook based on Katie and Orbie Save the Planet by Ben Wicks not a cartoon.
The slower pace while jarring compared to modern animation comes from a time when parents were still concerned about developing a short attention span in young children from cartoons.
The show is like a TV picture book you could play instead of story time. Young infants haven't developed a preference for fast paced shows at that age and can appreciate the storybook medium if that's the type of entertainment they're used to.
Growing up television was a rare privilege and shows like Katie and Orbie fit that culture of healthy moderation (e.g., Rainy Day Zombies episode) that appealed to stricter parents.
For a show from the 90's there is a solid amount of cultural representation and diversity with characters e.g., Micah who has down syndrome. The show is all about teaching children who to accept others and be a good person.
As a kid I always appreciated how Orbie (an alien) despite being clearly different was implicitly accepted by those around him with open arms.
The narration done by the late Leslie Neilson is the shows highlight. The pacing and relaxing narration make this the perfect show to watch before going to bed (or early in the morning as I watched it as a kid).
While completely different from Neilson's other work he does a great job storytelling in a way that appeals to young children.
As a kid the stories always felt relatable. It may seem mundane for adults, but Neilson's lessons and words of encouragement helped me immensely as I navigated the same types of adventures as Katie and Orbie.
While it might not appeal to most children today. If you're a parent looking for quality programming for your children I recommend seeing if they enjoy this style of show.
