Love Monster (TV series)

Lore & Background

Love Monster is an animated children's television series that debuted on CBeebies on 27 January 2020. It is adapted from the books by Rachel Bright, including titles such as Love Monster, Love Monster and the Scary Something, and Love Monster and the Last Chocolate. The series centers on the misadventures of Love Monster and his friends, with narration by Tamsin Greig.

The voice cast includes Darren Foreman as Love Monster, Javone Prince as Bad Idea Puppy, Sarah Hadland as Tiniest Fluffiest Bunny, and George Takei as Elder Panda. Other characters are voiced by Lewis MacLeod, Freya Parker, Emma Maclennan, Jane Pickworth, and Tameka Empson. The series had two series: Series 1 in 2020 and Series 2 in 2022.

In the United States, the series premiered on HBO Max as a Max Original on 18 December 2020, and later aired on Cartoon Network's Cartoonito block starting 19 September 2021. It was removed from distribution in September 2022.

Reader's Guide

Love Monster holds significance as a gentle, book-based children's series that introduced young audiences to themes of friendship and overcoming fears through the adventures of a friendly monster. Its adaptation from Rachel Bright's popular picture books brought familiar stories to screen, with a notable voice cast including George Takei. The series' multi-platform release—first on CBeebies, then HBO Max, and later Cartoon Network—demonstrates the cross-media reach of children's programming in the early 2020s. Its removal in September 2022 marks a relatively short broadcast life, but the series remains a reference point for adaptations of contemporary children's literature into animation. The show's legacy is tied to its source material and its role in the Cartoonito block, which focused on preschool content.

Did You Know?

• The series is based on books by Rachel Bright, including Love Monster and the Last Chocolate.
• George Takei voiced Elder Panda in the series.
• The series was removed in September 2022.