Season 1
16 episodes Feb 5, 2024
The mean Miss Ruby wants to shut down the Wonderful School of Oz and keep the magic all for herself — unless Dee and her friends can save the day!
Overview
When a mysterious key transports her to the land of Oz, a regular kid named Dee goes on a musical journey to save magic — and be the hero of the story.
Seasons
3 listed- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 2 seasons
- Episodes
- 32 episodes
- First aired
- Feb 5, 2024
- Last aired
- May 20, 2024
- Episode length
- 26m
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S2 E16 Episode 16 (May 20, 2024)
Season 2
16 episodes Feb 5, 2024Specials
1 episode Feb 5, 2024
Reviews
5 min readWhere the Yellow Brick Road Leads a Black Girl
I didn’t expect to find myself in Oz again at this age. Not the Oz of my childhood—emerald towers, glittering slippers, a witch melting into a puddle of black-and-white nostalgia. No, this Oz is something else entirely.
It’s brighter, louder, and, most surprisingly, it’s hers. Dee’s. A Black girl with rainbow hair ties, a key that hums with magic, and a voice that doesn’t ask for permission to take up space.
This is Dee & Friends in Oz, Netflix’s preschool reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic, and it’s the first time I’ve seen Oz look like this: unapologetically modern, unapologetically young, and unapologetically Black.
The series, created by Angela C. Santomero (the mind behind Blue’s Clues and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), is a bold departure from the Oz I grew up with. There’s no farmhouse dropping from the sky, no Kansas monochrome to escape.
Instead, Dee Davis—a regular kid, as the synopsis puts it—finds herself in Oz not because she’s lost, but because she’s found. Found a key, found a purpose, found a world that, for once, seems built for her. It’s a radical reframing, one that Common Sense Media’s Fernanda Camargo praises for its "timeless, confidence-boosting lyrics" and its ability to encourage children to "be the heroes of their own stories" [1, 2].
And she’s right. This isn’t a story about going home. It’s a story about staying—about claiming a place in a world that wasn’t necessarily made for you, and making it yours anyway.
That shift alone would be enough to make Dee & Friends in Oz worth watching, but the series doesn’t stop there. It’s a musical, first and foremost, and the music is where the show truly soars. Composed by Tarriona "Tank" Ball, the soundtrack is a genre-blending masterclass in preschool-friendly empowerment.
There’s hip-hop, gospel, country, funk—all of it delivered with a joy that feels infectious, even to an adult ear. The lyrics are simple but effective, the kind of affirmations that stick with you long after the episode ends: "I’m the hero of my story," "I can do anything I set my mind to." It’s the kind of music that makes you want to dance, yes, but also the kind that makes you want to believe.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s "Dee & Friends in Oz" Brings a Fresh, Musical Twist to a Classic Tale
Netflix’s latest animated series, Dee & Friends in Oz, is making waves as a modern, musical reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz—but with a preschool-friendly twist. Premiering globally on February 5, 2024, the show follows Dee, an ordinary kid whisked away to the magical land of Oz after discovering a mysterious key 
. The series blends adventure, fantasy, and original songs, latestnetflix.com argues, positioning itself as a vibrant entry in Scholastic Entertainment’s lineup for young audiences.
A Star-Studded Creative Team Behind the Magic
The series is the brainchild of three creators: Angela C. Santomero, Keion Jackson, and Halcyon Person . Santomero, best known for co-creating Blue’s Clues and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, brings her expertise in educational children’s programming to the project. Jackson and Person, whose previous work includes Super Why! and Creative Galaxy, round out the team with a focus on interactive storytelling .
Production is a collaboration between Scholastic Entertainment and 9 Story Media Group, a powerhouse behind other hit preschool series like The Magic School Bus Rides Again . While the evidence doesn’t specify directors or episode counts, the involvement of these studios suggests a polished, high-budget approach to animation and music.
Voice Cast and Musical Journey
The show’s voice cast includes Broadway veteran LaChanze (The Color Purple) as Dee, alongside Layla Capers, Jim Conroy, and Sid Kamat . The series leans heavily into its musical format, with original songs designed to engage young viewers while driving the plot forward . Early descriptions emphasize Dee’s quest to "save magic" in Oz, framing her as an unlikely hero on a journey of self-discovery .
Why This Retelling Stands Out
Unlike previous Oz adaptations, Dee & Friends in Oz is explicitly tailored for preschoolers, blending familiar fantasy elements with age-appropriate storytelling. The series’ 3D animation and emphasis on music set it apart from live-action or traditional 2D retellings . Netflix’s global release strategy also hints at an effort to reach diverse audiences, though specific localization details (like dubbing or subtitles) aren’t mentioned in the available evidence.
What’s Still Unknown
Despite the buzz, some details remain under wraps. The evidence doesn’t confirm the number of episodes, potential season renewals, or behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the creative process. Rumors about guest stars or celebrity cameos are also unconfirmed—so far, the focus is squarely on the core cast and the show’s educational and entertainment value.
For now, Dee & Friends in Oz appears to be a promising addition to Netflix’s animated lineup, offering a fresh take on a timeless story. Whether it will become a staple for young viewers remains to be seen, but its creative team and production pedigree suggest it’s one to watch.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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