The wise panda is back. Apple TV has released the entire fifth season of Stillwater, its Emmy-winning animated series, dropping all five new episodes at once for subscribers to stream from August 21, 2026.
If you’ve somehow missed one of Apple TV’s quietest success stories, Stillwater is built on a refreshingly simple premise. A wise panda lives next door to three young siblings — Karl, Addy and Michael — and gently guides them through the everyday challenges that can feel enormous when you’re a kid. Through storytelling, calm example and a bit of soft humor, Stillwater introduces the children to the concept of mindfulness, helping them understand their emotions and giving them practical tools to cope.
The show is voiced by James Sie as the titular panda, with Judah Mackey (Karl), Eva Ariel Binder (Addy) and Tucker Chandler (Michael) rounding out the family. It’s adapted from Jon J Muth’s bestselling Scholastic “Zen” book series, which lends the show its unmistakable watercolor-inspired aesthetic and unhurried pacing.
That formula has earned real hardware. Since its 2020 debut, Stillwater has picked up a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program, as well as a Peabody Award in the Children’s and Youth Programming category — no small feat for a series aimed squarely at younger viewers and the parents watching alongside them.
Season 5 arrives after a relatively short turnaround. The fourth season premiered in August 2025, itself ending a two-year gap since season 3, so a fresh batch of episodes landing roughly a year later is a welcome sign that Apple is keeping the franchise on a steady schedule.
A few things make Stillwater stand out in a crowded kids’ TV landscape:
- Genuinely calming pacing — this is a rare children’s show that isn’t engineered for maximum stimulation.
- Emotional literacy at its core — episodes tackle feelings and coping strategies rather than just plot.
- Award-winning craft — the editing and animation quality reflect the accolades.
Stillwater streams on Apple TV, which is available for $12.99 per month or as part of the Apple One bundle. The same subscription gets you the platform’s higher-profile hits like Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo — a reminder that Apple’s streaming catalog spans everything from prestige workplace thrillers to preschool zen.
All five episodes are live now, so there’s nothing to wait for. Whether you’re introducing the kids to a mindful panda or just looking for something gentler to unwind with yourself, the new season is ready to stream.
