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Atom Ant

(Rated TV-Y7, Children, cartoons, & animation, Starring Don Messick, Howard Morris, Where to watch: Boomerang)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Mighty Mouse knock-off hasn't aged well.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 5–8

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    As the good guy, Atom Ant always wins out. But secondary accompanying cartoon shorts include characters ("hillbillies," for example) being rewarded for slovenly or lazy behavior, although it rarely works out well for them in the end. Stereotyping of women and minorities is quite distinct.

  • Violence & scariness:

    Cartoon violence of the simpler form -- characters tied to railroad tracks, hitting one another in Three Stooges-like frustration, good guys punching bad guys and sending them flying, etc. Occasional use of weapons, but never to fatal effect.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Characters sometimes leer suggestively at female characters (or men pretending to be female); female characters may dress in tight/skimpy clothing.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters in some secondary cartoon shorts smoke pipes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Atom Ant

Parents need to know that this '60s cartoon doesn't just feature the eponymous ant, but another, secondary cartoon as well: the Hillbilly Bears. The ant-focused shorts offer fairly standard animated superhero violence, plus women in peril and (reflecting its original era) stereotypical minority villains. Any kid who watches cartoons has seen plenty of that. But Hillbilly Bears could be an unwelcome introduction to the practice of expecting an entire region -- or nation -- to conform to a certain stereotype.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Atom Ant and his determined ways -- in addition to being heroic, he's rather stubborn: He wants to triumph his way. Is that always a good thing, or are there other ways to get what he wants? Families can also discuss the Hillbilly Bears. Is it mocking stereotypes, or playing into them? How are today's cartoons different from this show? Do you think they've gotten better? Why?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Ylndgomez
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    I LOVE ATOM ANT.

    I LOVE ATOM ANT. I LOVE PRECIOUS PUPP. I LOVE THE HILLBILLY BEARS.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    nascar
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    hello again!

    sorry for not putting my name!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    nascar
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    it's good!!!!

    I see that show everyday,even in the computer,it's a good show,it was created by Hanna-Barbara in 1964.The second season came in the mid 1965's,when Secret Squirrel aired.at that time,everything was rated in cartoons TV-G,or TV-Y7-FV because shows has to much violence and make-believe things happening then.In the show Atom Ant the 23 minute shows always has in this order:Atom Ant,Precious Pup,and The Hillbilly Bears.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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