Dragon Booster
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Bashing, smashing, and lots of merchandizing.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 7 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Dragon Booster was written by Andrea Graham
Parents need to know that this anime-style action cartoon has both fantasy and sci-fi elements. The dragon riders battle evil forces with their mighty scaled companions. The fantasy violence includes the dragons fighting and bashing about, but it's not graphic. The program is also strongly linked to merchandising and promotes its toy line, video games, and collectible card game.
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about how this series, while entertaining, is also a marketing vehicle and use it as an opportunity to educate kids on marketing awareness. Does this show primarily seek to entertain or to sell a product? Do kids think the show encourages people to buy Dragon Booster products? If yes, how? Is there anything else viewers can learn from programs like this?
More on Dragon Booster
What’s the Story?
Is It Any Good?
While Dragon Booster has all the requirements to keep kids tuned in -- action-packed adventure, cool-looking dragons, and visually pleasing cell-shaded 3D animation -- it falls short, thanks to its hypocrisy. Dragon City serves as a metaphor for our chaotic modern life -- full of consumerism, celebrity, and corruption -- and the show clearly suggests that that life is harming the city's citizens. But considering that one of the main goals of Dragon Booster is to sell its extensive line of related toys, games, and cards, the heavy-handed metaphor leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Overall, Dragon Booster is an entertaining series with a unique story and interesting 3D manga style, but the aggressive marketing campaign surrounding the show detracts from its appeal. Kids probably won't really notice or care, unfortunately, since cartoons have a long history of pairing action with toys. Like it or not, Dragon Booster serves as a good example of how entertainment and merchandising can be irresistible to kids. But it doesn't hurt to educate your kids about their roles as television viewers and consumers.

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