Jackie Chan Adventures - TV-Y7

Entertaining blend of action and humor.

TV Rating: TV-Y7 Network: WB Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this program includes some suspenseful situations with scary ghosts and demons. Most viewers will enjoy it, but it might be too intense for kids who are easily spooked or still uncertain about the line between fantasy and reality.

Families can talk about whether ghosts and demons exist in real life. Some Asian concepts like "chi" or life force might need explaining.

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sarah L. Thomson

JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES stars an animated version of everyone's favorite martial arts movie star, Jackie Chan, with all his trademark good humor, Chaplin-esque air of befuddlement, and remarkable martial arts skills. Joining him are his 11-year-old niece, Jade (intelligent, stubborn, and impulsive); his irascible uncle, owner of an antiques store and an expert in ancient artifacts; and his big-hearted but dim-witted sumo wrestler friend, Tohru.

Together the four travel the globe, using Jackie's martial art skills, Uncle's knowledge of the supernatural, and Jade's courage to fight demons and evil spirits, sometimes on their own and sometimes for secret law-enforcement agency Section 13. In one episode, on a visit to Uncle's hometown in China, they meet evil spirits trapped in a mirror who turn humans into their worst fears when set free. On another adventure, while at school in Australia, Jade takes a field trip to a haunted house, and her teacher is accidentally possessed by a sky demon's chi, or life force.

Despite Uncle's best efforts to educate his companions about the magical dangers all about them, Jade's impulsive behavior often puts everybody in danger, and Jackie's low-key heroism must save the day. We see Jackie's martial arts abilities mostly in stunts rather than combat, and battles with supernatural forces are as often won by clever tricks as by brute force. (A scary demon, for example, is lured into a pile of mousetraps.)

Lighthearted, entertaining, suspenseful, and humorous, this show may not be deep, but it's a lot of fun. Fans might also enjoy The Life and Times of Juniper Lee and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Rate It!