Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that each episode of this action cartoon for tweens culminates in a battle between aliens and four 10-year-old heroes, who use hand-held laser guns (which look more like toys than anything real), laser cannons, and sonic blasters on their enemies. The kids are never injured, but most of the aliens bite the dust by exploding, falling into pieces, or disintegrating. Still, the show is clearly meant as fantasy, and the mood is kept so light -- and the antagonists so non-human -- that the animated violence isn't likely to bother any but the youngest kids. That said, the show is lean on overtly positive messages, so if you're after truly substantive shows, this one probably won't fit the bill.
Families can talk about whether all kids' TV shows should be educational -- or whether it's OK for some to be "just for fun." Kids: What shows do you like that fall into each category? Could some be in both? Families can also discuss the idea of alien life. Do you think it's likely that there's life in other parts of the galaxy? How do you think people would respond to proof of alien life? How would we treat an alien if one was discovered here?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Emily Ashby
In MONSTER BUSTER CLUB, a group of tweens wages war on invading alien life forms that attempt to hide out in their hometown. Using a tangle of secret tunnels to navigate the town unnoticed, Danny, Chris, and Sam join their good alien buddy, Cathy, on goodwill missions to stamp out the invaders. Meanwhile, when they're not battling their nemeses, the group often finds that getting along with each other requires as much skill and precision as alien-nabbing does.
This series is a good choice if your tween is at the transition point between bare-bones kids' cartoons and those with a little more action and fantasy. While it does broach the subject of aliens existing unnoticed alongside average civilians, the bright CG-animation style and confident tween characters keep the overall mood light and non-threatening. There's an element of comedy in nearly everything the heroes do, which leaves little time for kids to get scared about the idea of aliens.
That said, there's still a fair amount of violence in the show, and all four of the tween heroes use laser guns and cannons to blast away at their enemies, who eventually succumb in explosions or -- in the case of robotic foes -- dismemberment. The fact that the kids are never hurt is comforting, but, on the flip side, the show's fantasy nature does nothing to emphasize the consequences of such violence in the real world.
Other fun choices for this age group include Time Warp Trio, Johnny Test, and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentAt least one reference to a kiss on the cheek. One character has an obvious crush on a classmate, who shows no interest in return. |
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ViolenceClub members use laser guns (which look more like toys than the real thing) against aliens and robots; if needed, they can transform into more powerful laser and sonic cannons. Only the aliens ever suffer injury, and they mostly crumple into a heap, explode, or disintegrate. Some mild peril, but the kids never end up worse for the wear. |
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LanguageNo cursing, but occasional use of "dumb," "butt," and the like. |
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Social BehaviorViolence is the only means of conflict resolution, and the answer to any problem is to find a bigger weapon. There's no attempt to promote obviously positive messages, but the characters must often resolve interpersonal issues like feeling misunderstood by friends and balancing the need to be true to yourself with the need to fit into a group. Female club members are on equal footing with their male peers and come across as more thoughtful and level-headed. The characters are diverse. |
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