Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this cartoon series for grade-schoolers does a good job of weaving positive messages into its action-packed storylines, so young viewers will be hard pressed to miss out on lessons like cooperation, teamwork, and respect for others. Despite the protagonists' unconventional nature (they're animated sushi), the cast is a likable crew, and kids will easily relate to their different personalities and relationships. The series revolves around the cast's crime-fighting efforts, so fights are common. But on the whole, the violence -- which is of the unrealistic fantasy type to begin with -- is kept to a minimum.
Families can talk about resolving conflict. Kids: How do the Sushi Pack friends resolve their differences? Is it ever a difficult process? How do they make sure their friends' feelings are respected? Have you ever had to smooth things over with a friend? How did you do it? Were things the same afterward? Also, what different methods do the team members have when it comes to dealing with their enemies? What role does violence play in their actions? Do you think it's ever possible to talk things out with someone who doesn't see eye to eye with you?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Emily Ashby
SUSHI PACK chronicles the crime-fighting efforts of a quintet of do-gooders who join forces to combat the nefarious schemes of villains in their hometown.
The plot may sound like old news, but the show's small stars are anything but copycats. They're not kids, robots, or even dinosaurs -- they're individual, color-coded pieces of sushi who were brought to life by a freak lightning storm and now make their home in a nearby doughnut shop. When duty calls, the friends (who, despite their oceanic heritage, look more like Pokemon or PowerPuff Girls characters than fillets of fish) hop into their crustacean-inspired flying vehicle and set out in search of the bad guys.
Each 11-minute cartoon follows a similar pattern: Somewhere within the Wharf City limits a minor crime ensues, and the fast-acting Sushi Pack quickly pieces together clues to unearth the commonly dimwitted villain. The physical confrontations typically involve some kind of battle, but the fishy friends mostly use their skills in conjuring force fields and fighting fire with hurled handfuls of mustard to ward off their adversaries.
For parents, the good news is that, as action cartoons go, Sushi Pack is light on violence (and devoid of anything realistic) and strives to push strong lessons in each episode. Kids who tune in will see the characters using good communication skills to resolve conflicts among friends, learn to acknowledge and better respect the feelings of others, and cooperate to become a more effective team.
All in all, it's a fun, fantasy-based series that may leave parents wondering about the source of the writers' character inspiration (a bad lunch at Nobu?) but is still likely to entertain kids. Plus, it boasts some solid behind-the-scenes credits; Emmy-winning writers Tom Ruegger and Nicholas Hollander were also behind hits like Animaniacs and Tiny Toons.
Other fun choices for this age group include Shuriken School and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentOne of the characters is known as a "super hottie" -- but that's because he's made out of wasabi. |
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ViolenceBrief cartoon battles are mostly contact-free, instead featuring exchanges of flashy lightning bolts and a yellow liquid substance hurled by one team member that splats on the villains but causes no harm. Pratfalls (exaggerated trips and falls, for example) are also common. |
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Social BehaviorAlthough violence is the main means to an end when it comes to the crime fighters' dealings with villains, amongst themselves, the five heroes try hard to work out their problems with words instead. Each storyline pushes positive messages like respect for others' feelings, effective conflict resolution, and cooperation. |
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