The Tick - TV-Y7
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Toon Disney Cast: Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, Micky Dolenz
Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation
Available on: 
DVD
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this silly (in a good way) spoof mocks villains, superheroes, and everything else it runs across. For example: Superwoman and man (in copyright-friendly disguise) argue over her girliness and his fear of commitment, and bad guys admit that they just wanted to make a lot of money so they wouldn't have to work. Most young kids won't get the satirical humor aimed at older audiences, but they can still enjoy the action and the ample physical comedy.
Families can talk about the perils of being a superhero -- or having one around the house -- as well as the moral quandaries that superhero-dom can raise. If you break a wall trying to save the day, do you have to rebuild it afterward? When is it OK to use your X-ray vision? Are there times when it would be nice just to be normal instead? Families can also discuss the normal superhero conventions that this show mocks and how those conventions have created a genre that the series can so easily subvert.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: KJ Dell'Antonia
THE TICK is an irreverent, spoofy take on superhero-dom -- something along the lines of the '60s' live-action Batman. Kids will take the action seriously and may just see The Tick (voiced by Townsend Coleman) as a bumbling superhero, but a hero all the same. Unless they're both sophisticated and unusually versed in superhero lore, much of the humor will sail right over their heads.
It's that humor that makes The Tick such a pleasure (and something of a cult favorite) for teens and adults. The Tick, who provides his own narration, is a bit of a problem to have around, thanks to his superhuman strength, general obliviousness, and propensity for crashing through buildings. His sidekick, Arthur (Micky Dolenz) -- a plump former accountant who looks like Harvey Pekar in a skintight moth costume -- puts up with it all in the name of being part of the action and frequently enjoys his own triumphs.
The Tick is fun viewing for early grade-schoolers and up. Kids younger than that won't get the large majority of the jokes and may find the action frightening -- although in the end everyone walks, parachutes, or swims away unhurt.
Kids who like their superheroes taken a little more seriously might prefer Superman: The Animated Series or Spiderman and His Amazing Friends.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSide characters may indulge in some mild innuendo. |
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ViolenceThis is an action cartoon, albeit a semi-spoof. There are many explosions and crashes, and one character frequently fires guns, although never at anyone or with successful results. It's usually pretty clear that no one was hurt. |
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Social BehaviorThe Tick is determined that superheroes should rely on themselves, not weapons or gimmicks, and he believes powerfully in himself and his far-more-dubious sidekick. But strength and shows of force do rule the day. |
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