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Viva Pinata

(Rated TV-Y7, Children, cartoons, & animation, Starring Marc Thompson, Dan Green, Brian Maillard, Where to watch: Fox, DVD, Download)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    Animated pinatas are boring and set bad examples.

updated 02.09.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 6–8

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Cheating is prevalent in the competitive pinata world, and although it doesn't necessarily pay, it isn't necessarily punished, either.
  • Violence & scariness:

    The characters are pinatas, so they get hit by baseball-bat wielding children, but they're always repaired to party another day.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    This is, in effect, a commercial for the related Xbox 360 game.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Viva Pinata

Parents need to know that this animated series is effectively a commercial for the Xbox 360 video game of the same name that's targeted at grade-school students. Storylines are based on competitions and acquiring necessary pinata elements like "candiosity." The characters cheat during their competitions, regularly get whacked by baseball bats, and, frankly, are pretty boring.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether a video game -- which might be fun on its own -- really needs a TV show to promote it. In those cases, does the show add anything to the enjoyment of the game? If you've played the game, how do you think it compares to the show? How are they different? Do the show and the game have any similarities besides featuring pinata characters?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Viva Pinata?
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See all 11 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Viva Viva Pin yata yata ata

    CW4kids, Please! Bring this show back. it's the best show I seen along with "Kirby: Right Back at YA!"

  2. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    There you go again, ignoring lessons.

    This review looks completely biased, no offense to the writer. You really think it's gonna look like a video game to kids today? The last game that looked like this was Banjo-Kazooie, another Rareware title, and how old is that? As for the "sabotaging" and "cheating", I believe you are referring to the "Horstachio of a Different Color" episode where Fergy, Paulie, and Franklin tried to help Hudson by eliminating his competition. But that's not "cheating", I mean, it's not like they shoved the blackberries down Hamilton's throat or anything. It was his choice. He should have seen it coming. Which is a lesson to kids - never let your guard down. As well, know what grows on a plant before you eat it. Hamilton didn't know what those blackberries would do to him, so he just ate them and became a Zumbug, and not only was he disqualified, but Mabel Moozipan chased him down with her hoe, bringing another lesson - don't eat from others' gardens without permission. As well, Hudson automatically assumed that Fergy, Paulie, and Franklin were betraying him, another lesson - things are not always what they seem. You can actually see lessons for kids to learn if you don't pay so much attention to bad things.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title off for age 5 and give it 1.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    This is GREAT!

    I love this show. I love CGI and the characters are really funny. My two children love to watch them. And I don't have to worry about the language or any other non age appropriate things. So the whole family can enjoy this together.

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