Viva Pinata - TV-Y7
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Fox Cast: Marc Thompson, Dan Green, Brian Maillard
Genre: Children, Cartoons, & Animation
Available on: 
Download
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this animated series is effectively a commercial for the Xbox 360 video game by the same name that's targeted at grade-school students. Storylines are based on competitions and aquiring necessary pinata elements like "candiosity." The characters cheat during their competitions, regularly get whacked by baseball bats, and, frankly, are pretty boring.
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?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: KJ Dell'Antonia
It's an open question whether the world needs more kids' programming based on video games -- but even if it does, it needs to be better than this colorful but ultimately dull effort.
VIVA PINATA has a lively 3D animation style that will be attractive to older kids but off-putting to kids used to slower-moving, less-flashy programs. Not surprisingly (given that it's a tie-in to the same-named Xbox 360 title, which is actually much better than the show), it looks like a video game. Scenes shift quickly, and characters -- including Hudson Horstachio (voiced by Dan Green), Paulie Pretztail (Brian Maillard), Franklink Fizzlybear (Marc Thompson), and Fergy Fudgehog (David Wills) -- move and spin.
Episode storylines focus on competition and building up important pinata qualities like "candiosity." Viewers won't find any of the pesky moral lessons that might accompany a program with such a strong competitive element -- the only positive examples come in the form of the occasional supportive friend (who might show that support by sabotaging another competitor).
Fans of the game may be amused by this, but Viva Pinata isn't likely to interest anyone on its own. Young kids looking for a similar animation style might like The Backyardigans. Kids who like their TV with a big dose of video game would do well to stick to Pokemon Chronicles.
Rate It!
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ViolenceThe characters are pinatas, so they get hit by baseball-bat wielding children, but they're always repaired to party another day. |
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Social BehaviorCheating is prevalent in the competitive pinata world, and although it doesn't necessarily pay, it isn't necessarily punished, either. |
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CommercialismThis is, in effect, a commercial for the related Xbox 360 game. |
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