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The Adventures of Young Gulliver (Boomerang)

common sense media says

'60s 'toon adventure doesn't achieve book's classic status.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this vintage adventure cartoon is classic '60s stuff, with stereotypical heroes and villains, dumb sidekicks, and a token cheerleader-type girl. Adventures consist mostly of running from larger creatures or other people, and while there's some peril, ther'es little real violence or injury. There's also little or no link to the real Gulliver's Travels -- and certainly no educational or literary message.

Educational value: Observant kids may learn that there is a book called Gulliver's Travels.
Positive messages: The series features supportive friends and encourages persistence, but there aren't many overt messages here.
Positive role models: Most characters -- both heroes and villains -- are portrayed very stereotypically. The one girl Lilliputian ("Flirtacia") is of the admiring-cheerleader type.
Violence & scariness: Characters are chased and imprisoned, but physical violence is only threatened.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some episodes' plots can include drinking as a way to put a villain to sleep or as outdated "humor" to make a character silly.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Adventures of Young Gulliver

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how they think producers came up with the idea for the show. Do you think it would be fun to take a favorite book and imagine what might happen to a character after the book ended?
  • Kids: What would it be like to be the size of a Lilliputian? What would be the coolest thing you could do -- or the scariest thing you'd see?

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG GULLIVER, which originally aired in 1968, follows Gary Gulliver (voiced by Jerry Dexter) as he and four Lilliputian friends search Lilliput for his father. He has a map to guide him -- but the evil Captain Leech (John Stephenson) believes the map will lead not to Pop Gulliver but to treasure. Most episodes consequently center around Gary and the Lilliputians fleeing from Captain Leech.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

By today's standards, both the animation and the plotting of Young Gulliver are pretty lame. Characters are wooden and two-dimensional, and there's no real back story or sense of growth or relationships. It's classic three-commercial-break fare: The set up, the chase, the rescue/escape, the brief humorous moment followed by all of the characters laughing merrily together before the credits roll.

That said, young kids will accept the simplicity of it all, and for some it could be a welcome break from some of today's frenetic cartoons. Still, when all is said and done, Young Gulliver is devoid of any educational, social, or emotional value, making it nothing but a couch potato moment.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Boomerang
Cast: Don Messick, Ginny Tyler, Jerry Dexter
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Boomerang
This review was written by KJ Dell Antonia
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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