Atomic Betty
Spunky space-travelling heroine is positive model for kids.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this action-adventure cartoon centers on a smart, self-assured tween girl who's more concerned with saving the world from evil domination than she is with stereotypical pursuits like popularity and fashion. Betty rises above the influence of a superficial mother and a self-absorbed classmate to devote her time to preserving galactic peace, which she does with the help of two loyal friends. The battles between good and evil do include some violence, but it's fairly mild (a few laser guns, some kicks and scrapes) and very short-lived. In other words, as cartoons go, this is a surprisingly well-rounded option for kids.
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You go girl!
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What's the Story?
When evil threatens galactic peace, self-declared "Defender of the Cosmos" Atomic Betty (voiced by Tajja Isen) is quick to defend the existence of residents of planets near and far. A mild-mannered junior high student by day, when duty calls, Atomic Betty jumps into action with her faithful partners, enthusiastic co-pilot Sparky (Rick Miller) and omniscient robot X-5 (Bruce Hunter). Together the team attempts to thwart the advances of villains like Maximus I.Q. (Colin Fox). The show originally aired from 2004-2008.
Is It Any Good?
ATOMIC BETTY proves that equal opportunity exists even in the cartoon world. This spunky young space traveler can hold her own in a male-dominated field of action-adventure characters, and the show ups the ante on its TV peers by including some worthwhile messages as well. Far from being an accidental heroine, Betty thrives on the challenge of unraveling her adversaries' evil plans and restoring the galactic balance. But her best quality is her dissimilarity to many other tween girls -- cartoon or not -- on TV today. She's unaffected by peer pressure and popularity and relies on her teammates and her smarts to get the job done.
As for the show's content, there's nothing worrisome for its intended kid audience aside from some mild potty humor and a smattering of brief scuffles between Betty's team and the bad guys. In the end, though, none of these minor blemishes tarnish the show's greatest asset -- its respectable heroine.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about heroes. Who are some of your heroes? How would you define a hero? What qualities are most important to you in selecting a role model? How can their actions change how you feel about them?
Talk about responsibility. What are your responsibilities at home and in school? Who determines these responsibilities? Do you think they're fair? How are people responsible for each other?
How does this cartoon compare with some of your favorites? Did it strike you as funny? What did you think of the characters? Could you relate to Betty?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 17, 2004
- Cast: Bruce Hunter, Rick Miller, Tajja Isen
- Network: Discovery Family Channel
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Superheroes, Adventures, Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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