Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Cartoon Network)

common sense media says

Body-hair martial arts antics are the pits.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this cartoon is so fast-paced and choppy that it's difficult even for an adult to follow. There are subtle-but-definite phallus images and mild body-part humor throughout the show, but it's easy to miss them amid the flashiness of the surroundings. As the series' only African-American character, Bobobo does suffer from some stereotyping that's just a part of the show's whole ridiculous package.

Positive messages: Afro-donned Bobobo reeks of stereotypes, but the whole scenario is so crazy, it's hard to take it seriously.
Violence & scariness: Cartoon violence is frequent (plenty of fights, some with weapons) but far from realistic. The hero's main weapon is his body hair.
Sexy stuff: Careful observers will notice phallus imagery throughout the show. Male characters wear Speedo-like outfits that reveal too much.
Language: "Damn," "butt," and the like are used sparingly.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about what audience this show is intended for. Is it aimed at anime fans? People who like strange or bizarre comedy? You can also discuss the series' structure. Do the episodes' scenarios make sense? Did you understand the plot? What, if anything, can be gained from watching shows like this?

What's the story?

What's the story?

BOBOBO-BO BO-BOBO, which got its start as a Japanese comic book, is set in the distant future, when Earth is suffering under the terrorizing reign of the Margarita Empire. Ruler Tsuru Tsururina the Fourth, looking to strengthen his powerful grip over the world, has sent his "Hair Hunters" on a mission to steal hair from the heads of everyone they can reach. The fate of humankind rests on the well-chiseled shoulders of Bobobo, whose golden Afro symbolizes his dedication to protecting hair and fighting injustice. He can control his own body hair and make it grow on demand, overwhelming his enemies with lengthy weapons that sprout from his chest, his armpits, and, yes, his nose.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

In the spirit of the comic book world, each episode of this off-kilter cartoon ends with a cliffhanger to entice viewers to come back for more. ("How will Bobobo and his gang compete with a weapon of gas destruction?") While the show's rotating cast of sidekicks are as strange as Bobobo is, one bright spot is Beauty, Bobobo's female buddy, who seems to be the only character not suffering from some level of insanity. All in all, however, this one is worth shaving off your list.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7-FV
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: George C. Cole, Philece Sampler, Richard Epcar
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

 
This is awesome
bo-bobo is the best show/manga ever nothing compares it cracks me up so badly i spent 3 years in the hospital how can anyone give it less than 5 stars? =]:-)

eatmorechicken
kid, 11 years old
 
This is the most hilarious show on earth!

Cat_Girl
kid, 13 years old
 
OMG!!!!!!!BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!It is funny, weird, and good for a kid to watch ( unlike Dragon Ball Z ) !I say it is really great!

Bo man
teen, 17 years old
 
bobobo is best for all
Bobobo is the funniest cartoon on earth, the show may have a few concerns but still Bobobo is best for children because the show is so funny in a great way that it makes lots of people laugh

 
Ever heard of a tan?
First of all you say that BoBoBo suffers from some sterotypes because he is African America....ever heard of a tan people? Its a tan. Bo Bo Bo is not african american. He just has a tan. Ok? Deal with it its not sterotyping anything. Second of all oh no there is body humor. One of the main character's attacks are farts. Last time I went to a Starbucks someone farted and said excuse me. We all fart. I find nothing wrong with fart jokes. And yes this show will only appeal to the fans of those who have grown to love the manga. Its just mean to be funny with its non sensical jokes. :) (japanese comic)

SilverSnake
teen, 15 years old
 
Bo bo bo bo-bo bo .... huh?
Its too random for words... its disturbing, makes no sense, body hair is used as a weapon, and it looks like he's dating a little girl. The creatures/characters... how the heck can I discribe those... stupid I guess. I dont want to be judgy, but geeze.

RainforestGal
teen, 15 years old
 
Bobobo? Wha? Is he drowning? His name sounds like it!
Huh????????????????? I watched it from beginning to end and NOTHING made sense. I had no clue what was going on! That's my biggest complaint. . . consittering I was so confused I didn't know good from bad.

A1
teen, 13 years old
 
bobobo
I love it

 
the guy that said he was tan is stupid everything about bobobo is black his voice and his face everything

Halekulani
teen, 18 years old
 
Wonderful
I, in my opinion, think it's great. & I don't really care what ou think of me for that. It takes a "special" kind of person to follow the plot well enough to understand & like it.

klaymanbill
teen, 18 years old
 
Why.....*bonk on wall*..... Do.....*bonk on wall*..... people like this
this is the worst cartoon that has spwned from anime yet, i am not a fan of anime, but i do watch an occasional naruto (but the "believe it" he syas after every sentence is very annoying) but back to this, bo-bo-bo(?) is like a dumb person or something because he wears WOMENS swimsuits dresses like WOMEN and breaks up arguments about ice cream. Ok, and the girl always appears one the side of the screen with bug eyes for like every time she talks and teh torpedo with the girly legs is so lame i would rather..... oh geez, i dont think there is something extreme enough i could do and live

nduns
adult
 
This isn't meant to be taken seriously
People, this show isn't supposed to make sense. It's just random nonsense making fun of various anime cliches. That said, though, as far as parody goes, there is better out there. What does harm this one, I hate to say, is that while most parodies stick to a plot, this one doesn't. That said though, I do find the show strangely amusing in its own right, so in that regard, I say it's worth a look.

KinbJune
teen, 13 years old
 
Bobowha-what- Bowhat-saywhat?
Ok, this is the WEIRDEST show I have ever seen. The only episode where they actually stuck to the plot line was the first. That was the only episode that was actually related to the commercials. It was entertaining, but it rarely came on. It was funny at first, but over the years it aired, it just started getting random. I couldn't follow the plot line after the 3rd episode. When it came on, they usually were doing something crazy or whatever, and it wasn't exactly funny, it was just random and repetitive in the way that Shonen Jump just ran out of ideas with episodes. I guess I can suggest this show, but only someone with 200 IQ points, no, not even that, could follow this story.

the Liberator
teen, 15 years old
 
i don't really think this show is anything but a really fun packed laugh fest its so extremely fast paced that its hard for any younger viewer to understand i don't think that any character suffer from stereotypes i just think this is a fun show people should know though that there is some mild violence but nothing that would shock anybody that much

nano400
teen, 15 years old
 
it's funny!!!!!!!!!!!

Samurai 2.0
teen, 17 years old
 
Only grade-school boys will enjoy it. I only enjoyed it then.
This show used to play on Toonami. I loved it. I decided to rewatch it a few months ago. It was confused and bounced off the wall. I hated it. Grade-school boys will have fun with this acid trip wanna-be, but anyone above the age of 12 will be horribly confused.

 
overall a funny nd positive show
was what i looked forward to every saturday night at ten oclock on toonami in middle school


kid, 12 years old
 
Take it off "D*mn"
its a bad word

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