Chaotic (Cartoon Network, CW, Disney XD)

common sense media says

Trading card game tie-in will entertain tweens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this cartoon is intricately tied to (and designed to promote) the Chaotic Trading Card Game. The show's characters play a similar multimedia game using laptops and other high-tech gadgets. Some players are able to transform into the game characters and are transported to battle sites to engage in physical one-on-one and team battles, all of which may be frightening to the youngest viewers. Cartoon violence is prevalent, but much of it is exchanged at a distance -- like hurling fireballs at an enemy -- and it rarely results in lasting injury. There's little questionable material here (aside from the violence), but the show doesn't have many positive messages, either. The show's second season airs under the title Chaotic M'arillion Invasion.

Educational value: Kids will pick up a lot of details about the trading card game that the show is tied into.
Positive messages: Strategy plays a large role in players' success, and they're very thoughtful in their team selections. They often explain their rationale for the viewers, showing viewers their thought process based on the opponent's team and the battle's geographic location.
Positive role models: Characters must often work together to defeat their enemies. "Bad guys" and "good guys" are clearly defined.
Violence & scariness: Cartoon violence is prevalent within the Chaotic game world and includes falling from heights and hurling fireballs, none of which results in lasting injury.
Sexy stuff: Female game characters wear skimpy, tight outfits that accentuate their breasts and hips.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: The show is designed to promote a multimedia trading card game (and shows characters playing a similar version of the game using laptops and hand-held electronic devices).
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Chaotic

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about competition and strategy. Kids, where do you compete with your peers? At sports? In classes? How can competition be good for people?
  • What problems can competition cause? Why is it important to be a graceful loser?
  • What types of strategy do you use to get ready to compete? Have you ever had to change your strategy during a competition? When and how?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Best friends Tom and Caz share a passion for the latest craze to hit their school: the online game Chaotic. For Tom, playing the game is just for fun. But when Caz starts talking about transporting to the real world of Chaotic and taking part in actual battles, Tom thinks his buddy has been spending a little too much time in cyberspace. It's only when Tom's laptop flashes a strange code from Chaotic that his friend insists is a secret password that he starts to wonder if his own grip on reality is slipping, too. Just to prove Caz wrong, Tom logs on with the so-called password and enjoys a fleeting moment of vindication when nothing happens. But then, to his surprise, he suddenly finds himself standing in a Chaotic arena, surrounded by other players on their way to real-life duels. With Caz's help, Tom clocks in for his first match, stacks his deck of team members against his opponent's, and gets another shock when he transforms into his chosen warrior and is dropped into the battle location. With a jolt, Tom realizes that it will take smarts and his character's individual strengths to somehow escape his seasoned enemy.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

CHAOTIC is brimming with tween-friendly touches -- including techie gadgets, cyber-talk, realistic interpersonal relationships, and fantasy that's a cut above that of the typical kid cartoon. Although the battle scenes are, of course, marked by violence -- which rules this one out for the littlest viewers -- it's mostly innocuous, and no one ever suffers lasting injury. In fact, the battle scenes also offer viewers a step-by-step guidebook to the game's strategic moves, often including characters' explanations of why they opted for a certain warrior's strengths and how they were influenced by their opponent's team choices and the battle's location. Far from being tedious, this thought process actually encourages viewers to see the game strategically and -- who knows? -- it might even make them think as they watch.

Of course, it might also have them champing at the bit to play the real-life multimedia Chaotic Trading Card Game, to which Chaotic is intricately tied. That marketing relationship means that Chaotic could become a commercial juggernaut, so watch out.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7-FV
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: Jesse Hooker, Kevin Kolack
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

pinkpixiedust9
teen, 14 years old
 
Great! Great! Great!
Awesome!! Cool show. I love it. It should be for kids about 9 years old. I don't think kids under that should watch. I doubt they would understand very good. Some people say violence is an issue but there isn't any bad stuff. The character fall and get hit by stuff, but only fall.

coolnerd111
teen, 16 years old
 
well i thought it was great

beng
adult
 
Incredible art and action
I watched this with my young cousin and was amazed how much I actually like the show. The art and action are great and it is funny as well. That made it easy to hang with my younger cousin. See this show.

 
Saved by the Bell next gen cool kids play Trading card game
I loved this cartoon. The school kids are cool and fun and are protrayed as smart, yet just like any other high schooler. The tech travel to Perim and card game play makes it look like the all have a real reason to hang out together and discover the new world of Chaotic! It looks like there is a repalcement for YUGIOH that has a real online game experience!

 
Good, but yet again, another weird show based on a TCG
Great Job 4Kids Entertainmet on Chaotic. Yet parents and guardians who have kids who watch this, BEWARE...

maxxor
teen, 16 years old
 
action
a great kids show and collectable card game.

alex and barry
teen, 15 years old
 
horrible!
never watch this show it is horrible and yuo oughtta never see it.

MasterLuke
kid, 13 years old
 
Chaotic: Why do you not like it!
If you are reading this because you want to see if this show is any good, then I say "Good Day to You!" I love this show, but it should not be watched by kids under the age of eight. Good night!

Greatowl
teen, 16 years old
 
Awsome show
I think its a good show but 6- should not watch this

crap123
teen, 16 years old
 
the show is fake and promotes the card game.

nduns
adult
 
I shall explain why this is the best card game-based show.
The reason? Instead of watching character sit/stand around playing the game and letting the creatures do most of the work for them, you actually see them become a part of the action. That's what makes this show so awesome and different. YGO is just characters slapping down cards and watching the monsters battle for them, but in this, the characters become the creatures and battle themselves! I also like some of the strange logic in this show, like how the character you see in Chaotic is a digital version of the player while the player simply goes along with his everyday life while waiting for his virtual counterpart to return. I also find it interesting how they get the creatures. Instead of buying them like in, again, YGO, or having them fall from the sky like in Bakugan, they scan the creatures to use them in battle. It's also interesting how the creatures' strength when used in battle depends on the condition they're in when they're scanned. All in all, this is a cool show and does what most other card game-based shows haven't done. I know the human storyline's are mostly generic "battle this guy" type storylines, but you gotta admit, the storylines involving the Chaotic creatures themselves are well thought out. Anyway, check it out some time.

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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
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age