Dennis and Gnasher

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Animated prankster stirs up trouble in fun U.K. kids' show.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this animated British series focus on the exploits of Dennis, a mischievous grade-school boy who specializes in stirring up trouble. Dennis, his faithful dog Gnasher and his pals come up with one impressive scheme after another, usually with only minimal property damage and little chance of injury. But he’s not a hooligan -- he just wants to have some fun, and it’s clear that he cares for his family, friends and, of course, his dog. It’s simple, entertaining cartoon fare for kids.

  • Designed to entertain, not educate.
  • Kids can be mischievous troublemakers, but that doesn’t mean they are all bad. Dennis loves to stir up chaos, but he’s also careful to watch out for his sister and has plenty of respect for his grandmother (who seems like something of a senior-citizen hellion herself).
  • It’s hard to see Dennis as a great role model in a show that focuses on his ability to devise one elaborate prank after another. Fun? Oh yes. But not necessarily someone parents will want their kids to emulate.
  • Some animated slapstick violence. Dennis is certainly a rascal who delights in mischief, but few of his pranks involve actual injuries or property damage.

What's the story?

Dennis is not exactly a model child. He and his dog Gnasher try to get the most fun possible out of every day, and if he has to bend a few rules in the process, so much the better. But don’t think of him as a troublemaker; he’s not looking to cause mayhem, though it sometimes seems like turmoil follows him around. And even though he doesn’t always heed his parents, he’s still, at heart, a sweet lad who obviously cares for his family, his pals, and of course his dog.


Is it any good?

 

DENNIS AND GNASHER is not exactly ground-breaking -- a show for kids about a kid who likes to cause trouble and break rules. But it does seem like something of a departure from the current crop of animated series, which seem to involve plenty of explosions and heavy product tie-ins. This is simple, lighthearted fare, that’s completely missing a certain edge that’s so common today. Maybe it’s the British sensibility that makes the show feel different. Even though Dennis is a hellion, the show is still, at it’s core, sweet.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about Dennis’ pranks. Do you think he ever goes too far? Do any of his exploits look like something you might like to emulate? Or, can you tell that this show is not meant to be seen as an example?

  • How do you think U.K. cartoons compare to animated series in the United States?


This review was written by Will Wade

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.


This review was written by Will Wade
Topics:friendship
TV rating:TV-Y7
Network:The Hub
Genre:Kids' Animation

This review was written by Will Wade
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Dennis and Gnasher?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it