Eureka Seven

 Review

Common Sense Media says

High-action anime isn't completely innocent.
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.

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

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that just because this Adult Swim offering is animated doesn't mean it's kid-appropriate. Violence -- in the form of military-style air combat and old-fashioned punching and kicking -- is a regular part of the storyline, and a few sexually charged plotlines toe the line in terms of decorum. This is an emotionally and visually intense anime with broad political and social themes, which, despite the fact that the show's protagonist is a 14-year-old, may be too much for some young viewers.

  • As mentioned above, many of the show's female characters wear body-conscious clothing that subconsciously undermines their brainpower. And while they're up against a malevolent and militaristic government, the "good guys" in this case are renegade mercenaries. That said, they fight in the name of peace.
  • At the center of the show's plot is an ongoing battle between the military and a renegade squadron of human-piloted fighting robots with laser guns, which can actually "bleed" when "injured" in battle -- an aspect that's animated in a particularly graphic way. Characters are occasionally shown slapping, kicking, and yelling at each other.
  • Two prominent female characters are shown wearing short skirts; one of them is dressed in an overtly sexual outfit that involves a belly-baring halter top and miniskirt. Sexual relations are sometimes implied between characters of consenting age, but even the 14-year-old protagonist shows signs of a sex drive. On one occasion, a sex toy is mentioned. On another, there's thinly veiled nudity.
  • While the language is clean for the most part, the 14-year-old protagonist likes to use the word "sucks," as in "This town sucks, my life sucks," etc. Another female character is described as having a "foul mouth."
  • Not applicable.
  • One character named Stoner has longer hair, wears baggy clothing, and talks with a California "accent," gently implying that he might smoke marijuana. Another takes a special medication to regulate her mental health.

What's the story?

Renton Thorston (voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch) is an average 14 year old with an uncommon passion for "reffing," a fantastical type of air surfing that involves riding transparent light particles through the sky. But to Renton, his love for reffing is more than just a hobby -- it's the only way to escape the oppressive boredom of his life in Bellforest, where he lives alone with his cantankerous grandfather, Axel (Steve Kramer). Things really take off when a hulking LFO robot (that's short for Light Finding Operation) crash-lands in Renton's backyard and he meets the beautiful and mysterious Eureka (Stephanie Sheh), a fellow reffer who seeks Renton's help in getting her machine back off the ground. Joining up with her band of Gekko State rebels, Renton finally realizes his dream of reffing to his heart's content -- and he gets to do it alongside his idol, Holland Novak (Crispin Freeman).


Is it any good?

 

At once bleak and beautiful, EUREKA SEVEN boasts a complex storyline that's downright hard to process and could be overwhelming for some young viewers. And while the action starts out innocently enough, it doesn't take long for excessive violence and sexual themes to creep in, transforming a seemingly innocent anime into animation that's better left for adults.

Of course, what teen wouldn't be drawn to a colorful animated series with plenty of shape-shifting robots and attractive young people? Kids are bound to want to watch, so parents should proceed with caution.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the value of having dreams that counteract real-world realities, as well as the power of standing up for what you believe in. Can kids, teens, and other young people really make a difference in world politics and global affairs? Are the things that parents and guardians want for their kids always best? What are the risks and potential consequences of defying your family and your government for a good cause -- even if it's technically illegal?


This review was written by Kari Croop
Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Great!!
I like this series alot! Very good storyline and beautiful graphics and charcters.

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Teen, 18 years old
May 29, 2010
 
It's just violent
Honestly, I watched the whole show and the movie in the original, and better Japanese. The sex is mentioned between Renton and Eureka (since Eureka is an alien that looks human, some of the characters wondered if she could have sex), and Talho gets pregnant later in the series.But, the whole show is based around the story and Renton trying to win over Eureka and save her than anything else. Besides mild flirting, it's violence and massive death from explosions and alien attacks. The story is complex and requires an older viewer to understand, and even that isn't saying that person won't rewatch the ending or the whole show. Save this for older kids unless you want a kid watching people getting eaten by giant aliens or shot in the head by evil little children taken in by the main antagonist.

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Teen, 18 years old
February 9, 2009
 
Good Anime
I like the story & the characters. My favorite is Eureka. I can't wait to see their new movie, "Pocket Full of Rainbows!" CHARACTER DESIGN: 7 out 10 STORY: 8.5 out of 10 OVERALL: 7.5

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Beautiful!
This is a beautiful anime. The art/animation, music, voices...and the character designs for the most part are very original. It's inspirational, and the series...it just makes you wonder. Gotta say, one of the best anime I've ever seen.

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Adult
December 4, 2010
 
what??? 3??????
sure, it's violent, and Eureka and Talho wear revealing clothes, and enton is often beat, but the show is so much more than that. also, that thinly veiled nudity is only shown on the cover of a book ocassionaly seen, and in a few scenes showing Eureka's discovery. and about Renton's sex drive... i mean come on! Eureka is hot and tsundere! not hotter than my girlfriend of course, but for an anime character...

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
One of the best anime
I'd say this show is great, and I have nothing bad to say about it.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
i think that this film should have been rated tv14

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
best action/romance guys dont be scared away by romance
this show is my favorite show! it has every good aspect of a good anime. and i dont mean a gross anime. This show starts by puting you at the edge of your seat and it dosnt let you lean back. Its actiony, has a couple of laughs, and pulls at your heart strings at time. i love this show. now go watch it on youtube!

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Teen, 17 years old
May 6, 2011
 
Not ready for Paranoia Agent or Samurai Champloo? It's this or Duel Masters for brilliance.
Eureka Seven is one of the best shows that was ever played on Adult Swim. Some innuendo, violence with some blood. I think 8+ can handle it, but most parents are probably gonna say higher. I was 11 when I first watched it.

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This review was written by Kari Croop
This review was written by Kari Croop
 

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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.

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