Freakazoid!

Review

Common Sense Media says

Manic superhero comedy offers nonstop laughs for all ages.
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

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this half-hour animated comedy has plenty of broad slapstick humor that will appeal to kids. At the same time, there are frequent pop culture references and irreverent gags that are aimed at teens and even adults. The pace of the series is relentless and very young children may not be able to easily follow the action. Every aspect of the show is played for laughs and parody.

  • Educational value0
    Purely entertainment oriented.
  • Positive messages1
    The show's themes are broadly positive, in the sense that it adopts the traditional superhero story template of "good guys versus bad guys." A large part of the show's sense of humor revolves around irreverent mockery of characters, situations, and especially the common trademarks of the superhero genre. This means there are interactions where characters make fun of one another, especially where villains offer their take on the absurd lead character.
  • Positive role models1
    It is easy to tell which are the heroes and which are the villains; however, characters often behave out of context, such as a group of villains having a sing-along with the hero. Again, none of the elements of the show exist as anything but tools to further the comedy.
  • Violence & scariness2
    While there are supervillains and traditional superhero conflicts, all of the situations are played strictly for comedy. The level of conflict and violence is roughly what you'd expect from a broad slapstick cartoon such as Looney Tunes.
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What's the story?

Geeky 16-year-old Dexter Douglas was your average teenager until a computer bug transformed him into the manic superhero FREAKAZOID! He has his own Freakalair, a mute butler named Ingmar, and unexpected powers that crop up when he needs them. He faces off against a cadre of offbeat villains including The Lobe, Cave Guy, Cobra Queen, and Longhorn. With the help of his friends Sergeant Mike Cosgrove and Steph, he attempts to battle evil as a wild, unpredictable force of nature.

Is it any good?

 

In many ways, Freakazoid! was a cartoon ahead of its time. Airing only for two seasons between 1995 and 1997, its frantic comedic style and parody of superhero and action cliches could be seen to influence such diverse animated series as Family Guy, The Venture Bros., and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

If you're an animation historian, the show's pretty important. If you're just looking for an offbeat, unique series to enjoy with your kids, the show's pretty entertaining, too. It's hard to overestimate just how fast and furious the jokes fly; if you don't like one, wait a few seconds and another will take its place. The oddball sensibility and overall tone of anarchy is perfect for kids, but the show also demonstrates intelligence and wit. In other words, it's the kind of chaos you may want to introduce to your children, especially if they've been subsisting on a standard diet of Transformers, Clone Wars, Young Justice and other deadly serious animated shows. Freakazoid! is the perfect antidote, and teaches an important lesson: Sometimes it's OK to laugh and not take everything so seriously. 

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about what aspects of Freakazoid! make the show so humorous. Does the show take anything seriously?

  • Do you think Freakazoid is a good superhero? Why or why not?

  • How does this animated comedy compare to others you've seen?

This review was written by Matt Springer
Adult
April 15, 2012
AGE
2
 
Quirky stuff!
This cartoon is perfect for all ages! It is really funny and it will put a big happy smile on your face!
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This review was written by Matt Springer
Topics:superheroes
TV rating:NR
Network:Online
Cast:Ed Asner, Frank Welker, Paul Rugg
Genre:Kids' Animation
This review was written by Matt Springer
 

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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.
Our child development rating guidelines

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