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G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

(Rated TV-Y7, Children, cartoons, & animation, Starring Michael Bell, B.J. Ward, Chris Latta, Where to watch: Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Popular 1980s cartoon fun, but glorifies battle, toys.

Themes in this show include:   revenge

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The show isn't aiming to teach kids anything specific, though some episodes touch on historical and/or cultural topics (like ancient Egypt).

  • Role models:

    The characters are clearly divided along lines of good (the G.I. Joe team) and evil (Cobra), with the bad guys' goals being obviously nefarious -- though none of the characters ever try for non-violent conflict resolution. Many young viewers will find it exciting to watch the characters' exploits and may want to recreate some of the battle scenes with their own toys.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Combat and violence are generally presented as the solution to every problem. Each episode does include a PSA at the end designed to teach kids everything from what to do when you're lost to why not to go swimming during a storm.

  • Violence & scariness:

    Almost nonstop combat, featuring gun fights, fistfights, jet fighters, tanks, battle robots, gladiator-style arena duels, and much more. Amazingly, though, for all the explosions and high-tech weaponry, none of the main characters ever gets even a scratch. ... 

  • Sexy stuff:

    No sex or nudity, though there are a few chaste kisses and some flirting.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    The entire series is based on the venerable line of G.I. Joe toys. Fans of the series are almost certain to clamor for G.I. Joe action figures.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

Parents need to know that this classic 1980s animated series consists of nearly nonstop fighting. The G.I. Joe team must constantly stop the evil Cobra organization from taking over the world, and combat seems to be the only way to stop them. There’s no swearing, drinking, or sex, but the underlying message is that guns and fists are the best way to settle your differences. The series is based on the venerable line of G.I. Joe toys, so parents of young fans should expect plenty of demands for action figures.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about fighting. Is violence the only way to settle a dispute? What can you do when someone refuses to negotiate? Is it OK to fight back when attacked? What about a pre-emptive strike to head off a planned attack?
  • This series is based on the classic G.I Joe toys; what do you think its main goal/purpose is? Is there a significant difference between creating a TV series based on a line of pre-existing toys and developing new toys and other tie-ins based on a hit show or movie? Does one seem more commercial than the other?
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