The Herculoids (Boomerang)

common sense media says

Vintage '60s sci-fi superhero action is only OK.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Hanna-Barbera sci-fi action cartoon -- which originally aired in the late 1960s -- is a riff on Superfriends-style superhero shows. Expect regular (though fairly mild) cartoon violence, including battle scenes and attacking monsters. Very young kids may be frightened by some of it, but most children probably won't be fazed.

Positive messages: The heroes always save their planet, but violence is their first and only resort (though it's hard to be diplomatic when you're faced with giant attacking ants!).
Violence & scariness: Weaponry, in the form of hurled rocks and lasers, is used on animal and human-like attackers, but the results are usually obscured by clouds of dust or light explosions.
Sexy stuff: The heroine (in the grand tradition of action heroines) is scantily clad. Actually, they all are.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Herculoids

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about how the characters solve their problems. Is there ever any other alternative besides fighting? What about in real life? Kids: What should you do if another child hits you or is mean to you? Families can also talk about the story behind the show (or lack thereof)? Is the planet meant to be Earth, or somewhere else? Are viewers meant to know? How can you tell? What are the ghost-like sidekicks?

What's the story?

What's the story?

HERCULOIDS originally ran in the late '60s as a Saturday morning action/sci-fi cartoon. It follows a small family -- a mother, a father, and a son, although they call each other by their first names and act more like a team than a family -- and their odd sidekicks (two dinosaur-like creatures, an ape made of rock, and two amorphous blobs) as they defend their world from dangers like giant ants or attacks from space.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The show's plots are minimal and simplistic at best. Characters are momentarily endangered, then rescued, and the enemy is always defeated. The real value of the show, for parents, lies in the chance to let fairly young kids watch a little action without worrying about any significant violence, gore, or sexual content -- or, if you watch it on Boomerang, commercials. It's a basic comic book-come-to-life-style show that can be very exciting for kids who haven't been exposed to many of today's flashier programs.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Boomerang
Cast: Mike Road, Ted Eccles, Virginia Gregg
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Boomerang

This review was written by KJ Dell Antonia
 
 

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Ylndgomez
teen, 16 years old
 
I LOVE THE HERCULOIDS
I LOVE THE HERCULOIDS BECAUSE IT'S MY FAVORITE SHOW.

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About our rating system
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