| 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. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that Kim is a good role model in that she's smart and independent, but her profession makes for a surprisingly violent cartoon. Some episodes involve family, but mostly Kim and Ron operate in their own dangerous world. Villains are as goofy as they are treacherous and probably won't scare kids. Some women and men characters are drawn quite voluptuously, including Kim, whose outfits always show her navel.
KIM POSSIBLE capitalizes on the female villain-fighting craze that sparked with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Alias -- but tones it down for younger kids. Kim (Christy Carlson Romano) is a "normal" teenager who happens to be a Super Agent. Her sidekick is a timid teenager named Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle). Like the Powerpuff Girls, Kim lives in a world colored hip and retro, playing off campy spy movies of the 1960s and '70s.
The show's mature humor and high school characters entertain older kids and preteens. Kim's parents, Dr. and Dr. Possible (Gary Cole and Jean Smart), show up at all the right times.
Because it's kids' programming on the Disney Channel, the show presents some good lessons. But lessons may get muddled and nearly lost as the heroes shimmy up rope ladders dangling from helicopters and dodge spinning tops of doom. As long as you're not expecting too much in the way of educational value, you'll probably have plenty of fun with this one.
Families can talk about the nature of Kim's lifestyle. Does trouble find her, or does she go looking for trouble? Is she a role model for young girls in any way? Do kids find it "different" to have a girl as the lead, and the boy as her sidekick?
| Topics: | adventures, great girl role models |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Networks: | ABC, Disney Channel |
| Cast: | Nancy Cartwright, Will Friedle |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |