Mary Shelley's Frankenhole

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Despite impressive animation, crude 'toon isn't for kids.
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 this animated Adult Swim series wasn't created with kids in mind, but older teens might want to watch anyway. If they do, they'll see a good bit of cartoonish violence, including stabbings, shootings, decapitations, and blood, and hear characters toss around terms like "vagina," "poop," and "penis." Speaking of genitalia, there's also sexual innuendo between characters and a bit of puppet nudity; some scenes take place in a bars.

  • The show doesn't have any real overarching "message," although each episode has its own (typically negative) moral implications. In Frankenhole's world, disrupting other people's lives and disturbing the dead for personal gain is acceptable in the name of science. The show also pokes fun at the culture of celebrity, calling into question the status society confers upon certain people.
  • Some characters are iffier than others, but most tend to act selfishly -- and at times reprehensibly. Even revered historical figures (like Thomas Jefferson and Gandhi) make questionable choices.
  • Due to the nature of Frankenhole's work, there's some fantasy animated violence with cartoonish blood, along with slapping, punching, biting, shooting, and the occasional decapitation.
  • Some characters use words like "threesome" or "sloppy missionary," and there are a few instances of puppet nudity. One episode also involves Thomas Jefferson's quest for a larger penis so that he can better satisfy his slaves in bed, etc.
  • Not too much "traditional" cursing, but characters do use words like "poop," "vagina," and "penis."
  • Not applicable.
  • Characters occasionally meet at the local watering hole -- Ye Torch and Pitchfork -- for beer and other libations.

What's the story?

Thanks to time-bending "Frankenholes" that connect the immortal Dr. Victor Frankenstein (voiced by Jeff Bryan Davis) and his assistants, Professor Polidori (Scott Adsit) and Ygor (Tigger Stamatopoulos), to the past, present, and future, it's now possible for the scientist to help iconic historical figures get the things they most desire in MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENHOLE. That can mean facilitating a reunion between Blanket Jackson (Mark Rivers) and his late pop star father, Michael Jackson (Britta Phillips) ... or helping founding father Thomas Jefferson (Adsit) better satisfy his slaves in bed. The doctor also has a wife and two sons, but their family dynamic is discombobulated.


Is it any good?

 

Fans of the Adult Swim stop-motion series Moral Orel (a now-canceled but clever send-up of morality also created by Dino Stamatopoulos) will likely be disappointed in this unfocused parody of hero-worship and celebrity culture that doesn't quite measure up in the laughs department. But it's still worth a look, particularly for animation junkies who can appreciate the artfulness of Frankenhole's weird and wacky world.

Others are bound to complain about the show's admittedly crude material, which can sink dismally low at times. It's bad enough that Thomas Jefferson seeks the doctor's help in acquiring a black man's penis so that his female slaves will find him more sexually attractive. ("When I force myself on my slave women, they look a little well, unexcited," he admits.) But when he mistakes Barack Obama for a "poop slave" ... and takes advice from Ike Turner about how to treat women ... it's hard to give it glowing reviews.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about parody and the show's use of shock-value humor. How does the Dr. Frankenstein in this series compare with other incarnations? (Not sure? Check out the classic monster movie, Mel Brooks's slapstick spoof or, the original novel penned by Mary Shelley.) 

  • Does Frankenhole ever go too far? Who decides what "too far" is?

  • What messages are the show's creators sending about celebrity culture? Does the show celebrate it or skewer it?

  • Is the violence on the show too shocking for kids? Is it easier to digest something like a decapitation if it's presented in cartoon form? Why?


This review was written by Kari Croop
Adult
October 2, 2011
 
ewwwwwwwww SICK!!!

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Kid, 12 years old
September 23, 2011
 
Well Animated, BUT IT STILL FRICCIN SUCKS!!!
I'm Embharresed it's so bad

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Parent
September 22, 2011
 
It sucks, it is worse than Robot Chicken,
I am a 22 year old woman and I hate this show, it is boring, AND S01E02 WAS BANNED FROM TV!!!, I'm glad they took it off the air, cuz it spoofs actually coll stuff so it... whatever, it's just a bad show

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Teen, 15 years old
October 31, 2010
 
I love this show. What do you think twelve/thirteen year olds are watching, 'Powerpuff Girls'?

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Adult
July 9, 2011
 
Crude,
Isn't for kids due to strong sexual violence.

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Kid, 11 years old
October 25, 2010
 
Not the best
OK I have to say this has great animation, but just isn't meant for kids. There's no swearing, however private part names are mentioned.

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Kid, 10 years old
September 23, 2011
 
Wow, just wow
REALLY, it's not even violent! the only scary thing is it's crudeness, I just guess cuz it's [adult swim] crap

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Parent of 5 year old
September 23, 2011
 
Outstanding Show
So what?! don't like it? watch something else! I love it but my 5 year old can't watch, but when he's 18 i won't be able to wait!

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Adult
January 5, 2012
 
Underrated show
I don't know why? so many people hate this show look I know the animation is not that good but it's funny and creative

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Teen, 17 years old
April 7, 2012
 
Often quite funny parody of Gothic culture
True, this show isn't quite as good as Moral Orel. But it also isn't trying to be the same type of show ultimately, although it does have some similarities. The show basically is Victor Frankenstein living in the modern day world long after the events of Frankenstein (the novel). Now, I have not actually read that novel, so I don't really get all the references, so I can only trust those who say that they are quite accurate. However, that is not the only sense of humour in the show. Victor is portrayed as a very selfish man who only works for himself. That is why he has made himself and his wife immortal and not his children. Another good example of his narcissism is that once he built a robot with a clone of his brain so that he would be able to see himself. This shows that he thinks of himself WAY too highly. Basically, it's a situational comedy that will appeal to lovers of dark comedy. If you don't want to see comedy and horror mixed, you won't like it. But to many Adult Swim fans, this is a good show that is actually animated and original among an increasing amount of live-action shows (not that I hate them, though many do, but they're not supposed to have THIS many live action shows). That said, there are many episodes having to do with sex, and there are scenes of violence in most episodes. But it's all necessary for the episode plots, which are usually pretty good.

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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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