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Robot Chicken

(Rated TV-MA, Comedy, Starring Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich, Where to watch: Cartoon Network, DVD, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Quirky animated series is too edgy for young kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Characters constantly mock and fight with each other. Stars are spoofed relentlessly, family members battle each other, characters betray each other. It's all done on purpose for laughs.

  • Role models:

    Few characters act in particularly admirable ways, and one of the show's goals often seems to be to present childhood heroes (like Superman or He-Man) in a negative and/or ridiculous light. There's also plenty of stereotyping.

  • Violence:

    Frequent, extreme cartoon violence. The toy characters are shot, stabbed, sliced in half, decapitated, run over, blown up, beaten, and much more. Cartoon gore is often shown. Episodes have had sketches involving serial killers, the world blowing up, and every other kind of mayhem imaginable. If any of this was live-action, it would be horrifying.

  • Sex:

    Frequent innuendo; toy couples shown making out/rolling around in bed and elsewhere; references to masturbation; "happy ending" massages.

  • Language:

    "Bitch," "hell," "ass," "sucks," "balls," "dick," etc. The strongest words are bleeped out.

  • Consumerism:

    Virtually all of the characters are toys and action figures tied into TV shows and movies -- albeit often those from the '80s that are more about nostalgia than marketing.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not typically excessive, but present.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Robot Chicken

Parents need to know that this frenetic, 15-minute animated sketch series is part of the Cartoon Network's late-night "Adult Swim" block. While it's visually entertaining, it's violent and irreverent, and kids and tweens probably won't get its style of humor. Plus, many of the laughs are based on the fact that the majority of the characters are toys from the '70s and '80s; viewers who don't recognize that context will probably miss a lot.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what makes this show (and cartoons in general) funny. Why is it funny to see old toys put into incongruous situations?
  • Why does cartoon violence make us laugh, when the same thing happening in real life would be terrifying?
  • Why are cartoons, as a whole, so entertaining for kids? Do they enjoy the dialogue or the animation more? How can you tell when a particular cartoon isn't meant for younger viewers?
Tools and tips that can help

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Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Robot Chicken?

  •  I think this show is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 68 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    peanutbuttergurl ...
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    funny comedy sketches

    I LOVE THIS SHOW! I could it get any funnier? okey it has bad language, sexual themes,drug usage and racial jokes but hey, it's comedy, but there are times they aren't that funny :(

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    peanutbuttergurl ...
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    funny comedy skteches

    I LOVE THIS SHOW! I could it get any funnier? okey it has bad language, sexual themes,drug usage and racial jokes but hey, it's comedy, but there are times they aren't that funny :(

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    ResidentEvilR0ke ...
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    ROBOT CHICKEN!!!!!!!

    It is a very good show but only if your kids are mature.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    brak9867
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    FUNNY

    if you have a good sense of humor, WATCH IT some episodes arent that bad like one episode shows robots breakdancing

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Yangy
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Adult Swim's best yet

    I love Robot Chicken, and I reckon Seth Green is a funny yet immature genius. Can't believe they get paid to write that stuff. Season two on dvd does not censor the heavy language, and I actually prefer it if it did. Some content is way to innapropriate for kids who think because they see action figures and toys being used, it's okay to watch. Violence is laughable, and the switches between each short are hilarious.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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