Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (Kabillion)

common sense media says

Spidey grows up in 'toon best for older kids+.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) is college-aged in this animated series spun off of the hit big-screen movie. He dates, kisses, and even allows a woman to sleep over at his apartment (speaking of which, most of the female characters have exaggerated figures, often with exposed flesh or generous bosoms). Spidey's battle against evil results in lots of cartoon violence, including villains wielding gigantic guns and regular near-death experiences, though all of the scenes are bloodless. Some scenes show Peter and his friends drinking cocktails.

Positive messages: Peter Parker is a good guy with good values. As Spider-Man, he always fights on the side of good. Meanwhile, villains are mean, violent, insulting, and criminal -- clearly "bad" guys.
Violence: Lots of tense violence and big, exaggerated weapons, bombs, and explosions. But there's no blood, and no one ever seems significantly hurt.
Sex: Exaggerated female figures, exposed flesh, sexy flirtation, guys checking out women, mild sexual innuendo, occasional kissing, an apparent co-ed sleepover.
Language: Peter Parker says "holy crap!" in at least one episode.
Consumerism: There's lots of Spidey merchandise out there for young fans.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: College-age characters sometimes go out for cocktails.

More on Spider-Man: The New Animated Series

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about violence. What kind of violence is featured in this show? What would the effects of that kind of violence be if it weren't a cartoon? Kids: Does watching fighting in a cartoon ever make you feel more energetic or hyper? What do you think that means? Families can also compare the show to the Tobey Maguire movies. Which do you like better? Why?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Peter Parker (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris) moves into the digital age in SPIDER-MAN: THE NEW ANIMATED SERIES. Instead of taking photos for a newspaper, he shoots video for a TV station. And instead of being carefully drawn in pen and ink, he and his friends are brightly (if flatly) rendered in CGI. But Peter hasn't changed too much. He still pines for Mary Jane (Lisa Loeb), and, though he's a bit hipper than in the old days, he still has his shy, self-deprecating appeal. Here, Peter is both attending college and fighting for those in need as his superhero alter ego. He manages to get into all sorts of dangerous predicaments, but he uses his Spidey-sense to stay ahead of his enemies. Whether investigating an apparent attack on the city's mayor by sexy villain Silver Sable or a kidnapping by a group of high-tech terrorists, Spider-Man always manages to win his battles.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The show's half-hour episodes don't delve too deeply into Peter's darker side, and most references to his family and his past are left out. What's left is a flashy superhero cartoon interested mostly in terrific battles and unrequited love.

Fighting evil makes for some tense situations, and Spider-Man is packed with last-minute saves and death-defying leaps. These, mixed with sexy villains with big guns, make the show a better pick for older tweens. Plus, Peter isn't in high school anymore, so kissing and even co-ed sleepovers happen every once in a while. His best friend Harry (Ian Ziering) tosses out the occasional sexual innuendo, and Mary Jane has developed into a quite a flirt.

TV themes & details

Themes
TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Kabillion
Cast: Ian Ziering, Lisa Loeb, Neil Patrick Harris
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Kabillion

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

zackaback
teen, 17 years old
 
Good Show

cammy48
kid, 11 years old
 
not for 9 year olds
One thing parents should mostly be concerned about is the violence. People rarely actually die, but they are injured and blood is shown. langauge is another issue, but if you have time warner cable you can watch it on kids on demand with any thing stronger than d**m censored and it is not nesarially frequent, but it is used in a lot of the episodes. there is some sexual content but if you're ok with the violence and language than you'll be fine. wath it uncensored on hulu*. I learned that the hard way.

ohya
parent of 14 year old
 
is this TV-PG

Papa_Reviews
parent of 8 and 11 year old
 
Teenagers yes, youngsters no
This is a show for older kids. I wouldn't let younger ones watch it. Some mild language and implied sexual activity.

dill the cool
kid, 11 years old
 

halo 28
kid, 12 years old
 
perfect for mabey 11 and older.
This show screams no one 10 and under. Most enimeis die whithin the half hour. There is the lizard that murders and gets his arm chopped off. There are murders but there not usally shown. Electro,kraven, and Lizard kill. Also the words are somtimes d--n, as-, and h--l. A violent and strange but great show.

prince of persia
teen, 15 years old
 
very bad language it has bas----- a-- da-- he-- su--

pie or pie
kid, 12 years old
 
woot
honestley this was awsome dont know why they canceled it it had a good plot and it was the spiderman of a older age probablle age 11 and up i saw the first episode at four and dident get what was up.some consers are:almost every enemy dies the last episodes were dark the lizard episode was scary and he died spiderman cusses almost all the time in one episode its so dark thats theres a muder also in the lizard episode theres a muder and a dimembered hand on age 11 or 12

 
No for young kids
I put this on for my kids (Ages 6 and 4) who really like spiderman. I sat down to watch it with them. The opening scene was a very busty woman in lycra, who made a comment about another woman's breasts. A couple of minutes later, Spiderman says "D**n it". I turned to show off at that point. If that is what is contained in the first 5 minutes, I don't care to see the rest.

somerandomguy
teen, 16 years old
 
Pretty Dang Awesome!!!
In almost every episode you will see a mild kiss between characters, in the episode "When sparks fly" MJ says the word b***h and its not very good for kids to be saying things like that. Other than that a very nicely made 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