Total Drama Island (Cartoon Network)

common sense media says

Clever cartoon reality show spoof OK for older tweens.


parents & educators say
  • 47% say sexual content is an issue
  • 28% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this animated series is meant for kids old enough to watch -- and appreciate -- a satire of reality shows like Survivor; those too young to get the joke likely won't find it very funny. There's some mild innuendo, characters can be rude to each other, and, of course, they're often made to suffer indignities and ridiculously difficult and dangerous "challenges." But there's little that's blatantly iffy beyond occasional fart jokes.

Positive messages: It's all meant to be taken as satire, but there's plenty of iffy behavior on display -- from mocking positive values to rudeness to poor sportsmanship.
Positive role models: Teen contestants can't trust their host or one another, are rude to one another, compete in unsportsmanlike ways, etc. -- but then, that's exactly the kind of behavior being satirized here. The characters are all pretty stereotypical (again, it's part of the humor).
Violence: Most "violence" comes in the form of dangerous challenges forced on teen contestants by the supposed adult in charge, although characters do threaten one another, grab one another, and throw one another out of doors, etc. -- never with any ill affect. No weapons.
Sex: Mild innuendo and "I'd like a bunk under her"-style jokes.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Total Drama Island

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what parts of reality shows this series is making fun of. Is it just the shows themselves, or also they way they're cast and created?

  • The characters are purposely presented as one-dimensional stereotypes -- because that's what producers of real reality shows often do to people through judicious editing. If someone only filmed and showed certain moments in your day, could they make you look mean or whiny? Why would someone want to focus on those parts of your character for a reality show?

What's the story?

What's the story?

TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND is a cartoon satire of reality shows like Survivor. The intentionally one-dimensional teen characters are thrown together in a summer camp setting, then broken up into teams and presented with challenges by their host. At the end of most episodes, someone's voted out and sent home.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The best thing about Total Drama Island is that its knowing wink encompasses everyone -- viewers and characters alike. Many characters know that they're there to play their stereotypical roles (geek, tough kid, big sassy African-American girl, etc.), and they do so with one eye on the camera. The joke isn't just on reality shows -- it's on reality shows as they've become now, populated with students of the genre who are all trying to game the system. The show's theme song, "I Wanna Be Famous," says it all.

For all its satiric qualities, Total Drama Island actually manages to pull viewers in. There's a contest at the core, and kids who tune in for the spoof may find themselves caught up in finding out which character will manage to survive to the end. Overall, it's an enjoyable, smart show for anyone old enough to watch "real" reality TV.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: Christian Potenza, Drew Nelson, Megan Fahlenbock
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by KJ Dell Antonia
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10
Based on 36 parent & educator reviews:
  • 47% say sexual content is an issue
  • 28% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

lispartans
teen, 16 years old
 
fine for eight and up
this show is fine. i have no problem with it. do you people even know what kids say in school? even at age nine.

pg13rnc17
teen, 14 years old
 
d
dd

Valeriemae
parent of 2 and 10 year old
 
I will never let my child watch this again
HORRIBLE SHOW NEEDS TO BE CANCELED. One female character wears a tank top that barely covers her very large breasts. Also often shows the male characters with nothing but a black box over his privates. Also uses language my kid is not allowed to use ie "crap" not ok

TheGreatNoOne
teen, 17 years old
 
Yeah, okay.
A lot of people loved it when it first came out, but I wouldn't waste too much time on it. It's actually not that entertaining. It has mild cursing, blurrs and bleeps, and weird (in my opinion) comedy. The main reason I got into it was for the animation. The edges and designs on the characters are very sharp, which got me interested. I praise the creators for the wide spanned traits of the characters.

csd313
teen, 14 years old
 
Great show for 9+
Kids about the age of 9 already use the words "hell," and "crap," and generally, they know about kissing... in fact, they do it school and stuff. My 9 year old sister loves this show, and I used to like to when I was 12, too. The newest season, Total Drama World Tour recently ended, and it wasn't as good as this one. I suggest you let your kids watch it, because they already probably know what all of the stuff is.

TheSleepyHollow
teen, 14 years old
 
Perfect for no one
HATE IT! worst show to ever air, after cartoon network started this show they have gone way down hill.

BrentKirkpatrick
parent of 8 and 10 year old
 
Not Appropriate For the Early Morning Time Slot
My wife has a home daycare and she had the channel on Cartoon Network at 8:00 a.m. cst. As I was cleaning house, I happened to glance at the tv and saw one of the main male characters COMPLETELY nude except for a blurry patch on his pubic region!!!!! This show should be on late at night instead of 8:00 a.m.

xxdaloganatorxx
teen, 15 years old
 
Awesome Show! Would be better if uncensored..
This is probably one of my favorite shows on TV! In my opinion, it would of been better if they left the american version uncensored.. but it is still good anyways!

TotalDramaFanE ...
teen, 14 years old
 
Awesome for Tweens, But Iffy for 9 and under
Its A wonderfull Show, I'm 12 right now, ive been watching it since i was about in the summer of when i was 9 and about to turn 10 in the winter. It was a great show! It has smart Humor,Funny Diolague,Interesting plots and many more exelent details put into each and every character! I say this is a wonderfull show for 10 and up even though i started watching it when i was in my late 9's i still agree that it should be for 10 and up!

taymomsenfan
teen, 17 years old
 
Good to kids...Stupid to teens
My two sisters that are 9 and 12 LOVE this show! I personally think its kind of dumb. The animation is good and I get that they are making fun of reality tv shows but the jokes aren't funny to me and I actually leave the room or wear headphones when my sisters watch it...

jigokushoujo
teen, 17 years old
 
looooooooooooooooovvveee it!!
best show on CN, finally something a teen can watch!!

lena123
teen, 18 years old
 

BoredAmbipom999
teen, 15 years old
 
Fine for teens, not safe for kids.
I love this show so much! Because of bad sportsmanship, making out, and words like "crap", it's probably unsafe for kids around 8 but you know what? IT'S NOT A KIDS SHOW! Agreed with nduns.

Crazy98
kid, 13 years old
 
Most of the language, and sexual contact (like censor bleeps) is edited out in the American version (it's a Canadian show) so that makes it more appropriate, but not as funny (some of the humor comes from the edited parts). With mostly good humor

Dohayecarumbadoh
kid, 13 years old
 
Off 9- Iffy 10-11 On 12+
This show is really stupid & lame. Not appropriate in my opinion. Big rip-off of survivor & i caught alot of inappropriate stuff in it.

bubblegumashley8
kid, 10 years old
 
Rude. Rude! RUDE!!
the people are mean to each other. and theres blurs too.

livieluv23
kid, 12 years old
 
Iffy but u decide
i ve watched this show since it came out so i was about 8 and i loved it and still do.certain parts are a little iffy but my mom doesnt really care what i watch but its ur kid.once a girls bra got ripped off and someone was in the ocean naked but they blur it all out.They kiss like ALOT and sometimes talk a little bit nasty

Epiknezz
teen, 13 years old
 
Suckx
Omaigawd thiz show suckzz bcuz Dunkin didnt win. N-E-way ya Hethers boob's were uncensored and reely grafic and Dunkin's pravate part was shown when the Chef grabbed him by the neck. So ya this shw sux and Herald was shown nekkid wen he slipped on soap he dropped in TDA. And Linseys bewb's r wAAAAYYYY 2 big ya heer me!

aubrigirl821
teen, 14 years old
 
How this show is ment to be viewed
This show was never ment for little kids in first place, it comes on late at night and if you dont want your kids watching this show, why are they up at 10 o clock anyways? The jokes are ment for kids who have a "middle school" type of humor, the "dirty" jokes are subtle and if your kids can't deal with thia kind of mild humor don't have them watch the show. Mostly everone complains about the girls "perfect" features, just because they seem to have large chests and backsides doesn't make them perfect. The point of having all of the girls look this way is to show the difference in each of the girls personalities and how they handle the competition and other members of the show. Just because you see a girl with a small stomach and big features doesn't mean you should assume that the girl has a "perfect" demeanor about her figure. If you want completely politically correct shows for your child to watch PBS and Nick Jr. are always an alternative, your child should have learned at this point that some people have what society calls a "perfect" body and some don't. It is a show ment for kids who have a small understanding of human behavior, human dynamics and social skills, not for a sheltered 8 year old whose parents make them think that everybody wins and there are no losers in the world, newsflash once your kid enters highschool they are going to have a major culture shock as well as a huge reality check...

 
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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