 | 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. |
Viva Pinata
- Fox
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Animated pinatas are boring and set bad examples.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated series is effectively a commercial for the Xbox 360 video game of the same name that's targeted at grade-school students. Storylines are based on competitions and acquiring necessary pinata elements like "candiosity." The characters cheat during their competitions, regularly get whacked by baseball bats, and, frankly, are pretty boring.
What's the story?
VIVA PINATA, which is based on the same-named Xbox 360 title, looks like a video game. Scenes shift quickly, and characters -- including Hudson Horstachio (voiced by Dan Green), Paulie Pretztail (Brian Maillard), Franklink Fizzlybear (Marc Thompson), and Fergy Fudgehog (David Wills) -- move and spin. Episode storylines focus on competition and building up important pinata qualities like "candiosity."
Is it any good?
Viva Pinata has a lively 3D animation style that will be attractive to older kids but off-putting to kids who are used to slower-moving, less-flashy programs. Also, viewers won't find any of the pesky moral lessons that might accompany a program with such a strong competitive element -- the only positive examples come in the form of the occasional supportive friend (who might show that support by sabotaging another competitor).
It's an open question whether the world needs more kids' programming based on video games -- but even if it does, it needs to be better than this colorful but ultimately dull effort. Fans of the game may find it amusing, but Viva Pinata isn't likely to interest anyone on its own.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether a video game -- which might be fun on its own -- really needs a TV show to promote it. In those cases, does the show add anything to the enjoyment of the game?
If you've played the game, how do you think it compares to the show? How are they different? Do the show and the game have any similarities besides featuring pinata characters?
- Show:
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
March 7, 2010
AGE
Coming soon!
Viva pinata is coming back March 13!Viva pinata fans get ready!
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AGE
Very interesting and funny
This show is pretty fun..... a little curde but not over the top. Its dosen't have a bad message persay just not so nice some times. No violence. Its good a for a 7 year olds and up.
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AGE
This is awsome!
Both this and the game are great! I like the Pretztail & Fudgehog a lot!
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AGE
It is just quite messed up, in one episode this character does a makeover of the character to look exactly same, but the way it is depicted is like a murder scene. Although it's just a shadow, you could see the character playing with electric saws and stuff. Even for "pinatas", that's pretty nonsense, it's just killing the pinata. And when this character goes crazy seeing impersonated celebrity, he electric shocks the computer monitor (which is dangerous). Well, at least there is a "lesson", which is getting caught in jail for 50 years for impersonating a celebrity, but then when the jail keepers request for signatures, the character says "well i guess 50 year isn't that bad". TOTALLY NOT GOOD FOR KIDS' BEHAVIORS.
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AGE
This is GREAT!
I love this show. I love CGI and the characters are really funny. My two children love to watch them. And I don't have to worry about the language or any other non age appropriate things. So the whole family can enjoy this together.
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AGE
Viva Viva Pin yata yata ata
CW4kids, Please! Bring this show back. it's the best show I seen along with "Kirby: Right Back at YA!"
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| TV rating: | TV-Y7 |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Brian Maillard, Dan Green, Marc Thompson |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
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