Happy Tree Friends

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Gory, ultra-violent, cynical, black-humored site.
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 is a violent, mean-spirited site aimed right at your tweens and teens (as ads for iPods amply prove). It masquerades as cute, but characters are routinely gutted, blood spurts everywhere, rats gnaw at bodies. Parents, don't be fooled by the fact that the DVDs are sold at tween stores like Hot Topic. There is also no warning on this site. Ask your kids if they have seen the site. Then examine what they think is so funny about this violence.

  • Dangerously violent.
  • Gory, ultra-violent, blood, guts, grossout decapitations and disembowelments.
  • Not applicable.

What's it about?

A rotating group of cartoon stories show cute little characters who end up tortured, maimed or dead. Kids can watch short films then join part of a cyber chat world posting comments, showcasing artwork, etc.


Is it any good?

 

This site, in spite of its cheery name, is not for kids. Frankly, it's not for anyone. It is nightmare-inducing stuff. Characters lose their guts, brains, and eyeballs. It's as intentionally gross as it can be. There is nothing redeeming about this site. It is overwhelmingly commercial as well.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about violence in cartoons. How do you feel about seeing cartoon characters maimed, tortured, or killed? Do you think if animated characters are the object of violent acts, it's more acceptable than in live-action movies or shows?


This review was written by Liz Perle
Kid, 11 years old
March 8, 2011
 
Gory, creepy, s*xy--everything not for kids
We are not losers HTFMime. We all hate this show because it is super gross. Click "helped me decide" if you agree.

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Teen, 15 years old
April 6, 2011
 
I'm in love with Handy :D
WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE THIS?! Oh, and everyone loves Saw? Cartoon blood isn't very scary because you can tell it's fake. Real blood on the other hand... and I mean lot's of real/ realistic blood.... (Saw) I love animals and all, so lucky for me I know these cute critters aren't real. I agree with HTFmime, GROW UP! They're are 4th graders that watch this and aren't scared! Again, Saw is even GORIER AND SCARIER yet everyone loves it. I bet a bunch of you who say they hate secretly enjoy it, because last time I checked, HTF is popular.

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Teen, 18 years old
May 14, 2011
 
I have no idea why I love this.
Personally, I like this show. But it is NOT for children. Even though my little siblings have seen it and can handle it, I don't really think this is much of a kids show. I've watched this since I was eleven and it never scared me. Weird. Anyways, this show is really funny! When I first heard of it I looked it up on wikipedia and read about it and thought "No way am I going to like this." But curiousity got the best of me and I ended up watching this and loved it. Iffy for all ages over 9.

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Teen, 15 years old
August 22, 2010
 
Good for teens and pre-teens.
I love this show! Even though its not for young kids, why on earth would adults watch it?!

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Kid, 12 years old
April 4, 2010
 
Not for young kids, tweens and up.
I personally love Happy Tree Friends, but the other people on the site bug me about my recommendations. In some episodes there is a moral at the end. I enjoy making custom characters, and my brother, Bubble435Flippy, does too. I personally love the episode where the little beaver (Toothy) gets a lollipop in his eye.

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Teen, 17 years old
December 11, 2009
 
Epic Failure
Basically, every episode of "Happy Tree Friends" consists of cute, cuddly cartoon animals being torn to bits. And... that's it. That's every single episode. There is no attempt at humor, story, or anything else, for that matter. Every single episode consists of cartoon animal gore and nothing else. Why? Well... because it CAN. That's pretty much the only reason this animated abortion exists. Because it can. And the fact that this is one of the most successful flash animations ever created - even inspiring a TV series - is nothing short of saddening. Avoid this mind-bogglingly awful trash. There is absolutely nothing redeeming whatsoever about this crime against flash animation.

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Teen, 18 years old
December 12, 2010
 
Oh Wow, Animals Getting Torn To Bits, It's SO Funny. NOT.
Even I’m at a loss for words to describe this garbage. My favorite comedy form is black humor and I usually like cartoon violence. This, to me, is not black humor. It’s pure stupidity. There’s no story, it’s just animals getting killed. How is that funny? What’s really screwed up is how successful Happy Tree Friends is. It’s not funny, clever, or entertaining in any way, shape, or form.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
This site is Disgusting...and Sucker Punches Unsuspecting parents
Happy Tree Friends sounds so benign...so fun and innocent. Well it's not. The Common Sense review is completely accurate...this is dark and gory cartoon violence - sort of a disaffected punk mentality - And parents need to be on notice if their kids are spending any significant amount of time on this site. The message Boards reveal how young many of the users are, and the incessant advertisements make it clear that there are a number of media companies who are happy to make a buck off this stuff. As for the creators, it's a shame that Mondo Media and Atom Films have stooped to this level and invested so much in producing and distributing this garbage. This site is not funny...Indeed, it is quite scary on many levels...It's the type of site that a Dylan Klebold or an Eric Harris would have thought was funny. Buyers and Parents Beware.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 11, 2010
 
I loved this (note only review with a problem with the language so pls look)
First is first. I am not used to much gore or blood i havent watched really any 15/18 rated movies (R) but i was at my friends house and it was rated 12 (PG-13) and i didnt have a clue what it was about. Note i was 10. I LOVED IT. The lovely music and the brilliantly made up deaths. It shows you how everyday objects could be the death of you, and it does it in a funny way. My brother saw this when he was 9 and was fine. I say 12 because i don't want people watching it if they can't handle it but 12 years old is fine. heres the review. This is very gory and very bloody but it is so violent it is funny. There is as far as i can see every kind of death there is but i actually have a feeling it could be a lot worse. Now once you watch this for a while you start to like certain characters and it makes you feel upset sometimes (not in a bad way just "lol poor Cuddles butt Lumpy is and idiot so i blame him" Now no other review says bad language as far as i looked down but one episode there is. In 2 or 3 episodes there is speaking and in one (i can't remember what it is called) but it is an interview with Cro-Marmot the interviewer says bas***d once and wa***r once. The role models would be perfect apart from one character (who i should ave mentioned earlier) is a psycho. he becomes one when an event reminds him of vietnam which is most episodes he is in. But note he is one of the most adorable animals there. i said i didnt put good rolemodels up because of him but in the last 2 episodes of the tv series (on youtube aswell) Double Whammy part 1 and 2 he realises his problem and tries to get it sorted out. I love this and probably always will but i can't say the same thing for my dad. Let your kids watch it if you are over 12. Some adults on this site over exaggerate and CSM is usually unreliable.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
It's just... really not funny...
I don't think this is black humour. Its just a bunch of cute cartoon characters being horrible slaughtered... Is that really ironic? And is it really all that funny? I find it kinda weird how 10 year olds laugh at the pain and suffering portrayed by the characters, and when i point it out they say, 'It's just a cartoon.' I think black humour can only b found in real life situations. This is just a bunch of predicatble, gory deaths posted on an advert-infested website. Not good entertainment in the slightest. For real black humour, i recommend a movie like Little Miss Sunshine. THATS black humour.

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This review was written by Liz Perle
Genre:Fan Sites

This review was written by Liz Perle

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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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