Parents' Guide to Protanopia

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Common Sense Media Review

Christy Matte By Christy Matte , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Unique comic book experience, heavy on the violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 1 kid review

What's It About?

PROTANOPIA is a digital comic book that follows a troop of soldiers into battle. As their boat approaches the shore, one soldier lays out a creative plan for staying alive. His fellow soldiers make fun of him before eventually joining his plan and heading into battle. But will the plan succeed, or does the enemy have a plan of their own? The app has a unique feature that allows the 2D scenes to behave like 3D scenes as the device is tilted. Readers can view one panel of the story, and then tap to see a whole page at a time. Two taps brings up the whole layout for ease of navigating between pages.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 1 ):

This visual gem isn't for the faint of heart, but it will give mature comic book fans something to rave about. While the tale is somewhat violent, Protanopia takes the comic book realm to new heights with visual effects that make the images come to life without actually being animated. It could use a bit more interactivity and maybe some sound effects to fully embrace the medium, but it's still an innovative take on a longtime favorite genre. The fact that it's free makes up for the fact that it's quite short.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the realities of war. How is Protanopia realistic? How is it fanciful?

  • Talk about the language used in the app. Why do the characters use the slurs they do? Does the context make a difference?

  • Talk to your kids about screen use and limits. How can kids enjoy digital media in balance with other activities?

  • Discuss the violence in the app. Does the context make a difference in this case? Why or why not?

App Details

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